My name is Alice Dent and I moved to Jacksonville right after I got married in June 1974. We moved here because this is where my husband‘s job was and I hated leaving Huntsville Alabama, where I went to high school, Huntsville High and college UAH. My first job teaching was at Orange Park high school.
Then we got transferred but we decided to move right back because we liked Jacksonville so much. I started substitute teaching at Terry Parker high school in the fall of 76 and then February 1977, I got hired. I was so excited! My students at Orange Park high school said why don’t you teach at that smart school Terry Parker. I didn’t even know about Terry Parker at the time since I had just moved here, but Parker was a great school. We had the most national merit finalists in the county for several years in a row. It’s really amazing to see how different the schools are today. I blame a lot of that on the charter schools. I don’t like charter schools. I like the public schools where the kids knew that if they transferred from one school to the other, it wouldn’t be a huge difference.
Lately, my daughter has been very active in saving Atlantic Beach Elementary school. I have gone to some of the meetings with her and in fact there’s another one this week at Parker high school. Jacksonville is a beautiful city. The St. John’s River is one of its biggest assets along with the beach, of course. I really enjoy going to lunch with my teacher friends. It’s fun to check out new restaurants and it’s always fun just to get together with good friends. I’m enjoying my retirement even though I miss having students. But now my six grandchildren get to hear all about France!
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We love Mrs. Dent!!! I graduated from Parker in 1979 and I had Mrs. Dent for English. I remember reading MacBeth in her class. She was also my club’s (Preps) faculty sponsor. She had her first child during my Jr. or Sr. year. My Mom made a yellow maternity dress and all of the club members signed our names in white fabric paint. A picture of her in that dress, which I have, would have been great in your article.
Wow, I had Mrs. Dent for English at TP. Loved her class. She inspired me to become a teacher. She is right, the traditional public schools are getting the raw end of the deal due to charter schools. It’s not an even playing field, yet, so many traditional public schools continue to be high performing. Imagine what could be if they had full support!