MonticelloLive

At the Chamber of Commerce/MEDC banquet recently, Deborah Jones, Drew Central School District’s 6th grade math & literacy teacher, was announced as the district’s “Teacher of the Year”.

Mrs. Jones has been a teacher for 34 years.  She began teaching at Selma for 5 years, then moved to the Drew Central district, when Selma consolidated with them.

Her high school principal was Mrs. Sadie Johnson, and then Larry Johnston.

Deborah was born in a small town in Texas, called El Campo.  Her family moved to Arkansas, when her father, who was a mechanic, was asked to move here, by his boss, who owned land in Arkansas.

She attended school at Selma, which only went to the 8th grade, and then graduated from the Drew High School.

Deborah had several aunts and uncles who were teachers, and followed their example.  She soon realized that this had been the correct career choice.  When asked about the “best part of the job”, she responded, “When I’m connecting with the students, and can tell that they’re understanding whatever the topic is.”

Elisha & Deborah Jones have been married for 36 years.  Elisha is a logging contractor.  They have 3 daughters: 

Rhonda Simpson (& her husband Sammy) of Little Rock, is supervisor at the Methodist Home for Children.

Trayce (& husband Derrick) Young, of Little Rock, is Registrar at Horace Mann Middle School, and

Alicia Jones, who just graduated as an accounting major from UAPB, and is the church accountant at Revival Center Church of God in Christ.

Elisha and Deborah also have 3 grandchildren.

Deborah told me that, “Aside from teaching, my Church is my life.”  The Jones’ are members of the Revival Center Church of God in Christ, where she has been a Sunday School for most of her adult life, as well as having been a member of the choir and “praise & worship team”.

Deborah also is a member of the Church Board, and serves as head of the teaching staff.

Mrs. Jones’ favorite things to do include listen to gospel music, compose songs, and read.  She also likes to watch and play golf.

Her favorite TV show is American Idol, her favorite actor is Denzel Washington, favorite book is Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life”, and her favorite song is the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness”.

When I asked her about a favorite sports team, she quickly answered, “Drew Central, of course.”

Before our visit ended, I asked Mrs. Jones if she had a particular quote, motto, or phrase that meant something special to her.  She answered with, “If you want what you’ve never had, then you do what you’ve never done, in order to get it.”

Congratulations, Deborah Jones for being chosen as Drew Central’s Teacher of the Year, and thank you for sharing your One Monticello Life.

To read other editions of One Monticello Life, click here.