[AKA2D '91]

Actress Phylicia Allen Rashad to Honor Married HISD Teachers
July 1, 2005



Broadway and television actress Phylicia Allen Rashad will honor retired HISD educators—husband and wife James and Vivian Harrison—for having a profound impact on her life by recognizing them at a special ceremony in Washington, D. C., on Thursday, July 7.

The event, an evening sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers and the Creative Coalition, will link celebrities with educators whom they feel have contributed greatly to their personal success. The program will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will take place at the Hilton-Washington’s 1919 Grill Restaurant.

Both Vivian and James Harrison are former music teachers. Mrs. Harrison taught Phylicia Allen at HISD’s Turner Elementary School, where Mrs. Ruby L. Thompson served as principal. After completing the sixth grade at Turner, Phylicia enrolled at William E. Miller Junior High School (now HISD’s Contemporary Learning Center) and played the viola in the string orchestra from 1960–1963 under Mr. Harrison.

Phylicia, who excelled in all subjects and graduated from Yates High School in the mid 1960's, exhibited remarkable talent in music. While in the elementary-school choir, she sang harmonic parts beautifully. A versatile student, she was chosen as the narrator for a large HISD musical production at the Sam Houston Coliseum, featuring all elementary-school choirs and orchestras. Along with her exemplary performance in the junior high-school orchestra, she was spotlighted in leading operetta roles produced by the school.

Vivian Harrison, an HISD Teacher of the Year in 1975, later became a classroom teacher, an assistant principal (Walnut Bend Elementary School), and retired as principal of Whidby Elementary School. She traveled in 2003 to the state capitol to receive the prestigious “Heroes for Children” award for her volunteer work in HISD. She now serves as site coordinator for the reading one-to-one program at Thompson Elementary School sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

After Miller Junior High School closed its doors, James Harrison transferred to MacGregor Elementary School, where he served as coordinator and instrumental instructor until his retirement. A jazz aficionado, he professionally plays tromxbone and bass guitar. He performs with La Big Band, a 17-piece orchestra and also serves as leader of the Easy Living Trio, which is composed of semi-retired musicians.