KSEE - Educator of the Week » Educator Stories

Educator of the Week - Jalisca Thomason

By KSEE News
October 24, 2011 Updated Oct 24, 2011 at 12:37 PM PDT

"It's okay to say you don't like some things. Just be sure to identify the things you don't like."

There's a lot to like about teacher Jalisca Thomason. She's turned floral design into much more than just a class at Selma High School. For this teacher and her students, it's a passion.

"When the kids walk out the door, I want them to be able to have a career. They can work their way through college with floral design. They can work weekends, they can work holidays, they work during the summers. So when they leave my classroom, they're able to go out into the industry and earn a living."

Ms. Thomason's students have become a mini-industry for Selma High School. They help design floral arrangements for weddings in the city and other projects in the area. Ms. Thomason gave them the initiative, and they did the rest.

"I need to charge more! But I charge wholesale cost and then a donation to the school. All the money goes back to the classroom."

"Lovely texture, don't you think?"

Ms. Thomason is also credited with revitalizing the school's Ag Department. And many of her students are now thinking of floral design, long-term.

"I've been telling Ms. Thomason, I really do want to go to college for this. And I really do like this class and she really inspired me a lot."

So congratulations to Jaslica Thomason. She's an inspiration to every student in her class, well deserving to be our KSEE24 "Educator of the Week."

Jalisca Thomason also helped start a greenhouse at Selma High School, along with her students. They also volunteer on the project during the summer to keep it going.

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