By Bonnie Culverhouse

By an overwhelming margin, Jerri Lee was elected Saturday to represent District 9 on the Webster Parish School Board.

“I’m happy, but it’s also challenging, too,” Lee said. “I thought about a few days’ rest, but I’m getting ready to start studying. I want to make sure I’m an effective board member and a service to this community.”

Lee won 193 votes to 14, defeating Jo Ann McWoodson, a retired school board employee.

Lee was an educator, retiring after 36 years. Her first job was teaching English at Dubberly.

“I was the first African-American to start integration in a Webster Parish school,” she said. “I was the first core curriculum teacher.”

After Dubberly, Lee spent the next 30 years at Minden High teaching French, English and Spanish. After retiring from MHS, she filled in at the Webster Parish Alternative School for a few years.

“The students of the community are important to me, and I want to work with the board and make the decisions; get with them and see what we can come up with,” Lee said. “ I’m looking forward to seeing what I can bring to the table.”

Lee said her goals include attending meetings regularly and learning all she can about the issues facing education today.

“I want to make sure I can interact with a variety of our community members because I’ve been involved in different things,” she said. “There’s a lot we can learn from each other and work together for the good of the community.”

Lee served three terms (12 years) on Webster Parish Police Jury.