Dear Fellow Teachers, Bus Drivers, Support Personnel, Administrators, and Retired Personnel;
I am running for "State Representative of Avoyelles Parish." I need the support of your family, your friends, and yourself. Education is always a top priority of candidates who are seeking a political office. However, it seems that once they are elected, education is always the first thing on the chopping block. I have been teaching in the Avoyelles Parish School System for over thirty-four years. In addition, I have been a substitute bus driver since 1980. I have always been there to assist the lunchroom ladies. I have seen many changes in education from the way discipline is handled to technology being incorporated to changes in teaching styles. The philosophy is still the same: Educate students to their fullest potential in a safe, clean, and supportive environment where learning will take place in order to build a life, which will be successful and prosperous. I believe that we do our best to instill a love for learning and growth. I also know what it is like to be in the trenches.
I am sure most of you agree with this philosophy in one form or another. The family setting has changed so much over the years. Many parents expect teachers to be the parent, until the teacher does something to their child they find objectionable. Many parents also believe that if the child is not learning then the teachers are not doing their job. Chances are that we sometimes see and talk to children more than their parents do through the course of the day. We often understand their behavior or misbehavior patterns better than some of the parents. As teachers, we provide opportunities in a safe learning environment for the students to develop skills in order to progress as responsible citizens.
The students are not all able to learn or behave in the same manner. Some are motivated, some crave attention, some are hyper, some are disruptive, and some are quiet. Some are respectful, some are sensitive, some are depressed, and some will learn faster than others. Some are athletic, hungry, friendly, and alone. Whether the student is there for lunch, learning, sports, or friends, the students and guardians need to allow teachers to teach and students to learn. The bottom line is that teachers have the capability to conduct lesson in a variety of ways for students of various learning abilities, while students have the capability to learn something from all of the lessons.
ISSUES I WILL TAKE A STAND ON:
Discipline: It is the teacher's classroom and the bus driver's bus. One scenario is that if a problem occurs, in the classroom, a button will be pressed and a disciplinarian or personal officer will remove the student. A checklist of problems will be given to officer when student is being removed. Officer and principal will handle discipline action. Teachers and bus drivers should not have to argue and defend themselves with the student during class or a bus on a route.
School Environment: Smaller teacher to student ratio, updating facilities, safer atmosphere, safer buses, etc.
Prep Curriculum: Improving the curriculums for students going to college and not going to college. Technical colleges need to be more active in the school setting especially with nursing, welding, office administration, and management. I would like to get ROTC in the schools and improve on opportunities for dual enrollment.
State Health Care: Against privatizing our healthcare. Keep it as it is and always look at ways to make it better and affordable.
Salaries: Better pay for ALL school personnel. Maintain pay raises for retired personnel.
Health and Physical Education: More realistic and practical. Teach the basics and how it can apply to today's lifestyle.
Technology: Keep up with the latest such as "kindles" instead of books.
Tenure and Retirement: Protect these benefits.
Unfunded Mandates: School systems are struggling and state needs to help. If the state wants something implemented then the state needs to fund it.
Drug and Alcohol Education: Start educating earlier.
There are many issues, which were not discussed. The main goal is to improve our educational system by supporting personnel in preparing our students with more opportunities in the fast pace of life. We need to constantly improve our work environment with the school system for all personnel. When one of us has an important job, the job affects the whole team in improving the overall education of our students. As like many of you, I graduated from the Avoyelles Parish School System. My children went through the system. My stepdaughter is a senior at Avoyelles High School. My grandchildren are in the public school system. My wife, Samantha Smith Roy, is the school counselor at Avoyelles High School. Who would better serve you than someone who has been educated, supported, and worked with public education for the majority of his life? I am open for conversation and I am just a phone call away. Please vote for me for State Representative in October, 2011. Get your family and friends behind me too!
Sincerely,
Kirby Roy III
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