FEATURE

Q&A with James Skelton

Ag teacher crosses state lines to TISD

Story by Lourdes Quijas, Staff Writer

September 8, 2023

New to THS agriculture teacher James Skelton writes on a whiteboard as he teaches class. Skelton teaches several classes such as equine science, small animal management and principles of agriculture, food and natural resources.

Where were you before Texas High?

I spent the last two years teaching science at Arkansas.

What are your hobbies?

I like to do dutch oven cowboy cooking. I like to cook meat on the smoker.

What is your favorite thing about working here?

The people are different here and I’ve really been here a couple of months and I really enjoy working with these folks.

What do you miss most about your old school?

I don’t know. I guess probably some of the people I had gotten pretty close to over there, and we’re pretty good friends, but things change and you have to adapt and overcome.

What is your family life like?

I’m divorced. I have two daughters. My oldest daughter is a senior at Arkansas State business administration. My youngest daughter is a junior at a high school about 30 miles south of Branson, Missouri, she lives with her mother.

Why did you move to Texas High?

My degree is in agriculture. I came to Texas High because they had opened this position up to help bridge the gap between the industrial certification and FFA and put my name in the hat for it and they decided they would put me to work.

What do you teach?

I teach Principles of Agriculture, food and natural resources. I teach two sections of that. I teach one section of small animal management, one section of equine science, one section of ag. structures, and one section of ag. mechanics.

What are you passionate about?

Helping these kids [understand] I’m in the kid business. I’ve been teaching for a long time, and I just enjoy helping kids. I enjoy seeing that light bulb moment. It still gets me everyday.

What are your plans for the school year?

We’re looking at growing this program, adding more members to our FFA chapter. We’re looking at some contests and competitions with some of the stuff we do. We’re looking at a trailer going into the for stock show after the first of the year and into the Houston Livestock Show student built project. You were looking at several competitive teams within the FFA side of it, kind of looking at growing this thing and making it big.

How did you prepare for the school year?

I spent a lot of time at home doing research. Digging up information and reading and trying to figure out how, what I knew, how I could bring my skill set to these kids into this classroom

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in De Queen, about 50 miles north from here. I went to highschool there and graduated in 1989.

About the Contributors

Lourdes Quijas, Staff Writer

Lourdes Quijas is returning for her third and final year in publications with Tiger Times. Outside of newspaper, she is the lead vibraphone player in the Tiger Band and practices every day to make sure she’s the best player she can be. Quijas is the Vice President of Tri-M Music Honor Society. She is known to be a very friendly person and is always smiling or laughing. She loves socializing with anyone and everyone and is ready to have a great senior year!

Zoey McIntosh, visual journalist

Zoey McIntosh is a second year staff photographer for Tiger Times. She focuses most of her time running for cross country. Despite how dreadful it may sound, she actually really loves it, so much so that she runs themed 5ks or half marathons outside of practice. While running sounds like McIntosh’s only hobby, it actually isn’t, she also enjoys reading any time she possibly can. She is involved in science club (mostly for the doughnuts). McIntosh is so excited for this year in publications.