One Utah elementary school is attempting to rectify America's sins by celebrating a NASA pioneer who broke down racial barriers to make history.  

Andrew Jackson Elementary School, Salt Lake City's oldest elementary school, will be renamed after Mary W. Jackson, the first black woman to work as a NASA engineer. The book and 2016 film Hidden Figures shares her story. Singer and pop sensation Janelle Monae portrayed her in the hit film.

The change was announced Tuesday night at a school board meeting following a motion to rename the school. It passed unanimously to thunderous applause from parents, diversity advocates and other community members.

Student Kiana Phillips learned about President Andrew Jackson's racist acts during an “All About Me” assignment. Kiana and her family traced their roots to North Africa where their ancestors originated before slavery. She was surprised that her school was named after a notorious slave owner.

“It kind of surprised me when I learned that he was a really bad person,” Phillips said. “I didn’t know they would name a school after someone like that.”

President Donald Trump and many on the right have idolized Jackson as one of the country's greatest presidents.

However, history shows that Jackson owned upwards of 100 enslaved black people, rose to military fame for fighting Native Americans and was responsible for the displacement of dozens of tribes because of his "Trail of Tears" policy to force Native Americans westward. 

According to The Salt Lake Tribune, the elementary school has 85 percent students of color. It also turns out that school was named after Andrew Jackson for no real reason. A review of the meeting minutes from the 1800s showed that the district simply wanted to use a president’s name, and one board member suggested Andrew Jackson because he shared the last name.

“We just thought it would be good to have a school that honored somebody I could tell my children to look up to,” said Neal Patwari, chair of the school’s community council.