An Arkansas teacher has won a round of the Jeopardy! Teachers Tournament.
Mary Parker, a high school French and English teacher from Rogers, earned $26,650 in an episode that aired Tuesday, beating two other educators.
Host Alex Trebek said Jeopardy! is “highlighting America’s teachers” through this series of episodes.
Parker was ahead of Eduardo Sevilla of Virginia and Sara Holub of Wisconsin throughout much of the game. She answered the first question of the game correctly but lost the lead to Holub once or twice.
During the last half of the game, Parker had nearly double everyone else’s money, and her lead over the other contestants only grew. Before the final question, she had $22,200. She answered correctly and was awarded an additional $4,450, winning the game.
The final question, in the form of a statement: "W.J. Bryan gave the keynote speech at this man’s high school graduation in 1919; 6 years later their paths would cross again." The correct answer, which Parker gave, was "Who is John Scopes?"
Parker will advance to the next round, which airs next week.
Fellow Arkansan Cody Vest will also compete in the tournament, Arkansas Online previously reported. Both Parker and Vest will receive $2,500 grants for classroom projects for their participation.
Parker said she plans to use the grant money to buy Quiz Bowl buzzers for her students.
In Little Rock, Jeopardy! comes on at 11 a.m. each weekday on KATV.