We are sad to announce that Dr. Charles Akins — the educator who Akins High School was named after — died Wednesday morning at the age of 84.

Akins’ teaching career began in 1959, and in 1964, he became the first African-American teacher in newly desegregated Johnston High School. In 1973, he was selected as the first principal of  L.C. Anderson High School during one of the most turbulent social times in Austin history – the implementation of federally-mandated school busing for racial integration.

He later became an assistant superintendent with AISD and also served as liaison between the school district and several community efforts including the Adopt-A-School program, the Junior Achievement Program, Keep Austin Beautiful and the Austin Urban League. He served on the University Interscholastic League Waiver Review Board for many years.

Akins’ work as an educator, civil rights activist and community leader embodies the mission of the DDCE.  He has left an indelible mark on Austin schools and will be missed greatly by generations of students, educators and community members.

Read more about Akins’ life and work in this Austin American-Statesman article.