Teachers do far more than deliver lessons—they inspire, encourage, and shape the future in ways that often reach far beyond the classroom. Their dedication, patience, and belief in their students leave a lasting impact that can change lives. For WHRO Vice President of News Maurice Jones, one teacher’s support changed everything, and he’s never forgotten it.
Jones grew up on a tobacco farm in Kenbridge, Virginia, a small rural town where he was raised by his grandparents. In the eighth grade he was on the debate team. One day after a competition, his eighth grade teacher Mrs. Palmer pulled him aside to introduce him to a local senator.
“And she says, ‘The Senator and I were just talking about how great it would be if you were to become a page in the General Assembly,’” Jones explained.
He recalled his confusion because he was unfamiliar with the role. He only knew of “pages” as the ones found in books.
Sensing his uncertainty, his teacher explained that he would serve legislators while the General Assembly was in session.
That conversation led to him serving as a page during ninth grade. As he watched the surrounding legislators, he admired the way they were able to help people. When he learned that many of them had law degrees, he decided that would be a great path to pursue.
His next encounter with his former eighth grade teacher came during his senior year. He was the quarterback of the school’s football team. While walking to practice one day, he ran into Mrs. Palmer again. By this time, she had stopped teaching and was running a small shop in the town—but she had a school-related question for Jones.
“She says, ‘Young man,’ which is when I knew I was in trouble,” Jones recalled. “She said, ‘Have you applied to college yet?’ And I said, ‘No, ma'am, but I'm going to.' She says, 'You're right. You're going to today.'”
She informed his coach he wouldn’t be at practice that day, and she helped Jones choose three schools and submit his applications. After learning he’d been accepted at all three, Jones said deciding where to attend became a matter of money.
He received a call from a professor inviting him to interview for a scholarship.
“Mrs. Palmer is the reason I got that call,“ Jones said. ”She was on that college from day one. I ended up going to Hampden-Sydney College on a scholarship because I had an advocate in the form of my eighth grade science teacher.“
She helped him again when he was a senior in college and needed to travel to Richmond to interview for a scholarship to study in England. By then she had moved to Richmond, and offered him a place to stay for his trip.
“She literally changed my life,” Jones said. “No question in my mind that the page experience, the ability to be able to afford to go to college, and then going to grad school in another country, just completely changed the trajectory that I was on. I really owe that all to her. She was faithful to me, not just in the eighth grade, but until the moment she took her last breath. And so, rest in peace, Mrs. Palmer, I love you. And I'm just grateful teachers change lives. An eighth grade science teacher, in particular, changed my life.”
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and WHRO would like to thank all Virginia teachers for their hard work and dedication.
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