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Bryant teacher 2nd runnerup for award |
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Monday, 15 December 2008 |
Janet D. Watson, a Bryant High School teacher, was second runnerup in the 2009 teacher of the year competition in Arkansas.
Watson, 52, teaches 11th- and 12th-grade science.
“I was filled with gratitude and humility when I received the award,” Watson said. “It is nice for you hard work to be acknowledged, but I was more humbled than anything. I teach with many teachers at Bryant that are just as deserving of the award.”
Watson has taught at Bryant since 1986. She started teaching in 1978 in Cassville, Mo., and moved to Arkansas in 1984 after getting married. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas and was a graduate assistant there from August 1985 to May 1986.
Susan Waggener, a mathematics and business education teacher at West Memphis High School, was named teacher of the year during the ceremony Wednesday at the state Capitol in Little Rock.
Gov. Mike Beebe and Education Commissioner Dr. Ken James presented Waggener with $15,000. She will represent Arkansas in the national Teacher of the Year competition in Washington, D.C., to be held next spring.
“Our best teachers inspire students to study hard by creating a demanding but nurturing environment in the classroom,” Beebe said.
“Ms. Waggener provides that environment from the first time new students walk into West Memphis High School, and she will continue to spread that enthusiasm for education throughout the state as the 2009 teacher of the year.”
Fifteen teachers made it to the final stage of the state competition, with three being named runners-up.
All were recognized at the ceremony, with the 14 finalists receiving $1,000. The cash prizes were made possible through a grant from the Walton Family Foun-dation.
“Several common themes can be found in the descriptions of these teachers,” James said. “Those shared traits are genuinely caring for and about their students and, at the same time, holding all students to high expectations. Those are indeed two trademarks of outstanding teaching.”
Waggener will be Arkansas’ third teacher of the year to assume the active role prescribed by legislation passed during the special session of the 85th General Assembly.
During the 2009-10 school year, Waggener will have a year’s sabbatical from the West Memphis School District to work in-residence at the Arkansas Depart-ment of Education. She will spend the year providing professional development and technical assistance to teachers around the state as well as serving as a non-voting member of the State Board of Education.
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