Faces of Newton County 2015
The Covington News
l
7
JEAN
WALLACE
Newton substitute teacher stays on the move
J
ean Wallace was dropping her granddaughter off at
Porterdale Elementary when she decided to walk
next door to Newton High School and introduce
herself.
She introduced herself as a retired math teacher who just moved to Newton County, and was willing to assist in any way she could.
An employee with the high school called her back and said they could
use a mathematics substitute, and ever since Wallace has been a resident of
Newton County. She has now been a mathematics substitute for four years.
“I thought maybe I was done but three years ago when I left my grand-
daughter, who was in 10th grade, she said ‘Grandma, you have to come back,’”
Wallace said. “I was so happy a child wanted her grandmother in the building
with her.”
Of all the students Wallace, the retired Atlanta Public Schools teacher, has
taught, of all those she has tutored, of all the families she has helped, her
granddaughter reaching out to her is her pride, because it represents what
she feels is the strongest thing – family.
Wallace was raised in Savannah with a large family unit consisting of
grandparents, both parents, 12 aunts and uncles on one side and a plethora
of cousins.
“We were taught that everything you need is in the family environment,”
Continued on PAGE 19