School History
Opened at its present location in 1932. Named after a longtime teacher and principal in the San Antonio public schools.
The name of Laura Steele was given to the school honoring a former principal of the San Antonio Schools. Miss Steele preferred being called Laura Steele instead of Laura Du Vall Steele, her full name. A record of her former teaching experience before coming into the San Antonio Schools in 1904 shows two years spent in the Austin Schools and that she taught in Paris, Texas during the year 1888-1889. Her preparation for teacher shows that she was a Cook County Normal graduate and attended this school at various times from 1891-1923.
She received a High School Permanent Certificate September 20, 1905 which was recorded on March 11, 1911. H. Y. Benedict, Dean of the College of Arts and Science of the University of Texas recommended her to be the recipient of a Bachelor of Literature Degree. This was conferred June 7, 1925 and was recorded 14, 1926. She also had four years of French and had done some work in California Schools.
She held the highest State Permanent Certificate. Her application for a position in the San Antonio Schools shows her address to have been at 102 Lewis Street. Her age was recorded as 50+, height 5 feet 7 and half inches and weight 147 pounds. She was a member of the Episcopal Church, the N. E. A., a life member of T. S. T. A., Professional Women’s Club and Our Reading Club.
She was elected as a principal in the San Antonio Schools in 1904, and served in the schools from then until her death on June 30, 1929. A great many of these years were spent in Old School #3, De Zavala as it was then called.