Sometimes, even the state government makes mistakes.
When Carter County Board of Education member Kelly Crain was recently honored with the distinction of “Master School Board Member” by the Tennessee School Board Association, he was shocked to be told he was the first board member from Carter County to earn the distinction. As it turns out, he was correct to be shocked, because he was actually the second.
Former school board member the late Jack Pearman was actually the first Carter County Board of Education member to earn the distinction of a Level 5 Master School Board Member from the TSBA.
When Crain found out he had been selected as a Master Board Member, he asked the TSBA who else in Carter County had achieved the honor.
“I wanted to know whose company I was in,” he said.
After searching their records, the TSBA told Crain he was the first ever board member from Carter County to capture the accolade.
Crain said he was shocked because he thought for sure Pearman would have earned the distinction.
“He was such a mentor to all of us,” Crain said of Pearman.
After a story was published in the Elizabethton Star regarding Crain’s recognition, several people contacted both the Elizabethton Star and the Carter County School System administration regarding Pearman’s award and the TSBA’s statement that Crain was the only Carter County Board member to achieve Level 5 status.
Members of Pearman’s family provided the date that he was honored to the school system, who in turn contacted the TSBA. After searching through their records again, the TSBA confirmed Pearman was the first Carter County Board member to achieve Level 5 status, and offered their apologies for the confusion.
Under the guidelines of the TSBA program, those hoping to achieve Master Board Member status have to submit a portfolio demonstrating their improvements to education and their school system. Prospects must show their work in helping to improve their school system policies and procedures as well as demonstrate how they advocate for their system, its teachers and its students. They must also show how they work to pass along their knowledge to others by serving as a mentor to a new school board member, helping to mentor other school boards, serving as a TSBA ambassador or making presentations at TSBA or National School Board Association functions.
Jack Pearman’s daughter, Shari Pearman, is pleased that the error has been corrected.
While she describes her father as a humble man who didn’t want notoriety or accolades, Shari Pearman wanted to make sure his hard work and dedication to education and the Carter County school system were properly remembered.
“He was in the Carter County school system for 59 years,” Shari Pearman said of her father.
Jack Pearman began his career teaching in a small rock school in Carter County. In fact, the school was so small, there were only two teachers, Shari Pearman said.
“He was the 5th grade through 8th grade teacher plus the principal,” she said with a laugh.
From there, Jack Pearman went on to teach the sciences at Happy Valley High School before moving into administration and serving as the principal at Happy Valley Elementary and later Unaka High School.
From there, Jack Pearman’s career shifted again and he took up a supervisor’s position in the central office.
“He was a mentor to so many people,” Shari Pearman said. “He believed in sharing what he learned.
“Not only did he love education, he lived it and believed in it,” she added.
Jack Pearman eventually earned his Masters Degree as well as 45 additional credits. “The only think he lacked for his doctorate was writing a dissertation,” Shari Pearman said.
Because he loved the schools so much and believed so strongly in education, Jack decided to run for the Board of Education, and was elected several times.
“Dad was on the school board for about 20 years,” Shari Pearman said. “He hadn’t been off the school board but a few years when he passed away, so he was in his 80s and still working in education.” Jack Pearman passed away in May of this year at the age of 85.
Even when his health began to deteriorate and he was no longer able to drive, that didn’t dampen Jack Pearman’s desire to serve the children of Carter County.
“Dallas Williams used to come and pick Daddy up and take him to the Board meetings,” Shari Pearman said. “He lived it until he couldn’t go any more. That is his legacy.”
In addition to serving as a mentor for those he worked with in the school system, Jack Pearman was an inspiration to many of the students and community members he encountered, not the least of which is his own daughter, Shari Pearman.
“I’m trying to be just like my dad,” she said with a laugh.
After graduating Happy Valley High School, Shari Pearman went to East Tennessee State University and majored in education, just like her father.
Shari Pearman has been a teacher now for 36 years, and has earned her Masters Degree as well as 45 additional credits. “Just like Dad,” she said.