Rock Hill students ask Panthers to take 2 teachers to Super Bowl

When Old Pointe Elementary students learned that two school employees who work part time for the Carolina Panthers would not be going to the Super Bowl, it didn’t seem fair.

So the students put their lessons into action.

They wrote letters to the Carolina Panthers arguing their view.

They sent a video, too.

“She is hard working,” said 8-year-old Zander Sutton, referring to his teacher, Deana Scott. “She’s a full-time employee here, and a part-time employee there. So that makes her full-time.”

About 20 third- and fourth-grade students from two classrooms took up the cause. They argued that part-time Panthers workers Scott and a teaching assistant, Wattona Mobley, should be able to attend Sunday’s game in Santa Clara, Calif., with the team’s full-time employees.

“She works so hard here, and then she goes to the Panthers and helps them,” said 9-year-old Alana Reeves.

“It’s kind of not fair,” said McKenzie Brockelbank, 10.

Scott and Mobley have been working for the team for two years. Scott works in a guest relations booth at the stadium during home games. Mobley scans tickets for fans.

When Old Pointe students heard news reports that Panthers owner Jerry Richardson was taking all his employees to the game in California, they were thrilled for their teachers.

“The kids were super excited, because they knew these two ladies worked for the Panthers,” said Principal Tanya Campbell.

But Scott and Mobley never received any communication from the Panthers about the trip. Scott heard from other employees that only full-time workers would be taken to the game by the team.

Scott said she understands, but is still a little disappointed.

“Being their employee for the past two years, it makes you a huge fan,” Scott said. “Now it’s time to celebrate that hard work, but I don’t get to go, because I never heard anything.”

Mobley agreed.

“I do realize there are more part-time employees than full-time employees,” Mobley said. “But I would have loved to go and have gotten the Super Bowl experience, because I love sports.”

Scott said her class was learning about opinion writing when Richardson announced he would take employees to the game. Students wanted to express their views on the matter as a school assignment.

Excerpts from some of the students’ letters:

▪  Zander Sutton: “They stand out in the cold for the ball game and help people with wheelchairs. Not letting them go to the game, that is just not right.”

▪  ZiErra Caldwell: “They both will scream for the Panthers and cheer. Don’t you want help so the Panthers can win?”

▪  Zae Bailey: “If I could send them, I would, but I do not own the team; you do.”

▪  Jack Simpson: “I saw on the Internet that you’re taking all employees to the Super Bowl, but that’s not so true. How about part-time employees? You’re not telling the complete truth.”

Scott and Mobley are not planning to make the trip to game. After sending students’ letters and video to the Panthers, they received an email thanking them for their support.

But both were thrilled with students’ interest in the issue. “I was just so impressed,” said Mobley. “The kids were so enthused. They will remember this experience.”

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 3:23 PM with the headline "Rock Hill students ask Panthers to take 2 teachers to Super Bowl."