Jackson is top teacher at Chadbourn Elementary

By FULLER ROYAL
Staff Writer

Ottie Jackson has been teaching school for 24 years – all of them in the Columbus County Schools.

Now, the first-grade teacher at Chadbourn Elementary School is representing her colleagues as the 2007-08 Teacher of the Year.

“I feel honored to be selected as teacher of the year,” Jackson said. “The teachers at Chadbourn Elementary are very dedicated to educating each student. I’m very proud to be a part of this fine group of educators and to represent Chadbourn Elementary School.”

Teacher of the year is nothing new for Jackson. She was the Tabor City Elementary School Teacher of the Year in 1994-95 and the Tabor City West Elementary School Teacher of the Year in 1990-91.

What does she like about teaching?

“The best part is seeing a child’s eyes light up when he or she has finally mastered a task previously thought impossible,” Jackson said. “This lets that child know that he or she can be successful and that there is someone who is very proud of their success.”

“The worst part of education is finding out that a child that I’ve taught has dropped out of school,” she said. “I realize that life can be hard sometimes even with an education. If students don’t get a diploma from high schoolthen they will be unable find jobs to support themselves.”

“I became a teacher to get students motivated about learning,” she said. “Teaching is a way to touch many lives in a positive way.”

Jackson’s not happy with every aspect of teaching.

“Class sizes are still an issue facing public schools,” she said. “Being a teacher, I find it very difficult to give each child the individual help that he or she might need when there are 25 or more students in a classroom.”

Born in Whiteville, she grew up in Farmers Union, north of Hallsboro

After graduating Hallsboro High School she earned an associate of arts degree from Southeastern Community College and a bachelor’s of science in education from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She holds her masters of arts in education from UNC-Pembroke.

She taught at Boys and Girls Homes Elementary School from 1983 until 1987; Tabor City West Elementary School from 1987 to 1992; Tabor City Elementary School from 1992 to 1997 and Chadbourn Elementary School since 1997.

She is married to Larry Jackson.

They have one daughter, Tierra Victoria Jackson, 11, who attends Chadbourn Middle School.

Jackson likes reading books and working on community projects.