Governor's wife, Teresa Parson, visits Jackson to discuss education

Teresa Parson, wife of the 57th governor of Missouri Mike Parson, spoke Tuesday to a crowd of 40 at Jackson Civic Center, in an event sponsored by SEMO Pachyderms Club.

Parson came to the Cape Girardeau County seat after visiting students in 10 Southeast Missouri school districts since Monday, including Scott City.

The state's first lady said she and the governor are co-chairs of Jobs for America's Graduates-Missouri, otherwise known as JAG-Missouri, adding that 74 schools are now part of the program since its inception in the Show Me State in 2017.

Parson, who said she was the mother of two and grandmother of six, extolled the virtues of the in-school initiative aimed at high schoolers.

"The kids in this (JAG) program are amazing and have a lot of potential," said Parson, who moved into the Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City with her husband after the June 1, 2018, resignation of former Gov. Eric Greitens.

Parson also told those gathered a second priority of hers is the state's special needs children, relating a personal connection.

"I have a great niece who has autism. Little Zoe, when she was 3 years old, could barely speak. Today, she's in the fourth grade and has a lot of help, yes, but now she has so many skills that just had to be developed," said Parson, adding Zoe is in the public school system and is "doing quite well."

According to a website, the stated mission of the Pachyderms Club, which has more than 60 chapters in 15 U.S. states, is "to promote active citizen involvement and education in government and politics through the formation and support of grassroots Republican clubs across America."

Among several current and former elected officials on hand were Second District Cape Girardeau County Commissioner Charlie Herbst and ex-GOP state Rep. Kathy Swan, whose former 147th District seat, currently vacant, covers the City of Cape Girardeau.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct number of JAG schools in Missouri.