A high school dropout goes from custodian to teacher

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Lowell Outland was a custodian at Tates Creek High School for seven years, a high school dropout who dreamed of becoming a teacher.

With hard work, the 59-year-old Air Force veteran made it happen. On Wednesday, the first day of Fayette County Public Schools, Outland stepped to the front of his classroom as the new graphic arts and photography teacher at Tates Creek High School.

"As a custodian, ... it was his dream and ours that he be able to be a teacher here," said principal Marty Mills. "He has a capacity for learning. He's very driven and very motivated. I knew that he would be a teacher somewhere. I'm just glad that it's here."

"It's an amazing story," Mills said.