Parents point to education as key to future

An elementary school teacher for 26 years, Marie Butler now teaches reading and writing skills to students who aren’t quite ready for college.

“My husband and I are career students basically. We have all these college degrees between us. So we’ve always stressed academics with our kids, and how important it is to getting the job and achieving the lifestyle you want.

“One of our sons is doing great at his job, and he does training as needed. Our daughter is in her third academic year of college, and our other son has gone back to school. He realized that for the jobs he wants and the independence that he feels like he needs, he has to have his college behind him. So he’s working hard getting that finished.

“My husband and I made a lot of sacrifices and saved a lot of money through the years so our kids wouldn’t have to worry about paying for college. We’re happy when we see them taking advantage of the situation.”

— Marie Butler