Bertram Caruthers

Bertram Caruthers (? – April, 2002) was a noted educator in Kansas City, Kansas.

Bertram Caruthers Elementary School in Kansas City, Kansas is named in his honor.

Early life and education
Caruthers was born in West Point, Mississippi. At age four, his family moved to Kansas City, Kansas. There he attended Stowe Elementary School, Northeast Junior High School, and Sumner High School, where he graduated in 1929. Caruthers attended the University of Kansas, receiving a B.A in 1933 and an M.A. in 1935. Caruthers attended the University of Nebraska, and received an Ed.D. in 1966.

Career and community involvement
Caruthers joined the Kansas City, Kansas school system, where he became a school principal at Attucks Elementary School and at Hawthorne Elementary School. Caruthers also worked as a supervisor of science (grades K-12), a coordinator of adult basic education at Community Junior College, and as an administrative assistant to the superintendent.

In 1977, Caruthers retired from the school district.

Caruthers was very involved in the community, and assisted the Red Cross, Turner House, Wyandotte Mental Health Association and many other civic organizations.

Honors
Community members appreciated Caruthers' diligent work as a school district administrator and civic leader, and asked that the name of Hawthorne Elementary School be changed to Bertram Caruthers Elementary School.

Caruthers died in April 2002, shortly after the school board voted to approve the name change.

A ceremony was held later that year to honor Caruthers, and to officially change the school name.