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Rep. Prince Chestnut has worked with both the Selma City and Dallas County school districts to help improve education for its students.

Last week, Chestnut donated $1.75 million to Selma City Schools to help repair damages from the January 12 tornado.

But on June 26 Chestnut presented Dallas County Schools with a check for $10,000 to help with educational needs. Chestnut praised both superintendents, saying that both men are “Johnny on the spot”

Dallas County Schools Superintendent Anthony Sampson said that he is thrilled to have elected officials who support education in the ways Chestnut has.

“We are thrilled to have supportive, elected officials in Dallas County who are true Champions, Sampson said. “Representative Prince Chestnut is a shining example in both words and deeds for Dallas County Schools System. This contribution will help with roofing repairs at Southside High School, Robotics at Valley Grande Elementary, and enhancements for athletic facilities.”

Chestnut has spoken since the tornado back in January about rebuilding Selma. He spoke after the meeting at Selma High about how important it is to have good leadership and a program that will have students ready for the workforce in a district. He went on to say that both districts have that leadership with Dr. Zickeyous Byrd at Selma and Sampson at Dallas County.

“The start is making sure we have superintendents that are responsive and answer the call of duty and then actually will do something above and beyond just the minimum, Chestnut said. “I also think in education we have to be able to connect education on the K-12 level to the junior colleges. The junior college system is truly the lifeline of a lot of communities.

“I believe we have to get people prepared for things like service work and work for the companies that are existing. So there are so many of the high-paying jobs in the area where the people don’t actually live in the community…if we can have a K-12 system that is getting children prepared especially with a really strong vocational system then they can go K-12 to the junior college, get the training that they need, then go right out into the workforce.”