While his wife leads the parent-teacher association, Jenkins devotes time, money and energy not only to his children's schools but also to Lakewood Middle School and all five elementary schools in the district. There is a ton of tremendous opportunity for everyone who wants to get involved. Others are sometimes surprised to hear that Jenkins sends his children to public schools when he can afford to do otherwise. When you think about all the hundreds of thousands of students in public schools, and there are maybe thousands in private schools, that's not really comparing apples and apples. In the aftermath of the Columbine High School massacre and other school violence, Jenkins' optimism is refreshing and inspiring, Brazear said.
People have time for what they make time for.
After a morning of workshops at Batesville Southside High School, a Cub Scout group was scheduled to sing the patriotic song. Jacobs wasn't worried, because Cole's strong soprano voice anchors the choir at Westark Church of Christ. She and Cole, along with other PTA members attending the conference, were staying together at a Batesville hotel. A member of the Fort Smith School Board, she has been an outstanding volunteer and a PTA champion throughout her children's public school careers. When her son graduates next year, don't tell Cole she will no longer have children in Fort Smith public schools.