TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
Jon Purifoy McCarty What motivated you to become an educator, and what kept you passionate throughout your career?
My love and admiration for Mrs. Purifoy McCarty began the moment I met her. She has a warm, magical, and energetic personality that drew me to her as a student in her Gifted & Talented class. She has been a friend and mentor throughout my life, as she was involved in many of my most memorable milestones while growing up in Texarkana. I was honored to be at her daughter’s wedding as a candle lighter, and she painted beautiful party favors for my Debutante party, hosted my bridal shower, and her grandson was the cross bearer at my own wedding. I remember introducing her to my now husband, and her immediate love for him meant so much to me. Her ability to make meaningful connections with people is special, as she is a good listener and is genuinely interested in your life and well-being. She is the definition of class, joy, and love—truly one of a kind.”
My mother was an excellent teacher, and she didn’t take herself too seriously. I modeled myself after her when I became a teacher. My dad was a coach and principal and later became a senator. My dad introduced the Community College Bill to the Senate, and his colleagues introduced it in the House. Education was very important to them, and I am proud to have followed in their footsteps. How have you seen education change since the time you began your career? We knew what we were expected to teach, but we were not told how to teach it. When I taught Gifted and Talented (GT), we had to write our own curriculum. But more than anything, technology
—Hillary Chambers Shipp, AHS Class of 1998
has changed teaching and learning forever. What advice would you give new educators?
Remember, you teach kids first and subject matter second. Enjoy every day you teach. Be happy, love kids, love what you are teaching, and work hard. Teach what you want them to become. You must feel good about yourself. You may be the only smile they
Jon is one of the most unique, personable people I have ever known. She is a jewel to Texarkana, and her legacy here will be long-lasting for generations.”
see. It is up to you to make the kids feel good. Was there someone who was an inspiration or mentor in your development as an educator?
—Steve Harrelson, AHS Class of 1992
Besides my mom, Addie Beth Hudgins, my junior high and high school math teacher, influenced how I taught. Hazel Parker was my GT mentor, and Fae Graham, Susan Pride, Ellen McAllister and I were on the cutting edge of GT in the State. We lifted each other and had fun teaching and presenting workshops together! Have you received any awards or recognition for your work as an educator? My greatest honors have come from the students I taught. Many have made a point to tell me I am the reason they went into education or that they scored high on the LSAT because they learned about syllogisms in GT. One student told me she was going into gifted education because of me. I ran into her at a GT conference I attended. It was such a full-circle moment. What were you the proudest of from your time at TASD? All sixth-grade students attended Washington Middle School in 1970-1971 as integration touched Texarkana. That is also when I met Donna Harrison, who became my best teacher friend. We are still best friends and cherish the time we were able to work together. We had a part in making integration work in our district. It was our honor and our responsibility to do that for our kids and our community. People like A.V. Smith and Swede Lee were diplomats and were in it for all kids. It was such an honor to be a small part of it. We loved our students, and they knew it.
There’s so much to tell about Jon. We met in the hall at Washington the first year when it became a sixth-grade school. I can remember it like it was yesterday. She and I were the two ‘young’ teachers. LOL! For so many of the kids, we were their first white teachers. We didn’t know they would become such a special part of our lives. Jon had come from Fairview, and I came from Kilpatrick, but we loved Washington, our new home! We could have written a novel about that year. Those kids made such an impact on our lives. We still talk about all our memories from those days. We’ve tried to stay in contact with them as much as possible. Even though we have never looked alike, our kids (now adults) mistake us for each other. We’ve always thought it was so funny! To know Jon is to love Jon. All her former students, coworkers, and friends love her. She has always been a favorite! I have truly been blessed to call her my very special forever friend. When I see our former students, many with grandchildren, they always ask about ‘Mrs. Purifoy.’ To everyone who knows her, Jon Purifoy McCarty is and always will be the perfect example of an extraordinary teacher and person.”
—Donna Harrison, Retired Teacher (38 years experience)
22
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs