My name is Robert L. Douglas and I am honored to be selected as the Educational Support Specialist of the Year at Bob Mathis Elementary School. As a former proud Wildcat parent, I now work here as a Pre-K Paraprofessional. I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Rutgers University and completed one year of graduate study in Public Administration at Atlanta University. I am a native of Brunswick, Georgia. During my teaching years, I taught at Woodbury, Georgia Alternative School and I also taught Georgia History at Greenville, Georgia Middle School.

I am currently a board member and chair of the Education Committee of South Dekalb Improvement Association and past President of Creekwood Hills Community Neighborhood Association. I have two adult sons named Aaron Rahsaan and Terronce Malcom Douglas, who were also graduates of Bob Mathis Elementary. I have been married for 43 years to my wonderful wife, Sheron Smith Douglas. I am a member of Berean Christian Church, in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

I believe in order to increase the performance and success of our children, our society and government needs to make Early Childhood Education from Pre-nursery to Pre-K mandatory and free for all children. Our children must learn to read and write proficiently prior to entering the third grade in order to break the cycle of low performance, possible incarceration and other negative elements they may confront in their later years. These strategies would promote higher graduation rates, greater self esteem and the incentive to enter colleges and or technical schools. In conclusion, all stakeholders, (parents, business owners, community activists and teachers) must become more involved in the successful education of our children for the betterment of our county, state and nation.