Zara V. Thigpen Elementary was named for a remarkable lady who became principal in 1918. She spent over thirty years as a respected and well-loved educator on the south side, predominately Mexican- American area, of McAllen.

Miss Thigpen's teaching talents were augmented by her humanitarian efforts on behalf of her students and their families. She spearheaded successful drives to provide free lunches for hungry students (1936). A quotation from the McAllen Monitor of August 10, 1948 states, "Former pupils recalled a bitter cold Monday, January 6, 1936, when some 150 pupils, who had been coming to school with nothing but a single tortilla in their stomachs and eating only a tortilla, or less, at noon, were first served hot, nourishing lunches." There is no way of determining how many garments her salary provided for her students, how many family problems she helped solve through the years, or how many times she assisted in finding work for parents. Juvenile delinquents were also paroled under her supervision before the days of the Hidalgo County Child welfare unit.

The Mexican-American community led the petition to name this school in her honor, to thank her for her outstanding work on their behalf. During the dedication ceremony for Thigpen School, Lauro Izaguirre, Mexican consul, presented her with a medal inscribed, "To Miss Zara V. Thigpen, por su Meritoria Labor en Pro del Pueblo Mexicano."

The present Zara V. Thigpen Elementary School ,which is almost 100% Hispanic, continues her tradition of caring excellence in education.