2008

Boyd leaving education after 28 year-career Ever since she was a small child, Debbie Boyd knew she wanted to be a teacher. "When I 'played school' writtng. Althou!!h technolo1!\ h.ts brought about ~.:h.ml!c ~in the cla.. ~·oom. r--'------..

Boyd Continued from page 38

with my sister, I was always the teacher." Boyd recalled. 'Tve always wanted a career in edu– cation." She said her career decision was also influenced by her fir·;t– grade teacher and ninth-grade algebra instructor. Boyd said it's hard to believe that the career ~he dreamt of as a child is coming to an end. She is retiring this month after serving twenty– eight-and-a-half years in educa– tion, most recently at East Central Community College in Decatur. "I cannot believe that I" ve been teaching so long !" exclaimed Boyd, who jomed the ECCC English faculty in 2003 following 22 years as an instructor in the Meridian Public School System. She is also a former adjunct instructor at the Meridian branch of Mississippi State Univer:.ity and Meridian Community College. "Although I' m sad about leaving EC,'' she continued, "I think change is good. Since my first year of teaching, r ve had a poster that states that it is only through change that we grow. I' ve enjoyed the change in my profession through the years." One of the most notable changes in the teaching profes– sion is the use of computer in the classroom. "I use rhe computer more to teach now than I did when I first began,'' Boyd said. "Being able to use word processors and later computers has been a sub– stantial improvement over the use of a typewriter. By using a computer and by being able to save documenLs on a hard drive or a jump drive. students can utilize flexibility and ease in

Bo)d '-ltd the most effecti\e wa} ro reach stu- dent' i-. with the personal approa~.:h. .. A n tn~tructor

papers'·

little \acation time.

She saul another challenge "is Lhe planning 1nvolved in getting all the necessary infor– mauon and materials into a semester" Although the "paper load" for teachers is not likely to change anytime oon. Boyd said one change she v.ould like to '>Ce in education is more financial suppo11 for the state's community and jumor colleges. " I would like to see more state funding and fewer budget cuts from the Mississippi State Legislature in order for com– munity college:. to be able to update facilities and classroom equipment. especially in the area of technology," she said. Boyd, whose teaching hon– Or<; mcludc her :.election as a ''Lamplighter,.. an award recog– nizJOg the state's outstanding commumty and junior college instructors, said it's possible she will resume teaching after a

'T11 be moving to Pensacola to enjoy the sun and sand," he said with a big smile. "My hus– band (Dock Bo)'d) and I have been in the transition of moving from Meridian to Pensacola for about two-and-a-half years. He's been worl..ing there as funeral director at Faith Chapel Funeral Home since June 2006, and we bought a house last December. However. I'm a goal-oriented person, so I'm sure that after a few months of rest and relaxation, I'll be working again." A graduate of North Pike High School in Summit, Boyd holds an associate of arts from Southwest Mississippi Communit) College, a bache– lor of arts from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a master of arts and educational specialist degree from Mi-.~issippt State Um,er.ity.

Debbie Boyd

mmt let students know that he or she is willing to help them learn and impro"e themseh cs. c~peciall) in \Htlmg." she sa1d. ''It is also important to remind students that instructors write. n:vise and rewrite. roo'"' Bo)tl noted ualung \'ltth changes, there have nlso been challenges throughout her career. "One of the biggest ~.:hal­ lengc~ is balancmg the paper load with everything else." she said. "There ne\ er seems to he enough ume to .., udc all tho-.e See BOYD, page 68

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