Teacher of the Year Program
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Finalists for 2007-2008 Arkansas Teacher of the Year

• For more photos from the ceremony, visit the photo gallery!

Willie Andranette Anderson-Blackwell	Willie Andranette Anderson-Blackwell is a seventh- through 12th-grade science teacher at First Ward Alternative School in Pine Bluff. She has 15 years of teaching experience. In support of Blackwell's application, a colleague wrote, “Dr. Blackwell assumes a practical approach to her teaching strategies, relating the science of chemistry to the art of daily living; therefore linking learning to past and present experiences – a definite motivator for retention of information.”
Cindy Chadwick	Cindy Chadwick, a 10th- through 12th-grade mathematics teacher at Valley View Public Schools, has eight years of teaching experience. “Cindy oversees our math remediation for grades 10 through 12 without any extra compensation. Even though this consumes a significant amount of her time, she is genuinely more concerned about the success of our students than her own personal needs,” stated Chadwick's principal in a letter supporting her application.
Shawna DeShea Gregory	Shawna DeShea Gregory is a seventh and eighth grade language arts teacher at Mountain Pine High School. She has nine years of teaching experience. “Mrs. Gregory is an extremely motivational teacher who often persuades students to do work they did not think they were capable of doing. She is strong-willed and will not let any child get the best of her … Her students not only work hard for themselves but they also work hard to please her,” read a colleague’s letter of support.
Christine Holzer	Christine Holzer is a fourth-grade teacher at Langston Aerospace and Environmental Studies School who has seven years of teaching experience. In support of Holzer's application, a colleague wrote, “Mrs. Holzer’s success as an educator is evident in the way she is able to relate to and instruct her students. … I happened to observe the class one day learning about area and perimeter. They had moved the desks back and were using the 12-inch floor tiles and washable markers to learn these concepts. The students were engaged and active as they absorbed the concept being taught that day.”
Tamra Lambert	Tamra Lambert, an eighth-grade history teacher at Bryant Middle School, has taught for 24 years. In a letter supporting Lambert's application, her principal wrote, “Mrs. Lambert has introduced her students to the marvelous venue of American History – its culture, politics and geography through a variety of learning strategies: the most significant being economics. She has helped her students gain a better understanding and appreciation of complex world problems and tolerance for all peoples.”
Clarissa M. Mays	Clarissa M. Mays, a ninth- through 12th-grade marketing education/internship teacher at Arkadelphia High School, has nine and a half years of teaching experience. A student wrote in support of Mays application, “Mrs. Mays’ qualities are her devotion as a teacher, kind spirit, and patience with all her students. She believes that if we push ourselves as hard as possible, that we can do anything. … Words cannot express what she has done for her students, from our rewards on Fridays to giving us advice and support to do what is important to us.”
Barbara Reng	Barbara Reng teaches fifth-grade science to Jonesboro Math and Science Magnet School students, at Philadelphia Elementary School. She has been teaching for 34 years. “It is most impressive when [Ms. Reng’s] students inform others of the fun activities going on in the science class. A class favorite is using litmus paper, pH paper and cabbage juice to test household substances to determine which are acids and which are bases. They don’t want to miss the class!! Every student can dare to be unique or different in her class because every student is special,” wrote a colleague.
Stacy Thompson	Stacy Thompson, a ninth- and 12th-grade English teacher at Hall University Studies High School, has 12 years of teaching experience. “[Ms. Thompson’s} level of organization is unlike anything I have seen in the profession. A detailed log is kept for each student, including test scores, parent contact, and student achievement. Her lesson plans are typed each day and include curriculum map and state standards. … She takes the job of teaching students very seriously and, in good conscience, refuses to expect anything but the best from everyone,” stated a colleague in a letter supporting Thompson's application.
Sandra Eddleman Third Runner-up	Sandra Eddleman teaches first grade at Oak Grove Elementary in Paragould. She 22 years of teaching experience. Eddleman wrote in her application, “My sole purpose for choosing the classroom as my ‘second home’ is to provide a service of genuine compassion to the families of my community.” A colleague wrote, “First and foremost, her teaching is student driven. She goes above and beyond on a daily basis to see that each of her students receives the instruction that is appropriate for them. She spends countless hours of preparation and research for her classes, insuring that her time during the school day is geared to achieve the maximum benefit for her students.”
Darby Wallace Second Runner-up	Darby Wallace, who teaches U.S. History to 11th and 12th graders at Newport High School, has 13 years of teaching experience. This teacher wrote on her application, “Teaching is not a job. It is most definitely a calling. In fact, it really is a way of life. Somewhere amidst the facts and figures of United States History, it is the opportunity and the responsibility to help Dennis shake off last night’s fight with his parents. It is the chance to bring a smile to Kay’s face in spite of her ‘Goth’ attire and attitude. Teaching is to show Darrin that life can be full of joy even if his family always has to clip coupons. It is the boost into college for Suzanne. It is the future admission to medical school for Allison. Whether or not those attempts are ever spoken aloud, teaching is about molding a student’s humanity and helping them find confidence in themselves.” • A former student wrote of Wallace, “Only one teacher really stands out as someone who not only provided me with the knowledge that I would need to excel in college, but also changed the way that I view the world and the people in it.”
Jennifer Ouzts First Runner-up	Jennifer Ouzts teaches second grade at Meadow Park Elementary School in North Little Rock. She 11 years of teaching experience. On her application, Ouzts wrote, “As teachers, we must set higher expectation for all and have a genuine interest in helping to develop people of character. We must ask ourselves if we are really taking the time to personally engage each student or just remotely teaching to the names on our role. Are we providing a nourishing environment that fosters creativity and curiosity or are we just accepting mediocre effort? … When education is seen as a priority for all we will truly be able to bridge the achievement gap.” Her principal wrote, “Although [she] teaches in a high poverty, high minority school she accepts no excuses from her students and has high expectations in her classroom. She realizes that these students must have an education to get out of the grips of poverty. She not only believes that all children can learn, but that all children must learn.”
Paul Gray 2007-2008 Arkansas Teacher of the Year   Paul Gray and Gov. Mike Beebe	Paul Gray, of Russellville High School, is accomplished as a student himself. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Arkansas Tech and has earned additional graduate hours at UCA. Gray earned National Board Certification in 2005 and is a leader in staff development, having led numerous workshops for other teachers. He opened AP classes in social studies to all students in his school, and particularly encouraged minority students to enroll in AP classes. This resulted in an increase in the number of students taking AP classes and in the number of minorities taking AP classes. A school administrator wrote that Gray “has taught U.S. History, World Geography and World History throughout his tenure here. He successfully serves as our Social Science and Humanities Department chair, AP Human Geography teacher and coordinator of our Model United Nations team. Under his guidance, our Social Sciences department has witnessed unprecedented growth. He utilizes innovative ideas in gaining student enrollment. A most impressive quality of [his] is his capacity to work with students of all ability levels. He has a passion for student learning and deeply cares for all students. He actively recruits a diverse population for his AP Human Geography class in an attempt to reduce the achievement gap for minority students. In one year, he more than doubled the number of minority students enrolled in AP classes. He encourages students who are not challenging themselves and convinces them to take AP Human Geography. [Gray] is possibly our most requested teacher. ... His commitment to education is undeniably the greatest I have seen.” Gray wrote on his application, “The great New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio was once asked why he hustled on every play. DiMaggio said that he played hard every moment because there might be a fan watching today who has never seen him play before. I try to teach every student the way DiMaggio played baseball. Since I love what I do so much, I try to give every student the best I have that day. Students need me to hustle in the classroom because our enemy is mediocrity. Like Joe Dimaggio, I want my students to see me hustle on every play. Through my example, hopefully my students will hustle on every play in life.”