I went to and graduated from Oxford public schools. My parents instilled in me the importance of getting an education. It has made a difference to me. I am passing that lesson along to my children who now attend the same schools that I attended.
To me, improving educational opportunities is the key to improving our quality of life.
I have consistently fought for increased funding for education, and also made sure that we had accountability in our schools. We need to focus on the teacher and classroom and make sure our children are getting a quality education.
If we succeed in raising the level of education in Mississippi, we will see increased economic development, more and better jobs, improved health and less dependence on government assistance. First and foremost, we need to make education the number one priority if we are to improve the quality of life in our state.