Bertha Ellen Johnson was a well-known educator in Delaware.  A former Principal of Sliver Lake Elementary School.  She was a strong advocate of all children receiving equal access to education.  Prior to becoming the Principal of Silver Lake Elementary School, she taught in Newark, Townsend and Middletown Public Schools.  

 

She served as Principal of Middletown Elementary School in 1968 which led to her being appointed to Principal of Silver Lake Elementary in 1975.  She retired from Silver Lake in 1985.  Mrs. Johnson was a graduate of the former Delaware State College, now Delaware University. She earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Delaware and completed post graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Delaware. She was also the president of the Delaware School Principal's organization and a member of the Board of Middletown-Odessa-Townsend Day Care Center.

 

Outside of her educational pursuits, she was a very active and civic minded person. She was an active member of Trinity AME Church.  She served as a member of the American Association of University Women, the Order of Eastern Stars and as a Past President and 2nd State Director of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.  

 

She exemplified the standards of a Finer Woman, Educator, Community Activist and Caring individual. We offer this scholarship to a worthy student, based on the founding Principles of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, which are:

Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood and Finer Womanhood; all of which Bertha Johnson upheld in her daily life.