To the Editor:

I am writing to encourage Oak Ridgers to vote for my husband, Jim Dodson, for City Council. I know I am biased, but I have a unique perspective as to why I think he will make a good council person. Many people may ask, why is a middle school art teacher running for council? What makes him a good candidate? I believe it is precisely because he is a middle school art teacher that he will make a good candidate.

Jim has taught middle school for 30 years. If I had a nickel for every time a teenager or adult called out to him in the grocery store, park, football stadium, church—“Hi, Mr. Dodson”—I would be a rich woman. Most of the time these students/adults go on to tell me that Mr. Dodson is/was their favorite teacher. I believe it is because of two of Jim’s character traits: He is always respectful, and he always strives to be fair.

It’s not always easy showing patience to middle school kids, especially when they are acting out, mouthing off, showing little effort in class, etc. But somehow, according to the kids, “Mr. Dodson never loses his cool.”  Now, more than ever, our world needs candidates who show respect to all (even those whose ideas or comments he doesn’t agree with). Let me be clear, Jim is not a pushover, he is in control of his class, but he rarely has to raise his voice to command control. By showing respect to the kids, he obtains their respect to meet this goal. [Read more…]