JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Someone told her she always seemed to "dress for perfection."
Dr. Diana Greene, former superintendent of Duval County Public Schools, doesn't shy away from that observation.
In fact, she even explains why she wears red lipstick.
"I know I'm a role model for adults and children and I feel like, if I'm dressed for perfection, then they can see the possibilities, especially children who look like me," she said.
Her first-grade teacher, Mrs. Hunter, had a huge impact on her.
"Every single day," Greene said, "she was dressed to perfection. She had on perfect red lipstick most days, and it's the reason why I wear red lipstick most of the time."
All this ties directly to her mission now as CEO of Children's Literacy Initiative, a national nonprofit with a focus on underserved Black and Latinx children. "Our goal is for every family to have their own personal library," she said.
And a personal library at home? That means 13-20 books for Black and Latinx families in their homes.
Another goal of CLI is to push for more read-alouds at home and at school. Greene invited First Coast News to see her reading to Jacksonville children about a math genius, Catherine Johnson, an African-American, who helped save the crew of Apollo 13. Johnson's life was the focal point of the movie, "Hidden Figures."
Greene talks often about representation and how important it is for young children to learn from someone who does look like them. She points to research put out by the think tank, Brookings Institution. It said if a disadvantaged Black male student has at least one Black teacher in elementary school, it cuts his odds of dropping out of high school by almost 40 percent.
Greene uses the read-aloud to inspire a higher level of vocabulary. "We're introducing vocabulary above their grade level, and that's the power of read-alouds," she said.
Greene said it's powerful to hear words in context.
"The brain will hold on and make a connection," Greene said, as she asks the kids what "patient" means. She refers back to the book she was reading and the sentence, "She had to wait a whoooooooole year," Greene explains.
Greene supports letting families know where they can get free books for their children to take home and keep. The Jacksonville Public Library has a program to give free backpacks stuffed with books to children. Ask at any branch.
While Greene was superintendent, state data said graduation rates increased at least 10 percent, funds were raised for new school construction and, when the pandemic hit, Greene oversaw a new program for at-home learning. It required distribution of more than 30,000 computers in practically no time flat.
A Dark Time
Greene was superintendent when the district voted to change the names of six local high schools to rid them of any names tied to the Confederacy. That controversy sparked both support and anger.
"I received death threats," Greene said.
She said for protection, "The Duval County Public Schools has its own police. They did provide protection for my family and me."
She said she wasn't scared. Instead, "I think I felt more frustrated and hurt," she said.
She calls the situation "dark times." And to cope, she went to her Bible. She said one verse she focused on says, "'Even though I walk in the valley of death, I will fear no evil because thy rod and thy staff, they will comfort me.' That was said many times in the privacy of my car and in my home."
First Coast News asked Greene about the politics and pressure coming to Duval from Tallahassee. For example, Gov. Ron Desantis and his administration accused Greene of creating fiction about a new law to review books.
Greene said working with CLI has nothing "to do with the book ban. Our nonprofit started 35 years ago. Books are for everyone. Book banning is a political issue. It is not an issue to ensure that every child can be celebrated and valued and become a proficient reader."
After leaving her role at DCPS, Greene said she is happier than ever.
"I am in a wonderful place. I loved my time with Duval schools, and now I'm CEO of Children's Literacy Initiative. I couldn't be happier," she said.
Still, though, some issues continue to get hotter. Greene was dealing with the so-called "book ban" controversy at the same time Douglas Anderson School of the Arts teacher Jeffrey Clayton was arrested for alleged sex crimes.
First Coast News asked Greene if knowing hindsight is 20-20, she could suggest anything from her experience to protect students in the school system from teachers and inappropriate sexual behavior.
She replied, "I'm not with the district and it is not appropriate for me to interject."
Greene addressed all of our questions with patience and a sense of dignity. First Coast News asked her how she stays patient with people who keep wanting to know if she was ousted as superintendent. She chuckled slightly and said, "I have great patience. In reality, I don't need to have patience, I've moved on to be in a wonderful role as CEO."
She said, "You get to a place, and you tell yourself someone has called you and someone spoke to me. That someone was God, and it was the right thing to do."
She is passionate about boosting children's literacy. The stakes are high. Greene said, "When you are the captain of your soul and you can read, you are liberated. You can choose your own path."