On Wednesday, August 13, the School District of Lancaster gathered with students, educators, alumni, elected officials, and the Reed family to celebrate the naming and dedication of the Frederick M. Reed Library at Jackson Middle School.
What took place that afternoon was far more than the unveiling of a name on a wall. It was the continuation of a story that began in 1958, when a young man from Washington, D.C., newly graduated from Franklin & Marshall College, stepped into a Lancaster classroom and became the district’s first Black teacher. 66 years later, his name now welcomes every student who enters this space of learning and possibility.
A moment rooted in history
Frederick M. Reed Sr. was hired by the School District of Lancaster just four years after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. At a time when integration in public schools was still met with resistance across the country, his presence at Edward Hand Junior High School, now Jackson Middle School, was groundbreaking.
But Mr. Reed’s influence was not confined to a single building. Over the years, he would teach English at J.P. McCaskey High School, coach football, basketball, and swimming, and become a guiding figure for countless students, many of whom had never seen someone who looked like them at the front of a classroom. To them, he was proof that they belonged.
He was more than a teacher. He was a mentor, a coach, an activist, and a builder. He helped desegregate public swimming pools in Lancaster County and co-founded the Lancaster chapter of the Urban League. He later served as head football coach at Cheyney State College and led efforts to build affordable housing through the Bright Side Development Corporation. His story was a blueprint for systemic change.
A ceremony years in the making
The idea to formally recognize Mr. Reed in the school where his teaching journey began originated with Reverend Louis Butcher Jr., who was a ninth-grade student at Edward Hand when he learned that a Black teacher would be joining the staff. That teacher turned out to be Fred Reed.
Reverend Butcher spoke at the ceremony, recalling how Mr. Reed became a lifelong friend and partner in service. “He inspired so many of us,” Butcher said. “When he came back to Lancaster years later, we worked together on housing, jazz, and community. I’m so proud this is happening.”
His simple request for a plaque eventually led the School District of Lancaster to ask a deeper question: What would it look like to not just remember Mr. Reed, but to give his legacy a permanent home?
The answer was the renaming of the school’s library, a space that represents both knowledge and opportunity, two things Mr. Reed dedicated his life to expanding.
Family, community, and deep gratitude
The ceremony brought together students, educators, alumni, local leaders, and members of Mr. Reed’s family. Allison Reed, his daughter, offered words on behalf of her siblings and their extended family.
“My dad was a man of education and sports,” she said. “He believed in being involved, in lifting others up, and in using what you have to make a difference. We wish this had happened before he passed, but we’re grateful it’s happening now. Better late than never.”
She and her family later unveiled a commemorative plaque to be displayed in the school’s front showcase, a tangible reminder of the lives her father touched.
Principal Dr. Jazmin Torres welcomed everyone to what she described as “a family reunion.” She spoke about Jackson Middle School’s unique place in history, already named for Lancaster’s first Black female teacher, Hazel I. Jackson, and how fitting it was to now honor her colleague and friend in this way. “This is a historic moment,” she said. “Our students deserve to walk through doors that reflect their greatness. And this is one more door Mr. Reed has opened.”
The voices of the future
Perhaps the most moving tribute came from students Ariana and Amber who took to the podium and delivered a powerful speech that was as articulate as it was emotional.
They shared how Mr. Reed’s story, rising from poverty in Washington, D.C., attending F&M on a scholarship someone else didn’t need, becoming a trailblazer in education, activism, and athletics, and inspired them to believe in their own potential.
“When we see his name on this library,” they said, “we see someone who looked like us, who came from humble beginnings, and who made a lasting difference. That tells us we can, too.”
Their words reminded the crowd why this moment mattered. Representation is not symbolic, it is essential. Seeing a name like Mr. Reed’s on the library wall isn’t just about honoring the past. It’s about lighting the path forward.
A statewide recognition
State Representative Ismail Smith-Wade-El joined the celebration to present a formal citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, officially entering the library dedication into the public record.
“Fred Reed is now part of the Commonwealth’s history in more than memory,” Smith-Wade-El said. “And to the students here, I want to be clear: You are the next Frederick Reeds. You are the next Hazel Jacksons. This library isn’t just a room. Let it be a spark of learning, of leadership, of change.”
Back to school, and forward with purpose
As the dedication came to a close, families remained for Jackson Middle School’s Back to School Night,a tradition that this year carried even more meaning. Parents and guardians walked their children through hallways filled with pride. Students explored a library that now holds more than books, it holds a legacy.
The space that once welcomed Mr. Reed as a young teacher now bears his name. The students who enter it will not only find stories, they’ll be reminded that they’re part of one. For more photos, visit us on Facebook.
