Jim Frazier Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Jim Frazier Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a deserving applicant who meets the following criteria: Eligible applicants must be students or employees of the Marion County Public Schools and must have a desire to be a classroom teacher. Eligible applicants include high school seniors intending to major in education, Marion County Public School employees who are enrolled in an undergraduate teacher education program, or teachers who are seeking additional certifications. The recipient is selected by the scholarship committee of the Florida Springs Chapter #1434 of Phi Delta Kappa in Ocala, Florida.
James M. Frazier was an active Phi Delta Kappa member and past president of the local Florida Springs chapter. He used his unfailing enthusiasm for PDK and education to inspire others to get involved. It was his dream to help as many young people as possible achieve their goal of a career in teaching.
At the time of his death in 1999, Frazier was director of management information systems of the Marion County School System. Before that, he was assistant principal at Gainesville High School (1979-1984) and later at Santa Fe High School (1984-1986). From 1986-1989 he was supervisor of testing, foreign languages, and ESOL of Alachua County, Gainesville, Florida.
Frazier was active in many civic activities, including Kiwanis, United Way, Leadership Ocala, and Take Stock in Children. He was Kiwanian of the Year in 1995, and he received Leadership Ocala’s Frank Stafford Alumnus of the Year Award in 1998.
The Ocala Star Banner newspaper reported that Marion County Superintendent of Schools John Smith called Frazier an outstanding educator and friend who believed in community service and “displayed a contagious enthusiasm for its importance.”
Frazier received a bachelor’s degree from Florida Southern College and both a master’s degree and a specialist’s degree from the University of Florida.
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