Marva Collins was born on August 31, 1936 in Monroeville, Alabama to Henry and Bessie Knight, Jr. Her family lived comfortably on the wealth of her father and grandfathers. Marva Knight had a very close relationship with her father, whose strong values and determination were instrumental in the development of her character. Her mother kept her well groomed to maintain a pleasant social image, but had little to do with her daughter’s achievement motivation. Marva’s strong will was displayed during her years at Escambia County Training School, where she defied tradition to become the only female to graduate without taking the required home economics course.

Marva went on to earn a B.A. in secretarial science at Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia. After graduation, finding a job in her field was difficult, so she worked as a business teacher at Monroe County Training School in Alabama. Marva then moved to Chicago, where she worked as a medical secretary. She married draftsman, Clarence Collins, a year later. After marriage, Marva Collins taught at Calhoun South Elementary School full-time for a year. She gave birth to her first child, Eric, shortly before resuming her teaching career at Delano Elementary School. Her experience at Delano proved to be a challenge both spiritually and emotionally. Envy and criticism from colleagues left Collins in despair, despite her dedication to improving the education of poor, inner-city children. Marva Collins opened her own school, the Daniel Hale Williams Westside Preparatory School, in a Chicago community college in 1975.  The Alternate Schools Network provided her salary until the number of students exceeded the capacity of the classroom. As a fully independent school, Collins moved her 18 students to the second floor of her home. She brought the characteristics of self-respect, self-confidence, and success into her classroom, making her methods of teaching invaluable. Her problems with the public school system were finally pinpointed and targeted for reform in the 1980s.

Two years after the development of her new school, Marva Collins was introduced to the world in a variety of magazines and televised programs, including Time magazine, and a the televised 1981 Hallmark Hall of Fame CBS special, “The Marva Collins Story”. This recognition led to funds for the relocation of her school to a larger establishment, with a staff of five teachers and a roster of two hundred students. She declined offers to serve as the Secretary of Education to President Ronald Reagan, and superintendent for the Los Angeles County school system so that she could remain with her students. Despite allegations by jealous teachers, Marva Collins continued to educate children. She received numerous awards for her work, including Educator of the Year from Phi Delta Kappa and the Chicago Urban League, Legendary Woman of the World, and honorary degrees from seven collegial institutions.

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