Ruth B. Love

Ruth Burnett Love (April 22, 1932 – June 6, 2022), also known as Ruth B.. Love-Holloway was an American educator, education administrator, author and former schools superintendent.

Love was formerly a professor of education at her college alma mater San Francisco State University.

Born in Lawton, Oklahoma on April 22, 1932 (dispute other sources that cite her birth year as 1935 and 1939 ), Love was the second of five children born to Alvin E. (1911–1974) and Burnett C. Love (née Williams; 1912–1997), Love was raised in Bakersfield, California, after her family migrated there during the 1940s.

Love became interested in being a teacher at an early age; following in the footsteps of her grandfather, Andrew A. Williams, who was a run-away slave at age twelve, and a teacher and founder of the first school for African Americans in Lawton, Oklahoma.

Love attended Bakersfield High School, graduating in 1950.

After high school, Love went on to study education at San Jose State University; receiving her bachelor's degree in 1954.

Love later received her master's degree in Guidance and Counseling from San Francisco State University in 1959.

Love began her career in the education field becoming a teacher and adult education teacher with the Oakland Unified School District in 1960.

In addition to becoming a teacher with Oakland schools, Love was a counselor and consultant for a Ford Foundation project.

Love became a Fulbright Exchange Educator; participating in educational experiences in Ghana and England.

Love was an exchange teacher sent to England in 1961.

Love also served on the President's Mental Health Commission and board of directors for the National Urban League from December 1962 until 1970.

Love was a consultant to the Bureau of Pupil Personnel Services; Director of the Bureau of Compensatory Education beginning in 1963 until September 1965.

In 1970, Love received her PhD in Human Behavior and Psychology from the United States International University, San Diego.

Before beginning her tenure as school superintendent and during her career with Oakland Unified Schools District, Love was appointed to several different positions.

In August 1971, Love was chosen as Director of The Right to Read program with the U.S. Office of Health and Education in Washington, D.C. by then-U.S. Commissioner of Education Sidney Marland where she served until resigning in April 1982, A year after beginning her tenure as superintendent of schools in Chicago.

Love served as superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District from November 1975 until February 1981 and the Chicago Public Schools from March 1981 until March 1985.

Love was the first African-American to serve as superintendent for the Chicago Public Schools district.

In November 1975, Love was appointed Superintendent of Schools for the Oakland Public School district after the assassination of superintendent Marcus Foster, who served as the first African–American to head the district.

The school district at the time was made up of 55,000 students and $125 million budget.

As superintendent, Love was signed to a $49,000 a–year contract.

Among the tapes acquired by the FBI in the wake of the Jonestown massacre was tape Q718, a recording of a March 1979 broadcast regarding a trip that Love who was the superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District and California Congressman Ron Dellums took to Cuba in October 1977.

It is unclear why the People's Temple recorded this broadcast.

Jim Jones did have an active interest in education.

According to Salon, Congressman John Burton lobbied to have Jones appointed to the Board of Regents.

Love was offered the job of superintendent of schools in Chicago by mayor Jane M. Byrne and school board members in December 1980.

Love held that position for six years before resigning and accepting the job of Chicago superintendent of schools in February 1981.

After a month of negotiating on a contract, Love accepted the offer on January 9, 1981, and began her job on March 25.

At the time, Love was the highest paid local school official in the United States; under a $120,000–a year contract.

The accepting of the job by Love received mixed responses from city school board members, community members and political leaders.

Some school board members and black political leaders such as Jesse Jackson wanted Chicago schools deputy superintendent African–American Dr. Manford Byrd Jr.. to serve as superintendent, to addition Chicago Public Schools language specialist Dr. Joann Roberts called Love "Overrated" and said she didn't have the proper concern for African–American children in Chicago.

Despite that opposition, Love received support from numerous people including Reverend Jesse Jackson, who was quoted saying that her skills were "tailor-made" for the Chicago school district.

In May 1981, Love proposed the reinstating of the traditional grading system in the city's elementary schools.

As superintendent, Love created and implemented the "Chicago Mastery Learning Program" during the 1981–82 school year.

The program made it mandatory that all elementary school students' reading and math courses be taught in more than one area, with students given an unlimited time to learn one area of the subject, and achieving eighty-five percent to be promoted to the next grade.

In November 1981 Love proposed Report Card Pick-Up, ordering only parents or guardians pick up student report cards from school, prior to previous years.

Love implemented the "Adopt–a–School" program in which schools within the district received money, equipment and other support from specific individuals and corporations in January 1982.

In 1983, Love received the Horatio Alger Award and a Candace Award for Education from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

Love was named as one among 100 of the best school managers in North America by Educator Magazine in 1984.

Love received an honorary doctorate literature degree from Atlanta University in May 1984.