Jackson Free Press

Andrea Jones has always enjoyed teaching. "I've always been some type of educator. I like to gain knowledge then share it," she said.

Jones is the founder of Toot, Teach and Roll, an innovative mobile-learning lab inside a bright blue modified school bus. It's a setup that allows Jones and her staff to bring a hands-on learning environment they created wherever it is needed. Toot, Teach and Roll integrates arts and crafts with laptops and SmartBoards in communities all over Jackson and the surrounding area.

Jones, 37, has lived in Jackson for 33 years after moving from Grenada at age 4. She attended Murrah High School and later graduated from Jackson State University with a degree in marketing.She then attended Mississippi College, where she got a master's in secondary education. She graduates from Mississippi College in December as a specialist in education leadership.

A single mom, Jones has two children: a 19-year-old son, Andre, who is a bio-medical engineering major at Mississippi State, and a 12-year-old daughter, Coralyn, who is a 7th grader at Chastain
 Middle School.

"They are part of the reason behind the bus," Jones said. "I learned early on they were different learners. Adapting to learning styles is the biggest key to teaching children."

Jones started Toot, Teach and Roll in March to cater to all learning styles such as musical, kinetic, interpersonal and logistic to better teach not only children, but to help teachers, parents and communities learn as well. The Toot, Teach and Roll bus is filled with tables bolted to the floors in place of seats, which are covered in craft and activity materials designed to ensure that students of any learning style can be given activities that best suit their own style. The bus also plays host to birthday parties and fitness programs.

Jones' decision to find innovative ways to teach is partly inspired by a quote from philosopher John Dewey: "If we teach today as we taught yesterday we rob our children of tomorrow." She believes a hands-on approach is essential to teaching. "We used to just sit and lecture, but lecturing won't do it anymore," she said. Jones' mobile learning lab style can reach anyone--child, parent, or teacher--who needs it. "Our target market is anyone who wants to learn."