In 1958, Mrs. Una Inch retired after 25 years as assistant superintendent of schools for Jackson County, Ore. She treasured her retirement cake that featured a little red school house surrounded by a fully equipped playground. It was baked by Johnny Wilson of Central Point, who had been a special education student in a program Inch started.
Inch was the daughter of a Portland school principal. She married in 1905 instead of going to college, and raised three daughters.
When the family moved to Medford in 1926, she got a job teaching at Elk-Trail School. In 1930, she received her two-year teacher’s certificate at Southern Oregon Normal School and became the assistant superintendent for the Jackson County Rural Schools. She earned her bachelor degree at the University of Oregon by taking eight years of summer school classes.
Inch championed hot lunches for students, special education classes and served as president of the Oregon Education Association. She was honored for her work with home extension, international peace education, and mental health care. She was a popular speaker.
At 89, Una Inch still enjoyed being around children, doing crafts with the Camp Fire Girls.
Source: Martin, Edna. "Educator Friend of Children Everywhere." Medford Mail Tribune 10 July 1974. Print.
