Chapter 26: Barbara D. Day (1998-2000): To Serve and To Lead

The Kappa Delta Pi’s initiation ritual calls attention to four ideals: fidelity to humanity, science, service, and toil. The ideal of service is described as such: “This ideal is the very essence of education which seeks advancement, not merely for self, but for society as well. The incentive of the great educators of the world has been their desire to serve humanity. Service in education implies living so that others are strengthened and inspired, and striving for the achievement of justice, peace, and a better way of life for all” (Kappa Delta Pi 2010). Barbara Day was initiated into a life of service by her parents, Jennings M. Davenport, Sr. and Mayme Woodley Davenport. They taught her at a young age that service was to be at the center of life in a democracy. Day observed her parents’ commitment to service as they served their local community of Creswell, the state of North Carolina, and the church. Additionally, she learned that in her close family, service began early. Unsurprisingly, in her career as a teacher educator, Day took up the banner of service to community, profession, and church, and waved it enthusiastically. Balancing her professional life and family commitments, she sought to provide service to her profession in leadership roles in three major international professional organizations by serving as President of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development in 1980-1981, President of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society from 1998-2000, and President of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International for Key Women Educators from 2006-2008. Although many educators have the opportunity to serve one or perhaps two professional organizations well, it is remarkable that Day reached the pinnacle of service and leadership as president of three of the most prestigious groups in American education. At the same time, she remained keenly focused on her academic specialties: curriculum and instruction, leadership, research methodology, early childhood education, and teaching and learning. In spring 2011, Day announced her retirement as Professor and Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a position that she held for over 25 years.