The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts recently recognized educators from across the state with the 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. There were more than 100 teachers nominated for recognition. 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 provided by the ASMSA Parents Association.
Teaching is hard work, and often teachers don’t know how much they have positively influenced their students once they have graduated or moved on to further their education. The Teacher Impact Award allows a more immediate recognition of how educators helped shape their pupils.
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The five teachers who were recognized as standouts in their regions are:
In the Central Region, Dylan Glover, an engineering instructor at Cabot High School, was nominated by junior Levi Pile from Cabot. Pile wrote that “He was exactly what I needed. … He introduced me to my passion and helped me develop it.”
Jessica Helams, a history teacher at Valley Springs High School, earned extra recognition for her outstanding leadership in the Northwest Region. Junior Alyx Allred from Harrison shared that “she always tries her best to support students in any way she can and encourage them to be the best they can be.”
For the Southwest Region, Monty Whitley, a math teacher at Glen Rose High School, was chosen after being nominated by junior Bonnie Mieirs from Malvern. “He’s an interesting and patient teacher,” Mieirs said. “He definitely made remote learning a lot easier.”
From White Hall High School in the Southeastern Region, Zachary Winfield was nominated by multiple incoming students, but it was sophomore Talana Small’s recounting of geometry class that won him additional recognition. Small from White Hall said, “I wanted to succeed in his class. [Mr. Winfield] taught me to really work hard for what I want.”
In the Northeastern Region, The Academies at Jonesboro High School biology teacher Jessica Nadzam stood out for junior Sheridan Dethrow from Jonesboro. “Mrs. Nadzam was an amazing biology teacher. She showed me that there is a whole realm of possibilities within biology that I have never known before,” Dethrow wrote.
“ASMSA greatly appreciates our partnerships with schools around the state,” said Charlie Feick, director of admissions at ASMSA. “A student’s educational foundation is laid long before they arrive on the ASMSA campus. It is because of the dedication of their previous teachers that students are prepared to thrive at ASMSA.
“Reading the students’ nominations each year reminds us of all the good in the world. The students’ descriptions of their former teachers’ impacts highlight how all teachers strive to give their students the very best preparation possible for their lives after high school. The Teacher Impact Award allows us to thank educators that helped each of our current ASMSA students get to where they are today.”