SPRINGDALE -- Another school year means a new class of 5-year-olds awaits Kim Justis, who begins her 22nd year as a kindergarten teacher at Turnbow Elementary School.
The first day of school for students in the Springdale School District is Monday, but teachers are already back to work getting ready.
Springdale School District
• State’s second largest school district behind Little Rock School District
• 21,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade
• 1,300 pre-kindergarten students
• 2,668 employees, including 1,670 teachers
Source: Rick Schaeffer, Springdale School District
Justis had lesson plans in her lap as she sat with her Turnbow colleagues at the School District's annual back-to-school meeting in a packed auditorium at Springdale High School on Tuesday. It was the second day of districtwide activities for staff.
"We are just really excited about school starting back," Justis said. "Five-year-olds keep you young. Their excitement is contagious. It's always exciting to have a new year."
Justis listened as Superintendent Jim Rollins shared his vision for re-imagining education with about 1,800 of the district's staff of 2,668 people. The district leadership will continue efforts toward providing students with "any place, any time, any pace" learning.
"The world is looking to us to adjust and to change and to better serve all children," Rollins said. "We've been the education provider for the youth of America throughout our lives and well beyond."
The district isn't the only provider of education, but Rollins said the heart of the district is to serve all children.
"Today we need to educate students for the innovation era and give all the students an education to help them thrive in a world that values them for what they can do, not that facts that they know," he said.
Rollins' said his vision is for schools where students to demonstrate they have mastered learning essential skills and concepts in their subjects and to develop portfolios of work to record their achievements.
These ideas are incorporated into the Don Tyson School of Innovation, which will enter its third year as a charter school with the ability to provide instruction in a face-to-face setting, online or both. The school is moving to one of two campuses opening this school year in east Springdale. The other is Linda Childers Knapp Elementary School.
"Personalization" of learning means one size does not fit all, Rollins said.
"Educators must listen to students and let them have a say in what happens to them in the educational system," he said.
Teachers also gathered in the auditorium Monday for the Springdale Chamber of Commerce's annual Springdale Teacher Appreciation event. Elementary teachers attended in the morning, with teachers at schools for older children attending in the afternoon.
The event included a back-to-school welcome by U.S. Sen. John Boozman for the elementary teachers and by Gov. Asa Hutchinson for the middle school, junior high and high school teachers.
Hutchinson talked about the nearly 4,000 high school students who took computer coding courses last school year as a result of a mandate he championed for all high schools to offer computer coding classes. He has a goal for about 6,000 high school students to take computer coding classes.
The governor's education agenda also includes ensuring all third graders read proficiently and focusing attention on education in science, technology, engineering and math, he said.
Hutchinson's objective to grow the state's economy hinges on education, he said.
"You cannot grow our economy, grow jobs without a strong education," he said.
The governor, who was once a Springdale High School student, urged teachers there Monday to inspire students by building trusting relationships with them, touching their hearts and educating them.
"As governor we need you to do well this year," Hutchinson said. "When you touch their hearts, you really begin the process of education. That's what teachers do so well every day in the classroom."
NW News on 08/10/2016