Sixth-grader inspires Gov. Justice to reach deal for teachers

CHARLESTON, W.Va — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said he was inspired by what Gideon-Titus Glover said about investing in teachers.

The answer to ending the statewide teacher and school service personnel work stoppage may have come from a student.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said the idea for a new deal was inspired by a sixth grade student named Gideon-Titus Glover. He spoke to Justice during a town hall Monday in Wheeling.

“I said ‘Gideon, if I were to give you a dollar and it would instantaneously turn into eight, and every dollar that I gave you kept turning into eight, is that not a good thing?” Justice said during a news conference Tuesday where he announced a deal for teachers.

“Because even if I gave you $20 million and it turned into $160 (million), wouldn’t that be fabulous?’ He said, ‘Absolutely.’ I said, ‘See, Gideon, that’s an investment.’ He looked right back at me and said, ‘Wouldn’t it be an investment to invest in smart teachers that would make me smart, and then I could in return, turn around and do smart, good things for our state?’ Well, he’s right.”

Justice said he was really moved by the young man's words and it made him completely rethink his approach to reaching a deal.

“I love my teachers,” Glover said. “They try to support me, so I felt it fair that I would support them.”