Jacqueline Hines was born in Wilson, North Carolina on April 27, 1954. Though she was sixth of her mother’s seven children, she grew up with only her mother and younger sister in the home since her older siblings were from her mother’s first marriage and had already moved out. At the age of 15 in the summer of 1969, Ms. Hines came to Washington, D.C.; her mother and sister came north to join her that fall. Ms. Hines was the first in her family to have a high school diploma (Ballou High School) and to get a college degree (Bowie State University). She gave birth to her son after finishing at Bowie State in 1977, and, after staying home with him for a time, she began her career as an educator. Her first teaching job was in a correctional facility but she later began working in DC Public Schools (DCPS). Ms. Hines retired from DCPS in August of 2019.