1992 Orange County Historical Museum Certificate of Recognition

The Marie Stapler Gladden Collection

Original parchment certificate

1992-09-13

Marie Vista Stapler Gladden; Marie Stapler Gladden; Marie Stapler; Marie Gladden

Apopka, Florida, United States of America.

A Certificate of Recognition presented to Marie Stapler Gladden by the Orange County Historical Museum, now the Orange County Regional History Center, and its board members. The certificate was issued on September 13th, 1992. The purpose of the certificate was described as "for outstanding contributions to education," particularly in "I Dream a World," which may be in reference to the 1945 poem by Langston Hughes of the same name.

Marie Vista Stapler Gladden (March 13th, 2004 - May 14th, 2004) was the retired principal of the historic Black school, Phyllis Wheatley High School. Marie Stapler Gladden attained a Master's in Early Childhood Education and Certification in Administration and Supervision from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City, NY. Marie married Michael Gladden Jr. on June 16, 1935. She became the co-owner of M. Gladden Staple and Fancy Groceries and later, Gladden's Coin Laundry and Dry Cleaning. Marie began her teaching career at the Hopper Academy elementary school in Seminole County, later teaching in Orange County for thirty-six years, including at schools in Oakland and Clarcona. Marie was a member of the Orange County Teachers Association, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Omicron Omega Chapter, the Apopka Chamber of Commerce, the Apopka Historical Society, and the Apopka Senior Citizen Center. She lived to be 100 years old.