The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts recently recognized educators from across the state with its annual Teacher Impact Award.
The Teacher Impact Award recognizes educators who helped shape and influence incoming students at ASMSA. Students nominated teachers who aided their growth both intellectually and emotionally. Every educator who was nominated received a certificate of recognition. A letter highlighting their recognition also was sent to each educator’s principal.
A committee of ASMSA staff members read through the recommendations to give further recognition to five educators from different regions within the state. These stand-out teachers received an additional gift.
Educators who received additional recognition this year include Krista Flud of Harrison High School, Jordan Frost of Danville High School, Stephanie Hampton of Corning High School, Billy Reed of Rison High School and Ronnie Williams of LISA Academy North Middle-High School in North Little Rock.
Flud is a mathematics teacher at Harrison High School. She was nominated for the award by Casey Williams, a junior from Harrison, who called Flud “the most impactful teacher and person in my entire experience as a student.” Flud was the person who told Williams about ASMSA, encouraged her to apply and served a champion for the school for her parents, Williams said.
“She has always believed in me more than anyone ever has and never forgets to tell me how much I can accomplish if I just put my mind to it,” Williams said. “She always advocated for me and fought to get me where I am today.”
Frost is an English, oral communications and English as a second language instructor at Danville High School. Riley Richardson, a junior from Belleville, nominated Frost.
“Mrs. Frost was the first teacher I told when I got into ASMSA,” Richardson said. “She always believed in me and pushed me to try my hardest. When I got in, I think she was more excited for me than even I was.”
Hampton, a science instructor at Corning High School, was nominated by Jade Espinosa, a junior from Corning. Espinosa said Hampton was supportive throughout her journey to becoming an ASMSA student, offering encouraging words to inspire Espinosa to achieve her goals and finalize her application for the school.
“Not only this, but she furthered my interest in the subject of science through her engaging way of teaching and infectious personality,” Espinosa said. “She is one of the reasons I was influenced and encouraged to dive deeper into studies that involve the medical field as well.”
Lilly Gray, a junior from Rison, nominated Reed, who was her English instructor for two years. She said Reed helped her and her classmates to expand their knowledge of writing and how to interpret text.
“He made sure to challenge me with each assignment and did not hold back on the critiques,” Gray said. “Within the two years I had Mr. Reed, he has changed how I will forever write my essays and how to break down a piece of text.”
Williams is an English teacher at LISA Academy North Middle-High School. Divina O’Dell, a sophomore from Cabot, said Williams offered her encouragement and support as when she decided to apply to ASMSA, “from believing in me to saying that I was a bright and creative student who could do whatever I put my mind to! I had Mr. Williams in seventh-grade, and we’ve never lost touch. He is an engaging teacher and put his all into teaching. I am so grateful he was my teacher.”