Laura Noble Banks, Class of 1939
Asst. Supt. TUSD, Civic Leader
Laura is a native Tucsonan. She attended Dunbar Jr. High and Tucson High School and continued at the University of Arizona, receiving her Master of Education Degree in 1966, and a Degree of Educational Specialist in 1970 being the first person to receive that degree from the U of A. Laura continued her education, receiving her Doctorate in Education 1980. She taught many years in the Tucson Unified School District starting at Dunbar/Spring Jr. high in 1943. In 1969 she became Principal of Cavett School. From 1975-1980 Laura was the Coordinator of the Reading Program of TUSD. In 1980 she became Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Region IV and retired in 1982. On reading all of Laura’s accomplishments one realizes what a contribution Laura Banks has given to her community, state, and nation. She has been President of the Tucson Urban League, National Association for the Advancement of Colored people in Tucson and the Tucson Y.W.C.A. She has been on the National Boards of the Y.W.C.A., The Links Inc., and alpha Kappa Sorority. She is also a member of the National Council of Negro Women. Laura has been a board member of many city, state, and professional organizations, still she has found time to be a director and teacher at the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. Among other honors given to her are: Women of the Year, NAACP; 1962, Community Woman of the Year by the Arizona Daily Star, 1960; and Distinguished Citizen Award by the U of A Alumni Association in 1969. She is currently the owner and President of the LNB Enterprises offering consultant services in Education, Small business, Travel and Nutrition and still finds time for volunteerism in many local and national organizations. Laura Banks is truly an outstanding person of whom Tucson High Alumni can be very proud.