Helen Steiner Rice Elementary opened in August of 2007 and is named after Helen Steiner Rice, a Lorain native and Poet Laureate of the United States.
Born and raised in Lorain, Helen was graduated from Lorain High School in January 1918, and went on to be a celebrated poet and an early leader for equal rights for women. She was awarded the title of Poet Laureate of the United States for her inspirational verses still being published by American Greetings. Before her death, she created the Helen Steiner Rice Foundation. She is buried in Lorain’s Elmwood Cemetery. Read one of her poems below:
Smile
Each time you smile,
you’ll find that it’s true,
Somebody, somewhere
will smile back at you.
And nothing on earth can make
life more worthwhile
Than the sunshine and warmth
of a beautiful smile.