Mrs. Howard began her career at the historic Sumner High School, where she brought a rigorous standard of excellence to her classroom. It was during these early years that she helped shape the minds of many who would go on to achieve greatness — including one of her early students, the legendary Tina Turner. She continued at Vashon High School before spending the majority of her distinguished career at Normandy Senior High School, where she became a specialist in African American literature. Renowned not merely for teaching grammar and composition but for weaving cultural history into the curriculum, she was a tireless advocate for underserved students, believing that a student’s potential should never be limited by their circumstances.