" In October 23, 1994 Aldine Independent School District named Ruby Maxie Reed Intermediate School after educator and principal Ruby Maxie Reed. This school is located on 1616 Lauder Road in Houston, Texas. Reed is a life member of the Texas Retired Teachers Association"

Those words, attributed to Ruby Maxie Reed, were on the back of post cards created when an intermediate school was dedicated in her honor nearly eight years ago. But they are more than just mere words to a poem - they are a belief system which led to a long, successful career in education.

Ruby Maxie Reed was born in the rural area of Montgomery County, Texas to Melvin and Lizzie Maxie, the fourth child of 11 children. She decided when she was in Karen Minor’s second grade class that she wanted to be a teacher. After that, her desire became even stronger.
She went to school in the Spring Branch Elementary District through the six grade. She left Jackson, Texas in September 1924 to come to Houston to begin her upper grade schooling. She enrolled in First Ward Elementary School in the “high” six grade.
After she left that school, she enrolled in Booker T. High School and she stayed there from the seventh grade until she was in the tenth grade. After Jack Yates High School was built, she finished her schooling there, graduating in May, 1928.
Ruby stated, “In those days the Depression started and everyone had to do the best they could.” Houston Junior College was organized and the classes were held at Jack Yates High School from four o’clock in the afternoon to nine o’clock at night.
After two years, she graduated from Houston Junior College and continued on to Prairie View A&M which provided the students a one-year extension making them a junior. She graduated from PV in May of 1932.

After graduation from she applied for her teacher’s certificate. “In those days we didn’t know how to do it, (choose majors) so we just took straight Education,” said Ruby.
When she was ready for her teacher’s certificate, she went back to Prairie View in the summer of 1933. She needed to get three more hours, but she finally achieved her dream of becoming a certified teacher. That year she got a job in Magnolia, Texas at a one-teacher school.
She taught grades one through six, with no help at all from anyone in a church building at Groven Sawmill with 30 children.
She married James D. Reed in June 9, 1934. The couple recently celebrated their 68th anniversary. To this union, were born three children - two girls and a boy.
Rev. Reed stated, “There were times when she couldn’t get her clothes clean because she gave all her salary to the school children to help feed them during the Depression years.” Ruby only stayed one year at this school. The second year she taught in Rosen Wahl out on the highway in Magnolia.

Describing this school she said, “This White fella from out of state just gave the poor children a school building and I worked in one of his buildings,” stated Ruby.
The Reeds might have continued to live in the area, if not for an incident which led to Rev. Reed being fired from his job.
“During those days, they gave teachers vouchers for their pay and the vouchers had to be cashed. I was working at the Groven Mill and I went to the store with Mrs. Reed to cash in her voucher. While in line, the owner of the store told her ‘Ruby, you have to go to Conroe to cash your voucher. Don’t come here to cash your voucher. When you get your money then you can come to the store.’ Well, I had just got married and was full of crazy. I asked him, ‘Can I tell your wife where to spend her money?’ He said, ‘Hell no and you bet not ever try that.’ I said, ‘Well, this little lady here Mrs. Reed is my wife and when she works for her money she can spend it wherever she wants.’ After this happened, they fired me the next day at the mill because I almost got into a fight with the owner of the store about my wife,” said Rev. Reed. Ruby then came to Houston to become a substitute teacher.

In September of 1941 she became a teacher in the Aldine Independent School District (AISD). She worked in the district for 28 years. The first 17 years she was a teacher, and the last 11 years she was principal of G.W. Carver, which is now A.B. Anderson Elementary.
She was very influential in getting Carver renamed to Anderson. She retired from the AISD in June, 1969. On October 23, 1994, the district named Ruby Maxie Reed Intermediate School after her.
This school is located at 1616 Lauder Road in Houston, Texas. Ruby is a life member of the Texas Retired Teachers Association. She has lived in the Acres Home community since 1936 and has offered valuable guidance and counseling time again to her students and even some of their children who have come to sit at her feet. At the tender age of 95 she is still a wise and kind lady.