Bauxite teacher relishes his fame

After delivering a one-minute speech at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, Bauxite schoolteacher Dustin Parsons is enjoying his 15 minutes of fame.

“It has been a remarkable experience. Last night, backstage, I was standing over beside [Scandal star] Tony Goldwyn just having a conversation. Meryl Streep, she was around,” he said.

Television, radio and newspaper reporters are interviewing him. People in Saline County have been supportive.

Parsons said he’s received an “overwhelmingly posi- tive response from so many friends and family and students, parents and stuff like that.”

The messages began arriving almost immediately. “Facebook, emails, text, Twitter, Instagram, all kinds of social media,” he said. “The cool thing is I’m hearing from Democrats and Republicans.”

He hopes his message helps boost Hillary Clinton, a candidate he said is committed to improving education.

“Back at home, they’re saying, ‘I’m proud of you,’ and I hope they understood it wasn’t for me. It was for the kids, and that’s what it was all about.”