This tribute was written by Josh Thompson, NCTE Secondary Section Chair
A magnanimous friend, a supportive colleague, and an award-winning educator, Darius B. Wimby touched the lives of so many students, teachers, and family members. As tributes to him mention, Darius had a big smile and an even bigger heart. As an educator, Darius cared deeply about supporting students of color, especially Black students, and LGBTQIA+ students. He consistently reminded us of the capacity of words and stories to empower, heal, and affirm. Darius leaves a legacy that urges educators to challenge the status quo, help students become more aware of the power they possess, provide access to inclusive curricula, and work to create more equitable schools and classrooms where all students can thrive.
Darius was a student at Georgia State University when he first joined NCTE. He was a member of the Georgia Council of Teachers of English, an NCTE affiliate, and was awarded a cohort position in the 2021 NCTE Early Career Educator of Color Leadership Program. Darius was an active leader on the NCTE Executive Committee, serving as Secondary Representative-at-Large since November 2022. Darius always had his students in mind. They were consistently at the forefront of his contributions to the Executive Committee.
Darius and I joined the Executive Committee at the same time, and our friendship quickly grew. I could always count on him to say what needed to be said and bring joy and levity to every space we shared. Darius often remarked that NCTE provided him a professional home to embrace his identity as a Black, gay educator living and teaching in Atlanta who loved pop culture and literature, and he wanted to help other educators experience that same feeling. I had the pleasure of witnessing that energy up close and personally. It is one of the things I will miss most about him.
And while no words can truly capture Darius’s vivacious spirit, I join his students, colleagues, friends, and other members of NCTE in mourning the loss and celebrating the life of a dedicated teacher, fierce advocate, and dear friend. May we all aspire to follow Darius’s lead.
It is the policy of NCTE in all publications, including the Literacy & NCTE blog, to provide a forum for the open discussion of ideas concerning the content and the teaching of English and the language arts. Publicity accorded to any particular point of view does not imply endorsement by the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, the staff, or the membership at large, except in announcements of policy, where such endorsement is clearly specified.