The Awesome Miss Seeds

About the Book

The Awesome Miss Seeds is the story of a child with disabilities whose courage, determination, and vision enabled her to become a remarkable teacher and leader in education. It is the story of Corinne A. Seeds’s personal challenges and eventual successes, a dramatic and inspiring story of a pioneer in progressive education who influenced the lives of thousands of elementary school children and their teachers throughout the nation. As principal of the UCLA Laboratory School for over thirty years, her leadership stands as the longest continuous demonstration of progressive education west of the Mississippi. Her influence can be seen in creative programs for school children today. Her personal story, however, has not been told outside of a select circle of colleagues, students, and friends. This book is of particular significance for children with special needs who encounter obstacles while pursuing their dreams. Virtually deaf and having extremely poor eyesight, Corinne A. Seeds grew up in an era before modern technology was perfected to assist her and without special-education programs—as we know them today—to help her succeed. Yet her self-assurance, singleness of purpose, and extraordinary intelligence led her to accomplish what few of us will do in our lifetimes. The Awesome Miss Seeds can be enjoyed by children with a fourth-grade reading ability or as a story read by a teacher or parent. A brief background section for adults is included. The book is intended to inform today’s educators, parents, and the general public of the profound effect this extraordinary woman, relatively unknown, has had on elementary education. The Awesome Miss Seeds is particularly relevant to the many children whose school experiences were changed forever because of the dedication and accomplishments of Corinne A. Seeds.

About the Author

Dolores Escobar and Sandra Radoff enjoyed a personal and professional association with Corinne Seeds over many years. They completed their formal education at UCLA under Miss Seeds’s direction. Later, both became demonstration and training teachers at the University Elementary School, where Corinne Seeds continued to guide their instructional practice. Though each raised a family, both remained engaged professionals throughout their lives. Ms. Radoff earned a master’s degree in education and has been involved in education on all levels, from kindergarten through university. An accomplished teacher, she served as a curriculum consultant to both private and public universities. As an administrator in a large private elementary and middle school, she has seen the success of the hands-on teaching methods advocated by Corinne Seeds. Continuing to live close to UCLA with her family of children and grandchildren, Ms. Radoff has seen many new methods of teaching. Her perspective as educator and parent has enabled her to appreciate the outstanding benefits that Miss Seeds’s methods hold for children and teachers. Dr. Escobar completed her doctoral work as a Corinne Seeds Fellow at UCLA. Her dissertation documented the extent to which the Seeds’s philosophy and methods were implemented at the University Elementary School. This research entailed hours of taped interviews with Corinne Seeds. The dissertation subsequently was published: Social Studies Instructions at the University Elementary School (University of California Press, 1965). As a professor of education and later as dean of the College of Education at San Jose State University, Dr. Escobar remained deeply involved in teacher education. Publications and leadership roles focused on instruction in the social studies and language acquisition, as well as the challenges posed by cultural and linguistic diversity. Throughout her teaching and administrative work, Dr. Escobar was aware of the influence of Corinne Seeds, the mentor who taught her organizational skills and nurtured her creativity.