LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — News 10 has an inspirational story about a local teacher who dedicated 52 and a half years to teaching. For Ms. Pearl Evans, her over five decades in the classroom represent a dream fulfilled.

On Tuesday, Evans packs away her teaching tools at Lafayette’s Northside High School to advance into a class all her own.

As the campus at Northside High falls silent for the summer, teachers return to clean up their classrooms and prepare for the upcoming school year.  For Evans, her cleanup is permanent. After over 50 years teaching home economics and family and consumer science, Pearl hangs up her apron to enter retirement.

“I knew that I had a love and a passion for teaching but more so for the children,” Evans stated.

Initially, Evans intended to teach physical education, while her brother’s wife majored in home economics.

“So, he told me, ‘Sis, don’t go into Physical Education. Go into Home Economics’ and I said I don’t think so. He said to try it. Once I started taking courses at Grambling State University, I decided that was my baby,” Evans explained.

Speaking of babies, Evans never had any of her own.  Her students became her children.

“Sometimes I would say (to students) you know Ms. Evans. You know what my beliefs are. Sometimes, I would just say no and no. The students would laugh and say you know how Ms. Evans feels about it,” she added.

Pearl has a message for her students and for those students who never entered her class but hold a place in her heart.

“Think about somebody who has inspired you. Think about Ms. Evans, who has had confidence in you and believed that you can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you. Don’t fall through the cracks. Don’t become a statistic,” Evans said.

For Evans, that’s 52 and a half years, over and done.

“I’m excited yet bitterly sad. I’m really sad because it wasn’t time, but it was God’s time. I’m appreciative of the time that I put into the system, but I know there are bigger and better things ahead,” Evans noted.

Evans devoted her entire career to the Lafayette Parish School System, working at Northside High and Comeaux High School.  

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