News

THE WOMAN WHO DOES IT ALL: WANDA JONES, AN EDUCATOR WITH MANY TALENTS

By Tirzah Pope/Special to The Commercial
Monday, August 10, 2009 9:20 AM CDT

Wanda Jones wears many hats in the community. Born and raised in Pine Bluff she has spent her life juggling such roles as mother, wife, community leader, role-model, counselor and educator.

For the last seven years she has been an integral part of Coleman Intermediate School as their music teacher and choral director. Prior to teaching at Coleman, she taught in the Pine Bluff School District for 19 years.

It is not uncommon to hear her authoritative voice in the hallways of Coleman advising students to “square up” or get in a straight line and be quiet. While her stern voice demands the attention of the children, it is the compassion and care she gives to them that demands their respect, colleagues have said.

Before the last school year ended, she sat down with a reporter to explain what drives her to do her best.

Q: What do enjoy most about your job?

A: I enjoy teaching music to my students and interacting with them. My students ask a lot of questions about life and I try to bring up my experiences. I tell them stories that they will learn from. Sometimes children do not have anybody to talk to at home and I take every opportunity to give the children valuable life lessons. Also, music is my heart and I try to expose my students to as much music as possible. Not just by listening but, by understanding the functions of music in their every day life.

Q: What is the biggest challenge you face as a teacher?

A: The biggest challenge I face as a teacher is not having enough time with my students. You have to make the best of the time you have. I see my students once a week and I have to do my best to make the time with them count.

Q: How long have you been married?

A: I have been married to my husband for 17 years. My husband is a self-employed contractor. He builds houses, fix doors and windows, actually he is a general master builder of anything. He spends a lot of his time roofing and adding rooms to homes. After that job he goes to another one, and that is he is a pastor. He is the pastor for Kingdom Builders Outreach Church of God in Christ on 3105 S. Apple St. here in Pine Bluff.

Q: Do you have any children? If so, how many and ages/gender?

A: I have one son, but through marriage I gained three more boys. They are now grown men.

Q: What parts of motherhood are most rewarding/challenging?

A: The most rewarding part of motherhood is when I see them benefit from the things I’ve taught them. When the time I have given and the love I have given them turns into success in their lives I feel fortunate. Sometimes, the reward is peace of mind! When a parent can sit back, relax because they’ve taught their child/children right, that’s rewarding. On the other hand, the challenges were the most difficult to handle because most of the time it seemed like their friends had the upper hand. But, I had to learn to pray, think positive, and relax to make it through the storm. Talking things out with them is better than screaming at them. When the parent and the child are upset, no one is listening to each other. As a parent, I had to learn to listen. It was a challenge to raise boys, but life is always a challenge!

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you are not at work?

A: I enjoy reading! I love Joyce Meyer’s books, well mostly all of her books! I go to different women’s conferences to learn more on ways to reach women. I do a lot in my local church to build ministry. Right now, I am in the C.H. Mason Bible School of Theology. I attend that class every Thursday from 6:30-8 p.m. Also, I enjoy planting flowers and decorating my house.

Q: Any hobbies?

A: If helping people is a hobby, than that’s my hobby! I reach out to many people here in Pine Bluff.

Q: What is your passion?

A: I love helping people, I recently experienced joy in helping a homeless young man. I was coming out of one of our department stores here in Pine Bluff, when a young homeless man asked me for some money to buy some food to eat. I replied to him, “Are you talking to me?” He said, “Yes, I am hungry I want something to eat.” I replied to him, “People that are coming out of this expensive store will not give you the time of the day and I know you will not get any food! Look at you, they will be more afraid of you than anything.” To make a long story short, I put him in my car drove him to Kentucky Fried Chicken, bought whatever he wanted, put him back in my car, took him to the service station where he wanted to go, gave him two bottles of water, a church card with a number for help, and reminded him to go to a church and not a store for help. That young homeless man thanked me for that act of kindness. One thing that stuck with me is when he said, “You going to let me get in your car?” I said, yes!” I feel that I was put here on earth to help others, and that is what I plan to do.

Q: What do you plan on doing after you retire?

A: When I retire I want to continue working with women in the community, especially single mothers, who may need parenting help. I also would like to a create a halfway house for children, for at-risk children. I use the term ‘halfway house’ because it is for the children that are halfway in school and halfway out. My plan is to have the school recommend the children for the program and they will stay in the house for a week. They will receive help with school work and have access to counselors. I want to have a place for a child to be evaluated by professionals to find out why they are not succeeding in school. Hopefully, the program will help keep the kids off drugs and off the street so that they can become a contributing member of society.

Print this story   |   Email this story