11/19/2025
Dr. Othella Edwards Daniels was born a century ago on November 18, 1925 in San Antonio, Texas. When she was three years old, the Edwards family relocated to Douglas, Arizona just outside of Tucson where she grew up with her parents Rosa and Thomas Edwards, sister Effie and three brothers John, Morris and Joseph.
At the age of 17, she attended the University of Arizona and later graduated with a degree in Education. In 1946, she accepted her first elementary school position in Phoenix, Arizona and after marriage to James Daniels a mechanical engineer for Rockwell and NASA, she relocated to Los Angeles to further her teaching career. While in Los Angeles, she earned her Masterβs Degree and PhD in Education at the University of Southern California.
Othella has always believed strongly in the value of educating our youth and served as a teacher, mentor, principal, and school administrator. Prior to her βofficialβ retirement in 1983, she served as Superintendent of Schools, Los Angeles Unified School District.
Today we celebrate an incredible 100th Year Birthday Milestone filled with many beautiful memories with many more to come! Happy Birthday Othella!!