Dr. Claxton retires
from 37 year teaching career
BY KELLEY M. ARNOLD DIRECTOR OF NEWS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION
Dr
The Education Division professor and the college’
. Melba S. Claxton’s roots run deep at Brewton-Parker.
Education Coordinator is saying farewell to the place she’
s Early Childhood one who encouraged
“Dr. Miller was the
home for more than 40 years. She retires May 12 after educating 25
s called me to come on
years of the college’s graduating teachers.
board. I did, and I
never looked back,”
“I feel like I have been so immersed at Brewton-Parker these 25 years.
“It was big, big leap of faith,” she said, referring to her decision to retire. she said. “At the time
Brewton-Parker is nearly ingrained in my whole body and soul, which I’ve
I thought if the Lord
enjoyed. It’s been a time to grow as a person. Gosh, I’ll miss it!”
wanted me to move,
I’d have to hear it. I
Dr. Claxton held the position of business manager in 1960 when the
Though she didn’t start teaching in the Education Division until 1982, guess I heard it in
school was a junior college. She handled responsibilities similar to
what Dr
At Brewton-Parker
. Miller said.”
store clerk “all over in Gates Hall,” Dr
those of the present-day positions of registrar
. Claxton recalls.
, financial aid and book she taught children’
even earned a doctorate of education in 1996 from Nova Southeastern
s literature education and English education. She
,
native also earned her associate degree from Brewton-Parker in 1970.
The Uvalda, Ga.,
“I’m an alumnus,” she says with a note of pride in her voice.
University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
favorite part of teaching at the college-level is seeing her students get
The 37-year educator says her
was both a mother and a wife when she returned to college and
A pioneer among her female peers in the early seventies, Dr. Claxton excited, the same excitement she would see in her third graders and
pursued her degrees. While at Brewton-Parker she may have first
kindergartners.
propelled herself along the business administration track, but her
desire to teach won out. She was even honored as the Most
student, which is defined as those students who have been out in the
“More than half of our education enrollment is the non-traditional
Outstanding Future
field and worked some, about three to five years,” she explained.
“These are working mothers and fathers, and singles as well, who
administration,” she said. “I tried it, though it wasn’t really what I
“I wanted to teach, but I thought I would just get a degree in business
Teacher in her class.
come back and are serious about getting their education degree.
wanted.
are a joy to teach, even though I see some of those third grade traits
They
I thought, ‘What am I fighting? Why am I fighting this?’
Then I thought, ‘Well, maybe business education then’. Then of worry and fear about a new idea, but when they get it, they’ve got it,
mission work. How people who have been called will put it of
It’s just like with and they can produce results. I’ll miss that.”
it of
f and put
and when they accepted it, they finally found peace – just like I did with
f. I know people who have fought mission work for such a long time, who can’t sit still,” she said. She plans to join the Georgia Philological
She hopes she’ll be able to enjoy retirement “and not be one of those
teaching.”
Society at the college, staying active in their lectures and events, and
she may even try her hand at writing children’
taught kindergarten and third grade for a total of ten years, and then
After she earned a bachelor’s degree at Georgia Southern, she
she returned to GSU to earn her masters so she could teach at the
1980, so I do know what makes good literature. But that doesn’t
“I’m thinking about it. After all, it’s what I love and have taught since
s literature.
college level. She started at Brewton-Parker as an adjunct for
necessarily mean I’ll be able to write it,” she added with a hearty laugh
College at Brewton-Parker in 1980, but it wasn’t until former president
Tift and a smile.
Dr
did she pursue a second career with her alma mater
. Starr Miller encouraged her to consider teaching full-time at BPC
.
e
d
u
c
a
t
i
o
n
Name:
Major: Early Childhood Education
Stephanie Herlocker degree. I would also like to begin thinking about having
Age:
children.”
Hometown:
22
Family Info:
Broxton, Ga.
What has been your best experience?
School Involvement/organizations:
Married to husband, Derek, for 21 months
“College is what you make of it, and for me meeting new
and basketball
Intramural softball
people has been my best experience. I will also remember
Plans after Graduation:
getting engaged and married while in school.”
school and, after a year,
“I plan to teach in an elementary
begin working on my master’s
BY
STAFF WRITER
HAYLEY M. BOISSEAU (’08)/NEWS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION,
6 THE LAMP SPRING 2007
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