Cadet Joan Thomas (front row center) with teachers in front of MattieV. Joan (Jo-Ann) worked as an Administrative and Teacher's Assistant or "Cadet" for several years following her graduation from Andrew Jackson High School. She attended college summers at the University of Florida but primarily at the Florida State College for Women in Tallahassee, Florida, now known as Florida State University. She was living with her family at DancyT when this picture was made.

One of the other women in the picture may have been Nellie E. Cooke, the Principal of Mattie V while Joan cadetted and taught at the school. My Mother, Joan, declares that the fact that her father, Percy Leon Thomas, Sr. was on the Duval County School Board at the time had nothing to do with her selection as a Cadet at MattieV.

Although I grew up with my Mother teaching at Ruth N. Upson Elementary School in Murray Hill on the West side of Jacksonville, I never realized just how creative and resourceful she was as a teacher until these last few years as I went through the boxes of her class work materials, seatwork, cutouts, songbooks etc. and of course as I learned all about her theatrical productions and "wish" trips at Mattie V.