Katherine Louise Fletcher was born in Denver, Colorado, one of of five children. Her mother died
when she was five years old and her father died four years later when she was nine. When she was ten years old she was adopted by Leon and Evelyn Toomer in St. Joseph, Missouri.
After graduating from Bartlett High School she enrolled in Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. She transferred to WEst Virginia State College in Institute, West Virginia and graduated with a BA degree. After graduation she moved to Washington, D.C. and worked for the federal government for the next four years.
Katherine met Wanasabe Fletcher while in D.C. In 1946 they were married in Omaha, Nebraska. Fletcher was teacher in the Public school system. He and Eugene Skinner had been the first two African-teachers hired in Omaha in 1941.
In 1948 Katherine was hired to teach at Long school. She enrolled in the University of Nebraska at Omaha where she received her M. A. In 1952 she was transferred to Kellom School where she taught for twelve years. After supervising an in-service training program, she was appointed principal of Kellom School in 1967.
In 1974 she was appointed principal of Laura Dodge School (the first Africa-American to serve in the suburbs). Katherine retired in 1983.
Honors
- Admiral In The Great Navy of Nebraska
- University of Nebraska at Omaha / Distinguished Alumni1997
- Western Heritage Museum /African American/Service to Education and Community 1992
- Omaha Education Association/Human Relations 1983
- National OIC / Volunteer of the Year 1983
- YMCA / Women of Vision 2001
- Urban League Guild 1958
Commission Appointments
Appointed to serve on three commissions by three governors:
- Judiciary Nominating Commission for the Juvenile Court
- Status of Women
- Library
