Zora Neale Hurston was a nationally known author and folklorist, had a prestigious college degree, and had taught in college classrooms. But in the school system, rules are rules, and in February 1958, when Zora came to teach English at Lincoln Park Academy, she found that her education and extensive professional experience would not exempt her from obtaining an official State of Florida teaching certificate. Zora was unable to obtain transcripts and other support quickly enough to satisfy school authorities, who were under pressure to meet accreditation requirements (which included hiring fully-certified teachers). As a result, Zora only taught a short time and students missed a rare opportunity to meet and learn from a great talent. Today, historians and literary scholars continue to find wisdom in the life and work of Zora Neale Hurston.