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From: Ruth Dial Woods
Date: 18 Jan 2004
Time: 11:50:26 -0500
Remote Name: 172.141.28.114
This is the first posting on Education. Too often we focus on school drop outs, particularly the number of American Indian students who drop out of school, and fail to give adequate attention to the hard working teachers and their need for our support and a boost to their morale. I was particularly excited when we made front page news in the arena of education and that we had these outstanding women - a Mother and her two daughters - Lumbee women - who have represented all teachers in achieving success. The mother and her two daughters recently completed National Teacher Certification, measured by strict, rigorous standards. Credit is given to Mark Locklear, a Lumbee reporter for The Robesonian, for his outstanding work in covering our community and or this great article. MAKING THE GRADE The Robesonian, January 17, 2004 Mark Locklear, Staff Writer MOTHER, DAUGHTERS ENJOY FRIENDLY CLASSROOM FIGHT Angel Chavis and her sister, Phoebe Harris, have been trying to out-do each other since they were children. And as adults, when it comes to education, their competitive blood begins to boil. Since elementary schoo, they have been competitive - whether it was a spelling test or a spelling bee, accoding to their mother, Jane chavis. She stated that they have always been competitive because they are so close in age. Nine months and 21 days separate the Pembroke sisters, who are each 31. The competitive juices flowed as they entered science projects in middle school The would also see who could keep the longest streak on the honor roll at West Robeson High School. In the end, one would always congratulate the other, according to Ms. Chavis who is a kindergarten teacher at Union Chapel Elementary. Influenced by their mother's teaching career, the girls decided to follow the same path. Harris is now a third grade teacher in her sixth year at Union Chapel Elementary and Angel Chavis is an eight-grade teacher of history at Prospect Elementary for the past eight years. Robbie Chavis, Ms. Jane's son and their brother, was recently called to duty when he was one couse shy of completing a nursing degre at UNCP and who is certified to teach physical education. Former Teacher of the Year Award Recipients Jane and Angel, both are former Teacher of the Year Award recipients, often borrow ideas and share teaching techniques in the classroom. After college graduation, they turned up the heat and managed to make their mother a thir dplayer in the friendly game of "Can you top this?" All three completed undergraduat sudies at UNC Pembroke but Angel was the first to earn a master's degre in l999; Phoebe followed in 2000, and Jane followed in 2001. The Chavises are among about 50 teachers in the county who are nationally board certified. North Carolina has the largest number of nationally certified teachers, accounting for one-fifth of the nation's certified teachers. National Board Certification was supported by former Governor James B. Hunt and professional development support is available to teachers who pursue the certification. As a former member of the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, I want to applaud the Center and the NC State Department of Public Instruction for continuing to support and encourage teachers to meet the highest standards and challenges for teaching. Robeson County Board of Education is also to be commended for encouraging and supporting teachers to become the best that they can be so that all of our children - Red, Yellow, Black and White - can become the best that they can be!