The Springdale School District has the finest students imaginable and strong parental and community support.
In addition, the district continues to attract and retain some of the state's finest teachers and principals.
Educational research clearly identifies the No. 1 indicator of educational excellence as the quality of the teacher in the classroom. That variable is followed closely by the quality of the building principal.
The Springdale school system has an outstanding teaching staff, and our building principals are widely recognized as being among the most distinguished educational leaders in our state.
Great examples of that distinguished leadership by Springdale teachers and principals are Justin Minkel, a teacher at Jones Elementary School, who recently served as a personal adviser on educational issues to the president of the United States, and Dondi Frisinger, principal of Walker Elementary School, who was recently honored in Washington as a national distinguished principal.
Their professional influence is clearly having a significant impact both in the classrooms of the Springdale School District and in classrooms nationwide.
The district recently celebrated the contributions of the following teachers as they were acknowledged as building-level teachers of the year for 2014-2015:
• Bayyari Elementary School: Amy Johnson
• Elmdale Elementary School: Sarah Schriver
• George Elementary School: Jessie Walls
• Harp Elementary School: Kim Green
• Hunt Elementary School: Amber Jones
• Jones Elementary School: Anna Dellinger
• Lee Elementary School: Tiffany McLaughlin
• Monitor Elementary School: Cassie Kautzer
• Parson Hills Elementary School: Allison Ward--Seidel
• Shaw Elementary School: Julie Hudgens
• Smith Elementary School: Ashley Kirby
• Turnbow Elementary School: Whitney Shaddock
• Tyson Elementary School: Linda Skelton
• Walker Elementary School: Jean Duncan
• Westwood Elementary School: Kari Kinne
• Young Elementary School: Michelle Donnell
• Early--Childhood Center: Natalie Wilburn
Josh Worthy, teacher of the Environmental and Spatial Technology program at Sonora Elementary School, was selected from the outstanding roster of building-level teachers of the year to serve as the Springdale teacher of the year and our district's nominee for state-level recognition.
I am so proud of each of these distinguished educators. Their professionalism and personal commitment to teach all children to high levels of learning is clearly the driving force in our school system's pursuit of educational excellence.
I encourage every parent and district patron to join with the outstanding teachers and principals of the Springdale School District in recognizing the contributions of these professional leaders.
In Springdale, it really is all about our students and the great people who serve them . Thank you, teachers and principals! You are setting the example to which others only aspire.
Commentary on 10/30/2014