Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Democrats share with all parents the commitment to prepare our children to lead lives of happiness and success. That is why we are dedicated to ensuring the next generation has access to a first-rate education and the tools to drive our economy forward. Our country is strongest when our workers are trained with the knowledge and ingenuity to perform at the highest levels. Every child should have the opportunity to reach that horizon and to fulfill the American Dream.

To reach the next level, our city must have a quality education system that allows and encourages our youth to achieve their God-given potential. Although the primary responsibility for the Moss Point Public School system rests with our elected School Board and the superintendent, we must all work to ensure that our students are receiving a solid education that prepares our youth to compete educationally in national & global markets. I believe that every aspect of this city has an effect on the city as a whole. For example, our crime rates, graduation rates, unemployment rates, and youth involvement all affect one another. The young people we produce will be our mayors, police chiefs, firemen, educators etc. however with a failing school system we are failing our city, state, children and most importantly ourselves.

NO MICRO MANAGEMENT -- NO ONE SIZE FIT ALL MERIT BASED PAY​

The teachers have their hands tied with over regulatory policies and micro management. We cannot hold our teachers responsible for failures of parenting and government goals. I will push for strong community involvement and assist in creating parent education services that will involve our parents in the educational workings of our system.

TEACHERS PAY & FUNDING INCREASE

As it stands today Mississippi's teachers are underpaid and our educational systems are underfunded. I believe that we must invest in our young people, by creating environments of highly trained teachers, strong standards and accountability, and increased funding for our schools that need a little extra help instead of decreasing their funding because they are failing. I feel that our children deserve to have the best possible teachers in the classroom.

As State Representative, I would serve as an ambassador for education and work to implement the following programs:

T.Y.G.E.R. -- Teaching, Young, Generations, Educational, Reinforcements
I will work with the mayor to create a private-sector funded initiative to use retired schoolteachers to tutor those students who are performing poorly in math, science, reading and writing or those students who just need a little extra help in these core areas.

C.A.P (College Admission Program)
A program that will assist local high school students in grades 10th, 11th, & 12th in locating, applying and find tuition assistance to attend community colleges and universities.

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