FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 12, 2005
Contact: Edmond McDavis III
(662) 241-7851

Former high school teacher and her student reunited in new roles as colleagues

COLUMBUS, Miss. – An orientation for department chairs at Mississippi University for Women turned into a reunion of sorts for two faculty members.

Dr. Sue Jolly, chair of the Department of Education and coordinator of field experiences, and Dr. Martin Hatton, an associate professor and chair of the Department of Communication, have a past.

Hatton was apart of an advanced classed called Merit that Jolly taught during his 10th and 11th grade years at Caledonia High School.

“The course was designed, I believe, to foster critical reasoning skills, although our agenda was to tax Dr. Jolly's patience,” Hatton recalled.

Jolly said, “He was in a resource class for gifted students, and so I worked with him and his classmates developing writing skills, doing creative projects, problem solving and critical thinking and developing research skills. We didn't focus in one content area. He was a creative and capable high school student.

“I don't recall any conversations back then about Marty becoming a teacher.

However, I have always known that he would be successful in whatever endeavor he chose. It does not surprise me that he is in communications and that he has pursued an education, earning a Ph.D.”

Hatton, who has taught at MUW since 1992, said, “Dr. Jolly taught thinking outside of the box. The reasoning skills she helped to foster were essential in my graduate research [as a graduate student at the University of Alabama] and are the foundation upon which I draw in my career every day. It is that skill more than any other that I try to foster in the Communication Department at MUW.”

The MUW alumnus credits Jolly with being “one of two very inspirational teachers, the other being Mrs. Sheila Thead, who was my English teacher for three years.

“I consider it an honor to be working in the company of Dr. Jolly.”

Jolly said, “It feels great to be his colleague because I know what a capable individual he is. Also, teachers enjoy knowing about the successes of their students…it is one of the joys of teaching.  I very much look forward to working now alongside him here at MUW.”