History:

Lucia Goodwin, daughter of pioneer Aurora settlers, ranked first in scholarship in her high school graduating class (1880), but missed commencement exercises because of measles. In 1901 she graduated from Leland Stanford University. She then began her teaching career in Aurora at Lincoln School formerly the South Lake Street School. Lucia Goodwin moved to West Aurora High School to begin her career as a math teacher. There she remained until her retirement in 1936. Goodwin taught math for 33 years, from 1903-1936, and retired at the age of 71, the oldest living instructor in the West Aurora schools.

She was known as a strict disciplinarian, but exhibited patience and fairness with her students. Goodwin stood just over five feet tall. "Tiny she may have been, but she could face down the biggest football player who wanted to go out for practice without getting his assignment done. Tradition says she even brought a freshet of tears from some of those football players when she said ‘No!’ and made it stick" (Beacon News, 1967). “Hundreds of college students, especially those who took engineering and scientific courses, have been grateful to Miss Goodwin for the educational foundation she gave them.” It has been the policy of the Board of Education to name elementary schools after educators who served boys and girls in District 129.