Fort Worth ISD to close Edward J. Briscoe Elementary, named for Black educator
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Fort Worth ISD: The people behind the names
The
on May 20 to approve a plan to shutter 16 schools between 2026 and 2029. Previously, the district voted to close two schools in June 2025.
These closures are part of the district’s facilities master plan, which is intended to help Fort Worth ISD manage revenue loss from declining enrollment. Here’s a look at some of the namesakes of these closing schools.
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Edward J. Briscoe Elementary School is one of 18 schools Fort Worth ISD will close over the next four years.
The Fort Worth school board voted 8-0 on May 20 to approve a plan to shutter 16 schools between 2026 and 2029. Previously, the district voted to close two schools in June 2025.
These closures are part of the district’s facilities master plan, which is intended to help Fort Worth ISD manage revenue loss from declining enrollment.
Edward J. Briscoe Elementary (2751 Yuma Ave.) is closing in June 2026. The school is named after a famed Black educator and humanitarian.
Here’s what to know about the man behind the name.
Nearly 40 years as a Fort Worth educator
Edward Jewel Briscoe (1910-2006) was a Fort Worth ISD educator and principal.
Briscoe was born in Dallas and grew up in Lampasas, according to previous Star-Telegram coverage. He attended public school through 10th grade and finished up his high schooling at Sam Houston State Teachers College (now Sam Houston State University).
He stayed at the university for college, working to pay his tuition by doing custodial work.
“I swept the floors and cleaned the commodes and anything else that needed doing,” Briscoe told the Star-Telegram in 1989.
Briscoe graduated from college in 1933 and moved to Fort Worth the same year.
For the next three years, he worked part-time at substitute teacher at Cooper Street Elementary. Between substituting, Briscoe worked as a waiter and cleaned houses.
In 1936, he became a full-time teacher at Cooper Street, where he worked until 1957.
During his tenure as teacher, Briscoe graduated with a master’s degree from Prairie View A&M University in 1950. He also served with the Army for two years in World War II on a gasoline supply company that helped keep tanks and planes fueled.
In 1957, Briscoe was appointed as principal of Carroll Peak Elementary School. He was the first-ever Black principal at the school.
He served as principal for 19 years, retiring at the end of the 1974-1975 school year, according to previous Star-Telegram coverage. The school honored him with “Edward J. Briscoe Day” on May 23, 1975.
In total, Briscoe worked at Fort Worth ISD for 39 years.
Death and school naming
After retiring in 1975, Briscoe was active in the Fort Worth Retired School Employees Association as president.
He was also active in the local YMCA, Meals on Wheels and Boy Scouts of America chapters. Briscoe was awarded the “Silver Beaver” award for his noteworthy “service of exceptional character to boyhood” by the Boy Scouts in 1971.
In August 1988, a group of residents presented a petition with 856 signatures to the school board to rename Carroll Peak after Briscoe. Not long after, the board approved the name change.
“It was such a pleasant surprise and honor that I didn’t know what to say,” Briscoe told the Star-Telegram in 1989. “So, I just said praise the Lord.”
Briscoe was a longtime attendee of St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, where he served as lay leader, president of the administration board and chairman of the council of ministries.
He was married to Jewell E. Briscoe, a fellow educator, for many years until her death in 1971. Briscoe explained to the Star-Telegram in 1989 how “unusual” his and Jewell’s names were to each other.
“Her name was Jewell, with two L’s and mine was Jewel with one L,” Briscoe said in 1989. “Our initials on our first name were just reversed. Hers was J.E. for Jewell Evelyn and mine was E.J., for Edward Jewel.”
On Feb. 16, 2006, Briscoe died at his home. He was 95.
His funeral was held at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church. Briscoe is buried at New Trinity Cemetery in Haltom City.
This story was originally published July 17, 2025 at 1:04 PM.
