Special Feature

Special Feature Why Rita Jackson Should Be On The LCS District 4 School Board

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

From 1994 until 2016, Rita Jackson served the parents, children, and teachers of Limestone County as a teach er, librarian, media specialist, school counselor, and a proxy principal. Rita was either a student, taught in, counseled students, or was a substitute teacher at four schools in the county, and as such is unique ly qualified to serve the Limestone County Public Schools as the District 4 School Board representative. Here is what she says about herself and her experience, and most importantly, why she is running for the position: There are people who feel that their experience can lead to ideas that build futures for our youth if given the oppor tunity to be elected to an office. That is the reason why I am running for Limestone County Board of Education, District 4. As a retired profes sional educator, I feel that my experience as a parent of 4, grandparent of 10, classroom teacher since ‘94, as well as a guidance counselor, librarian,

and even sitting in as a proxy administrator in my principal’s absence will provide perspec tive from multiple viewpoints to serve well. In addition, I will listen to the ideas of the folks in District 4 and bring those ideas to the Board. One of my favorite quotes is that of Helen Keller; “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. Born and raised in Limestone County, always living in Dis trict 4, Jackson, her husband Billy, and their children were products of the LCS system. Serving 14 of her 25+ years as an educator in Limestone Coun ty, Rita taught school and Billy still drives a bus for LCS. She was raised by her parents, Otis & Opal Sanders, and attended school in Elkmont till the ‘70s re-zoning mandate. She attend ed Owens and then graduated from West Limestone in ’76. As business owners, Rita and Billy pumped their share of gas as they continued her daddy’s service-oriented legacy by run ning their own service station in Northtown (North Athens), as he did. While busy with this, Rita began college in the ‘90s. Believing family to be the most important, Jackson waited till her youngest child began kin dergarten to start college herself. She finished Calhoun and ASU in 3.5 years while tutor ing fellow students in the ASU Writing Center. Initially hired by LCS in 1994 as a substitute teacher, Rita began her certi fied teaching experience as an English/Spanish teacher at Ardmore HS, and taught there until 2001. She taught at West Limestone till 2008. Earning master certification in school counseling, library media, and English, she worked at Piney Chapel and Johnson Elemen tary Schools as a counselor. She also served in the Mor gan, Giles, and Colbert County school systems. Many of the families in District 4 are former students that either she taught or who rode Billy’s school bus. Jackson said further, “Our stu dents deserve the very best education that our schools can provide, so our administrators and teachers must be equipped with the tools they need, and keep lines of communication open between home and school.” Jackson believes that a mentor ing/advisor program (as an extension of the guidance office) can provide a confidante/rolemodel for each student while at school, and provide life lessons that make productive, lifelong learners. “It takes all kinds of professions to make a function ing society: lessons learned through the classroom, through vocational/technical educa tion, through college-prep for some, as well as through sports and extra-curricular activities,” she said. All four Jackson kids (Brody, Brianna, Brandon, and Will) were year-round athletes, so she feels strongly about sports programs and how good coaches can positively influ

Billy and Rita Jackson Rita taught and Billy still drives a school bus

ence kids. Limestone County ects for students through club Schools offer all of this with or extra-curricular activities. great schools, competent teach High on her list is keeping ers, caring administrators, and open lines of communication includes an outstanding voca between the central office, adtional/tech program. ministrators, superintendent, Ideas that Jackson would and parents. love to implement include: If elected, Jackson hopes to the aforementioned mentor provide a voice for District 4 ing program which would offamilies, students, teachers, fer contact with parents via and administrators by being technology on a weekly basis, present during PTO meetings testing teams at the district and listening to the concerns level to allow more individual of all. She wants easily-accesand large group guidance, and sible technology available to duty-free lunches for teachers. parents, and will gather ideas This would provide more prin from other systems as to what cipal, assistant principal, and is working well during this SRO role-model interaction unprecedented challenge of with students during meals. COVID. Optimism is the faith In addition, she wants to see that leads to achievement; teachers have the freedom to nothing can be done without express more creativity in the hope and confidence. Helen classroom with less teachingKeller to-a-test and fewer paper trails. If this is what you are looking She wants to secure funds to for in a school board member, start up a drug-prevention pro then Rita Jackson would ap gram in cooperation with local preciate your vote on Novemlaw enforcement, and encour ber 3. age more service-related proj