By Steve Alexander Reporter
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Published: Thu, April 24, 2008 - 8:12 pm
Steve Alexander
Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine is proposing that county infrastructure money be used to pave parking lots and help out with other projects in the school system.
Nodine says that might allow the system to use the money it saves on those projects to keep teachers.
Meantime, it has been an anxious couple of weeks for teachers who could lose their jobs because of budget cutbacks.
Jenny Parker is a high school math teacher.
Parker says, "I'm in my third year of teaching and have absolutely loved it. I've been at Davidson (High School) all three years. I teach geometry courses there."
Parker graduated college with a math degree.
But she says can't get tenured until her fourth year of teaching.
Parker says, "This is the third time that I've gotten the letter saying that you're not tenured and you might not be invited back. Its very scary."
Parker realizes as a math teacher working with robotics and teaching geometry, the chances are excellent she'll again have a teaching job with the system.
But she says, "I do have student loans. I just bought a house last year. I can't go without a paycheck. It's just not an option. And I've given up a lot to go into the teaching profession. I would like to know that I will be able to continue to work as a teacher."
What has Parker given up to be a teacher?
She also has a law degree from the University of Alabama and has already passed the bar exam.
Why be a teacher instead of a lawyer?
Parker says, "As a teacher, I can solve problems before they happen. I can stop a child from dropping out of school. I can stop a child from going into a life of crime. I can help a child get into college. As a lawyer, all I could do was pick up the pieces."
The Mobile County School Board has asked Superintendent Roy Nichols to look again at his proposed teacher cuts and see if some positions can be saved.
He's scheduled to report back to board members May 5th.
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The story about Ms. Parker was truly inspiratonal and touched me deep in my heart. She could have financial success and security but she CHOOSES to mold the minds of young people in the community. My sons are 6 and 3. I hope and pray that when they get to high school, they have teachers who are as committed to education as she is.