Ask her what she enjoys most about her job and she will describe that moment when the gears mesh, that instant when a student masters a concept or a skill and he lifts his head and his eyes light up. For seven years, Gates had been the art instructor at Northside Elementary School, where he worked with kindergartners through fifth-graders. But, a few days ago, at age 30, he left behind the job he'd always wanted.
Teachers return from their leaves without losing seniority.
Gates thought that one day he might return to the classroom and introduce students to the rudiments of the computer-assisted drawing skills he expects to learn at Boeing. But his application for advanced leave was denied. Gates grew up in Bay County. He attended Mowat Middle School and played football while a student at Mosley. He went on to Gulf Coast Community College and Florida State University.