School History
Born April 6, 1929, to Rosa and Jedediah Martin, in rural Missouri, Dorothy, the second of three daughters, lived in a log cabin built by her father. She attended grades one through eight in a one-room schoolhouse. Her enterprising parents tilled the soil of their forty-acre farm. Her mother peddled the produce, and her father sold pigs, chickens and cows. She realized from her parents’ example that through hard work, one could keep cupboard and wagon full. Even though Dorothy knew that she wanted to achieve a college education, as a child of rural parents, her goal seemed financially unachievable. It was during her high school years at Phyllis Wheatly High School in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, that she experienced firsthand what the African proverb, “It takes a whole village to raise a child,” meant. Her high school principal and his wife, who was one of her teachers, constantly urged and encourage her and other students to strive for academic excellence. Despite attending high school more than ten miles away from her homestead (which truly was a feat since forced busing was non-existent). Dorothy graduated as class valedictorian and received the Curator Scholarship. This fifty-dollar scholarship, to be used toward her college education, was disbursed once a semester.
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Dorothy attended Lincoln University from 1947 until 1951. She majored in English and minored in History. In Miami, she continued the path of breaking barriers. In 1958, after substituting at George Washington Carver Senior High School, she became a permanent teacher at Mays Junior-Senior High School in Goulds, Florida. In 1963, she was one of the two first African-Americans to receive a Masters Degree from the University of Miami. That same year, Dr. Edward Arhill, the first white principal of junior high school initially organized with an integrated teacher staff, selected her as the chairperson of the guidance department for the newly built Richmond Junior High School, Richmond Heights, Florida. The following year, she was promoted to Assistant Principal.
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Dorothy M. Wallace led the growth and development of COPE Center South from its interception in 1972 until her retirement in 1997. She strongly believed that each on must teach one and help on reach his or her fullest potential. She envisioned COPE South as an instrument through which teen mothers and their partners could continue their high school studies and positively contribute to society, while learning parenting skills, pre/post-natal care, infant care and child development and growth. Her undying resolve has enabled her to endure the numerous obstacles that confront innovative alternative educational programs.
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Beginning with 3,000 square feet of rental space in Point Royale Shopping Center in South Dade, COPE South opened its doors with 25 female students and facilities for 15 infants. Mrs. Wallace enlisted the help of friends, professional associations and organizations to provide services and money for many activities that the students needed but were not provided for in COPE South’s operational budget. Notably from these efforts was the long-term relationship between the Cutler Ridge Women’s Club and COPE South. The women’s Club provided materials and personnel for arts and crafts instruction which supplemented home economics and art classes.
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During COPE South’s first decade, Mrs. Wallace endured the almost annual event of being responsible for a program in need of a home. Consequently, she acquired vast working knowledge about the South Dade community and the availability of public and private rental space in the area.
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On July 29, 2006, COPE South dedicated its new home. The dedication program highlighted the school’s accomplishments and recognized Mrs. Wallace for commitment to a concept and ideology in alternative education that has spanned over 24 years.
