I believe in paying teachers based on their performance. We need to reward those teachers whose classes show marked improvement each year. My mother recently retired after twenty-five years of teaching the first grade in Mississippi public schools. Teachers who have enough years to retire should be allowed to retire but quality teachers who are willing should be rehired at the salary of a first-year teacher. The retirement benefit for the teacher would be added to the lesser salary giving the teacher a nice pay increase. Schools would benefit by having a more experienced teacher in the classroom and by not paying retirement benefits on the lesser salary. It is a win-win situation.

We all pay for public education with our tax dollars. I believe in the public schools and will work diligently to see that our superintendents have the funding they need to help our kids learn. I will also be watching closely as to how public schools use the resources so generously allocated to them. I believe more money needs to get to the classroom and less money needs to go on administrative costs.

All four candidates for state senate will say they are for public education. I want you to know that as a parent of two children in the Rankin County Public School System, I have an ulterior motive in seeing public education thrive. I want my kids to have the best and I will work hard for them and for you.

A vote for Lee Yancey on August 7 is a vote for improving public education.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -