Hillcrest School District

I had the privilege of visiting Hillcrest School District yesterday for their annual food drive kickoff. I was invited by a high school friend who runs the weekend food backpack program along with her husband. As parents at the school, they organize the weekly food bags that help keep 65 students fed throughout the district.

The food drive kickoff yesterday was an awesome event for all students K-12 and the highlight of the day was a full concert by ACMA artist of the year Cory Jackson. He treated the students to a variety of songs, signed autographs, and stayed to take pictures with each kiddo that wanted one.

Afterwards I got to tour the K-6 building...I got to see a 4th grade classroom that has two teachers that co-teach together. One teaches ELA and one math...the greatest benefit is that one is a first year teacher who gets support all day from a more seasoned teacher.

I met a mother and her two daughters who all teach in the district. One who teaches an art and agri crossover class.

I had the opportunity to read aloud to two precious kindergarten classes.

During my time there I witnessed the principal participating alongside a kindergarten class in P.E, I saw student council students who were responsible for introducing the guest speakers and for giving me the tour, I saw parents and teachers who work together to ensure each child has enough to eat.

I got to tour the food pantry where I learned that each child takes home a cake mix and icing on their birthday and the kids who are graduating get a spaghetti dinner sent home.

What stuck out the most about this district is that although it is small in size...it has a huge heart. The culture of the school is felt everywhere. I observed students supporting and celebrating each other, teachers who spoke about each other with an incredible amount of respect and admiration, a principal and curriculum coordinator that were fully involved in each aspect of the school, parents willing to give of their time to help students...it felt like one giant family working toward a common goal. I left feeling inspired and fulfilled and utterly impressed.

Star City

Whatever it takes.

I heard this phrase no less than twenty times last week during my visit to Star City School District.

To begin with...Superintendent Laffoon had organized my visit to coordinate with both a state senator and representative. He planned an immaculate schedule of classroom visits to highlight his school and share his students' stories.

We got to see each campus and visit with several teachers and students and the motto of WHATEVER IT TAKES was evident in every corner of the district.

Whatever it takes...providing wrap-around services by establishing two (yes TWO) health clinics on site. Students have access to medical, dental, and mental health services at school.

Whatever it takes...hiring additional staff to provide teacher aides for special needs students. We met a young man who would not have been able to manage being mainstreamed in the traditional classroom without his personal aide. At first he was quite distressed by the invasion of us on-lookers but by the time we left he was showing off what he built in engineering class.

Whatever it takes...providing a space for students to get away from the classroom while remaining engaged. An entire building is dedicated to providing a space for ALE students, students taking college level courses, home school students, and students who just need a break from the traditional classroom to work together. The beauty is labels do not enter that building.

Whatever it takes...providing extra aides and resources in the high school self-contained classroom so that students can truly learn life skills as well as develop work skills. The students in this classroom not only provide a deep cleaning for hire service where teachers can sign up for their services via Google docs but also their own mini lunch shop. The students run a sandwich shop from their classroom...taking orders, making sandwiches and soups by hand daily, and delivering meals to teachers. The smell of bacon filled the room during our visit as they prepared the sandwiches for the day. Two students even act as managers and oversee production.

Whatever it takes...takes on a new meaning when you see first hand how this district uses this motto to provide opportunities and access to high quality education to EVERY. SINGLE. STUDENT. And

There's no place like Fox Meadow

As I wrote previously, my first job was at Tyronza Elementary and I left after working there only two years. It was a gut-wrenching decision to leave that school that had become my home. However, I was taking my dream job at the school I always wanted to teach at...Fox Meadow Elementary. I had completed part of my student teaching at the school and literally lived within walking distance of the school as well. I had interviewed there right after graduation, however I did not get the job so when another opening was posted I jumped at the change again. I loved every aspect of the school...the diverse student population, the welcoming and cheerful administration, the incredible teachers. I began teaching there in 2006 and taught first grade for 5 years. I would have never left that job if my husband's job did not relocate us to central Arkansas in 2011. So when I was invited back...for the first time in years I was beyond excited.

I was greeted by the sweetest group of first and second grade kiddos playing ukuleles and singing and then the violin students performing. It was awesome to see such young students having exposure to this level of instrumental instruction.

Over the next few hours I got to see how the school has changed to accommodate the needs of students. One of the most innovative methods was the implementation of "WIN" time. "WIN" stands for "whatever I need". This is a program they have implemented to provide students with non-academic exposure to arts, music, sciences, and health and wellness. Once a quarter, the students that are performing on or above grade level get to select activities they are interested in and are pulled out of the classroom for enrichment with the activity teachers. The remaining children then get intensive intervention and extra support. The smaller class size allows the classroom teacher and instructional aide time to really provide student focused lessons to help them make growth. The enrichment activities have included hockey, research projects in the library, painting ceiling tiles, learning to play musical instruments, rock painting, etc. This program not only promotes student choice but provides whole child learning.

During my time at Fox Meadow I got to see and hug so many of my sweet friends I worked with and reminisce of funny stories. I loved the renovation of the library, implementation of a STEAM lab and STEAM after-school club, the intervention room with data wall, and the lovely paintings that adorn the walls. One of my favorite additions to the building is the new "Peace Lounge" that provides teachers a place to go and relax during the day. The room is darkened and has a large waterfall and aromatherapy. I love that teachers can sit on a comfy couch and just re-set if needed...what an incredible way to support and honor the adults in the building.

They also provided a conference room full of snacks for teachers to come in and chat with me. I loved this time to connect with teachers and catch up with old friends. Before I left I was gifted with the most awesome bag full of goodies. The bag says "There's no place like Fox Meadow". And I couldn't agree more.

Beebe Middle School

I had the privilege of visiting Beebe Middle School this week and there were several things that stuck out at me.

First... I loved how Beebe School District honored the history of McRae School District since their consolidation. There is an entire museum dedicated to McRae and there is a gorgeous walking track that has facts about the history of McRae along side.

While taking a tour of the building, I got to see the EAST lab, the engineering classroom, the special education room with attached therapy room, a dyslexia intervention room, and so many awesome classrooms.

I was invited to attend two PLC meetings where I got a first-hand glimpse into how their teams collaborate to plan, support each other, and problem solve.

Halfway through the second meeting the power went out but the collaboration went on and I was invited into three classrooms to observe. I am so thankful for those teachers who didn't mind me stepping in to observe with the added stress of having absolutely no power and teaching in the dark!

Thank you to the administration, faculty, and staff for welcoming me into their school!

Full Circle

Last week I was invited to visit Tyronza Elementary...the school where my first classroom sits. Back in 2004 I was a newly graduated teacher and I eagerly accepted the position of preschool teacher when offered at Tyronza. Even though it was a 45 minute drive from home. Even though it was a brand new classroom. Even though I knew absolutely nothing about the community. Even though my classroom was completely empty. Even though I had absolutely no clue what I was doing. I could not wait to establish a classroom of my own.

So a week later...20 adorable sweet faces entered my classroom. We sat on a hodgepodge of chairs and stools I found under the bleachers and in storage rooms. Slowly...throughout the year our classroom began to become a home.  I vividly remember how proud I felt to have students of my own and how much I loved watching them learn.

I had most of those kiddos for two year...when they were 3 and when they were 4. Hanging out with the same group of kiddos for two years will sure solidify their place in your heart. And when I was offered a job close to home...at the school I completed my student teaching...I was absolutely overwhelmed with guilt for leaving them. I saw them go on to kindergarten and never saw them again. I always felt a great loss of not getting to see those sweet kiddos grow up and go through school. I have kept up with a few of them through social media but for the most part..I've just wondered how they turned out.

That is until last week.

As I was saying, I was invited to come back and visit Tyronza Elementary. I was escorted around the school by a group of eager sixth graders and their lovely principal Mrs. Carroll. I was blown away how this outdated building had been transformed into a welcoming, inviting, exciting school. The Greatest Showman was the theme for the year and creative door covering and decorations hung from the ceiling. The students were so enthusiastic to share about their school and chauffeured me through room by room. They were proud. I watched as the students and principal engaged in conversation that proved mutual respect was alive and well in the building. I was shown the garden and the future placement of a sensory garden that I cannot wait to come back and see. The students showed me how they are taking Spanish in the computer lab for high school credit. They shared how they are allowed to make their own salads at lunch and even made sure I noticed their sauce bar. I saw the tables and chairs I hand-selected and purchased for my classroom 14 years before. They showed me the playground and my old classroom where I was flooded with memories. I saw the tricycle track that I worked so hard to get and was completed right before I left. I never got to see any kiddos ride on it.

As our tour was coming to an end I mentioned that my former kiddos are now seniors in high school. Mrs. Carroll insisted we hop in her car and drive over to the high school to see if we could find any of them. I was beside myself with anticipation as well as a bit terrified they would no longer remember me. So we walk into the high school's front office and the secretary calls my students to come to the office.

And one by one...they walked in.

I knew their faces immediately. And for the most part they knew me. I became so overcome with emotion at the sight of their growth and hearing their plans after graduation that I stood in front of them sobbing. I had never gotten to see any of my students grow up...and here were my kiddos...all grown up. And they are amazing. They are going to college...to the military...to welding school...to medical school...to cosmetology school. And I had a small part of getting them there.

I promised them I would be back to watch them graduate...my first student graduation...my first class. As I drove away I could not stop the tears as I realized that I had just achieved my goal as a teacher...to finally see a glimpse of my impact...fifteen years later...to finally come full circle.