With 43 teachers and an enrollment of approximately 784 students in pre-K through fourth grade, Conroe ISD’s newest campus, Lucille J. Bradley Elementary School, began its inaugural school year Aug. 16.
Bradley Elementary was named for the late Lucille J. Bradley, a longtime Conroe resident and CISD educator who touched the lives of many during her lengthy teaching career.
“I’ve been to [Bradley Elementary] several times, but the tears still flow,” Bradley’s great-niece Leatha Moore said. “It’s an amazing feeling to know that Aunt Lucille touched so many lives that [CISD and the community] thought enough of her to name a school after her. Our family is just so grateful.”
Born in 1914, Bradley lived in Conroe for the majority of her life and taught second grade in CISD for more than 30 years. Even after retiring from education, Bradley stayed involved with her community by working at The Friendship Center—now Meals on Wheels—for another 14 years, Moore said.
Bradley died on Jan. 12, 2014, at the age of 100.
Moore said her aunt was an honest, stern and positive individual who enjoyed traveling, jewelry and reading Scripture.
In addition to teaching, Moore said Bradley was also a talented piano player and singer with an operatic voice.
“She never had children of her own,” Moore said. “She had two miscarriages, and she told me that after that, she decided that … through teaching, she was a mother to many. It’s just amazing how many lives she touched, and that in this day and age. A school is named after her—that speaks volume for her life.”
Principal Christine Butler said she hopes Bradley Elementary honors its namesake through its community outreach. Butler said every year, each grade level will choose a different nonprofit organization to “adopt” and support throughout the year. The nonprofits will be voted on by the students and can range from animal shelters to cancer research organizations.
“The biggest honor is to be named after Ms. Bradley, who was an educator and taught not just academics but also how to care for each other,” Butler said. “It’s really important for us to be able to teach our children at a young age to take care of each other. We hope that our students leave here to become academically successful but also good citizens.”
CISD will host a dedication for Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. with a program celebrating the new school and honoring Bradley’s legacy.
“Aunt Lucille wanted to be convinced in her last days that she actually touched somebody’s life, and she asked me, ‘Do you think I’ll be remembered?’” Moore said. “And I told her ‘yes,’ and Lucille J. Bradley Elementary School will now symbolize that. She’s continuing to bring people together today even after she’s gone.”
