The Mycenaean

There have been hundreds of teachers at Leesville since it opened, but maybe none as long as Tina Dotson.

Ms. Dotson has been at Leesville for an astounding 32 years. Do the math people — Leesville opened in 1993.

“The original principal was my next door neighbor. I grew up with him, he offered me the job,” said Dotson.

But for her, “It’s more than just a job, I mean we truly are family, we do things together,” said Dotson.

Her students revere her hands-on, helpful approach to teaching.

“She made things easy to understand and the work helped with my understanding of biology,” said Nathan DeCamp, junior. “She’s patient and willing to help you try and improve your grade.”

Emiliano Bello, sophomore, said, “She helps me. She teaches me very well, and she explains some hard questions.”

Ms. Dotson teaches biology and anatomy + physiology. Both of which have some very fun activities.

DeCamp said, “The class dissections were my favorite activity.”

As someone who had Ms. Dotson for both bio and anatomy, I can corroborate this statement.

“She’s very kind and funny,” said DeCamp.

Ms. Dotson likes to make her students laugh with funny statements throughout lessons, or an activity such as making students squeeze a clothespin until their hand is on fire to demonstrate how lactic acid builds up — I still remember to this day because of it.

Bello said, “She is very caring and a wonderful teacher.”

There were many occasions where students were struggling and Ms. Dotson helped them out with getting their grade up a couple points. Not all teachers would do that.

“She helps explain the problem and some questions on the test and quiz and some hints,” said Bello.

Ms. Dotson has a connection with all of her students. “[I love] their individuality. I want my kids to be themselves and not to be afraid to try new things or just be honest,” said Dotson.

As for why Ms. Dotson became a teacher, well, that’s more of a mystery.

“I honestly have no idea, always throughout high school I enjoyed helping people. It just seemed very natural for me, when I went to school I just went straight into teaching,” said Dotson, “If you ask my mom, she’d say kindergarten because I was always bossing people around, but I would play school when I was little, so it was just natural for me.”

Reflecting on some of her favorite moments here at Leesville, Ms. Dotson said, “There could be anything from the boy eating the worms, to a kid who never passed a single class in his life getting a B in my biology class, to students that I’ve had in the past, their kids are showing up in my class. Thirty-two years, there’s too many.”

“Don’t rush things. Take your time. Whether it’s schoolwork, life, don’t rush things. Look around and enjoy what you’re doing, if you don’t like it, move on,” said Dotson.

As I stated before, I had Ms. Dotson for both Biology and Anatomy.

I remember so much more from those classes just because of how Ms. Dotson teaches. She was always just helpful to me, and the fact that in 32 years not a single teacher spotlight has been written about her shocked me.

It is my honor to be the first.

Tina Dotson is one of the teachers that people truly appreciate even after they’re out of class. Not just as a teacher, but as a person.