Speaker To Bentonville Teachers: 'You Matter'

STAFF BEN GOFF • @NWABenGoff Holly Haak, from left, Audrey Perkins and Cristine Eubanks, all kindergarten teachers from Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, organize bags Friday stuffed full of handouts from vendors during Bentonville School District’s back-to-school celebration for teachers at Bentonville High School.
STAFF BEN GOFF • @NWABenGoff Holly Haak, from left, Audrey Perkins and Cristine Eubanks, all kindergarten teachers from Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, organize bags Friday stuffed full of handouts from vendors during Bentonville School District’s back-to-school celebration for teachers at Bentonville High School.

BENTONVILLE -- Teachers need to know they matter. Students need to know they matter, too.

That was one of the main messages Angela Maiers delivered to Bentonville teachers during the School District's Back to School celebration on Friday. Monday is the first day of school.

At A Glance

Changes

The Bentonville School District expects to begin the 2014-15 school year on Monday with more than 15,600 students. Ten years ago, the district had 9,200 students, according to Michael Poore, superintendent.

Source: Staff Report

Maiers, a literacy coach, teacher trainer and consultant, made morning and afternoon presentations to all of the district's teachers at the Arend Arts Center.

Every human being has a desire to matter in some way. Filling that need is as essential as food, water and air, Maiers said.

"We don't want to matter, we need to matter," she said. "This is a DNA thing."

Simply telling people they matter can make a big difference. Businesses that tell their customers they matter get positive results, she said. The same can be applied to students.

Maiers also preached children are suffering from being underestimated. They want not only to be challenged, but to be expected to achieve high standards.

"When you give kids challenges that are real and authentic, and expect them to meet those challenges, genius will show up," Maiers said.

"Genius" was another primary theme of Maiers' speech. She insisted everyone in the room was a genius and "the world needs your contribution."

Sherri MacLean, a kindergarten teacher at Sugar Creek Elementary School, said Maiers' talk about making students feel they matter resonated with her. Last year she had a couple of students who didn't always come to school.

"Perhaps if I made them feel more important and gave them jobs in my classroom, it might have given them more motivation to get to school, or to make their parents get them to school," MacLean said.

MacLean said she felt other teachers took Maiers' message to heart.

"I think they will keep that in mind on Monday morning and make a point as they greet each child at the door to tell them, 'You matter,'" MacLean said.

Paul Stolt, district director of communications, said at least two junior high schools will have staff members standing outside their buildings on Monday holding "you matter" signs.

Michael Poore, district superintendent, gave his own presentations Friday. He recognized teachers based on how many years they had spent in the district. Ruth Stringfield, a teacher at the TREC Center for Gifted and Talented Education, earned applause during the afternoon presentation when Poore asked those with more than 40 years with the district to stand up. Stringfield said she has taught in Bentonville since 1973.

Poore raised the issue of the district's 86 percent graduation rate, which he said isn't good enough. But the graduation rate is not just a high school thing, he said.

"All the people in this room have a huge part in it," he said.

Poore interviewed several students of various ages on stage about their accomplishments and what they expect from their teachers. He closed his presentation with words of appreciation for the teachers.

"I'm so appreciative of what you mean. I can't thank you enough," he said.

Poore mixed a bit of personal news into his presentation as well. He got married this summer while on vacation in Montana.

The Back to School celebration included a teachers fair that gave local vendors a chance to promote their goods and services and meet with district staff members.

NW News on 08/16/2014

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