March 2022
Teach Arkansas Initiative Addresses Teacher Shortage With Tools to Guide Arkansans to the Classroom
LITTLE ROCK — Many Arkansas schools are facing severe teacher shortages that impact their ability to provide a high-quality education to every student. To encourage more Arkansans to enter the teaching profession and highlight various pathways and financial incentives to become a teacher, the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and Forward Arkansas, a statewide education nonprofit, have rebranded and launched the Teach Arkansas campaign.
Neelyville School District 3rd Quarter Honor Rolls
Neelyville Elementary Honor Roll 3rd Quarter A Honor Roll Third Grade: Greenlee Anderson, Shelbi Andrews, Carson Burdin, Emery Emmons, A l i v i a Fletcher, Mia Fuentes-Castan, Lamar Gonzalez, Cash Marshall, Mollie McGurder, Jordynn McKuin, Mary Prosser, Jace Russom, Payton Sainio, Felishcia Simpson, Samantha Watson, and Jaycee Williams Fourth Grade: Zoey Abner, Jesse Berten, Avery Bond, Caitlyn Christian, Jackson Cloud, Allee Ennis, Kamry Garrison, Isiah Green, Wade Hale, Adalynn Henson, Jay Hicks, Keygan Long, Mariah Mathis, Marianna Mathis, Josh Miles, Christian Mohrmann, Gracie Patty, Lauren Pennington, Madyson Russell, Taylor Turner, Simon Webster, Sawyer Willard, Fifth Grade: Brenden Adams, JW Adams, Annabella Anderson, Carter Davis, Maddux Dobbins, Luke Gofton, Claire Richardson, Sixth Grade: Alicia Barker, Landon Burdin,, Jace Dodd, Mallory Dicken, Logan Green, Jacen Litterst, Brayden Newcomb, Morgan Oliger, Bailey Rich, Moriah Stone, Eli Stotts 3rd Quarter A/B Honor Roll Third Grade Aubri Allen, Selah Banthrall, Kay Lynn Buhler, Mark Burns, Zoey Carter, Gabriella Duncan, Hestin Gilmore, Hunter Green, Addison Gurlen, Peyton Johnson, Aria Kinder, Silas Layton, Charlotte Little, Madelyne Mason, KD Merchant, Ava O’Neal, Conner Patty, Chase Phillips, Emma Powell, Gracelynn Reece, Braxton Rodgers, Noah Sansoucie, Haley Shipley, Maci Simmons, Carson Stokes, Joshua Tarpley and William Turner Fourth Grade Nora Beaird, Wesley Burgett, Ledger Collins, Mason Daughhetee, Blake Day, Nevaeh Dixon, Lillian Fowler, Savannah Lewis, Raylin Lopez, Destiny Luckett, Martin Harper, Jase Mikel, Warden Moyer, Mia Piroli, Rylan Pogue, Macee Preslar, Clayton Prince, Ayden Roper, TJ Russom, Andrew Shackleford, Miyah Shepard, Jakob Simmons, Amelia Sisco, Jordan Sturtevant, Dylan Taylor and Webb Braxton Fifth Grade Catelynn Asher, Mallory Casinger, Alexis Daughhetee, Suri Farmer, Gracie Gillespie, Logan Gillespie, Sonny Hanna, Madalynn Hobbs, Troy Hopkins, Aaliyah Kinder, Elizabeth Lawrence, Jordan Lee, Christopher Lewis, Benjamin Rapert, Molly Rush and Eli Wyatt Sixth Grade Maci Andrews, Reese Armes, Richard Bunton, Daivyan Deaner, Dawson Fowler, Cooper Goodman, Devon Gore, Megan Meyers, Warren Moore, Annabelle Pullum, Hailey Rich, Trenton Sisson, Levi Smith, Ethren Stokes Neelyville High School Honor Roll 3rd Quarter A Honor Roll Kayla Allen, Ryan Brown, Landon Bruner, Stacie Cannaday, Dixie Cloud, Owen Conner, Lauryn Cosgrove, Zak Cowley, Denver Crossen, Brock Davis, Makynli Day, Reese Dobbins, Bryce Dollins, Ella Eaker, Analyse Emerson, Parker Ernst, Erin Fiske, Avlyn Fletcher, Hope Fluech, Preston Goodnight, Brooke Griffin, Lexus Hagood, Jessica Henry, Carlee Hopkins, Hannah Hover, Merin Inman, Livvy Isom, Tanner Kelsey, Kendra Kovach, Jasmyn Larson, Maddie Lumby, Ryleigh Moore, Zara Newcomb, Emma O’Connor, Madison Parish, Breanna Pennington, Brooklyn Piroli, Mac Prosser, Devyn Richardson, Hunter Robinsonr, Allyson Rogers, Avery Schiller, Emma Sheely, Austin Sheppard, Gracie Silkwood, Casen Stephens, Emandra Sturtevant and Kye Wolfram 3rd Quarter A/B Honor Roll Braiden Adams, Maggie Adams, Lora Ainley, Nicole Akers, Alexis Alford, Ryley Cage Armes, Sydney Barber, Colby Beaird, August Berry, Abbey Brown, Daniel Carpenter, Jackson Cavness, Brooke Christian, Emily Cloud, Chris Coleman, Addison Couch, Jade Crosswhite, Lily Davis, Zachary Davis, Morgan Day, Delayni Dobbins, Shawn Edwards, Aryana Emerson, Ruger Fisher, David Freeman, Hank Gilmore, Payton Guthrie, Kyla Hamilton, Shalynn Hanna, Jody Herald, Samantha Herald, Julia Hicks, Tucker Hodge, Lane Hover, Jenna Hunter, Jacob Jeffries, Aaron Jones, Ian Kinder, Jade Trentelman, Lila Tubb, Kiersten Turner, Trevor Turner, Jaheim Watkins and Thomas Watson Hillview Elementary Honor Roll 3rd Quarter A Honor Roll Second Grade: Naomi Akers, Abbie Asher, Jax Benscoter, Lucas Buffington, Harry Carter, Silas Couch, Addison Cowin, Chesleigh DeBerry, Emilee Duckett, Victory French, Hayden Green, Makayla Hewitt, Dani Jones, Zaydon Kaczmarski, Sharon Littrell, Cole Million, Hadley Moore, Maggie Morton, Cooper Pennington, Xander Simmons, Nicholas Suiter, and Trinity Swafford First Grade: Brycen Abner, Benjamin Ashdown, Daxton Caudle, Phoenixx Compton, Serena Corder, Hunter Heacock, Nathan Heppe, Hadley Hoerner, Jayden Korbar, Nolan Lynch, Gabriel Merchant, Mariana Nelson, LuAnna Pomeroy, and Wyatt Turner 3rd Quarter A/B Honor Roll Second Grade: Emily Bennett, Harper Compton, Abigail Darnell, Lucas Dover, Jaxon Eastin, Cayden Hewitt, Zendaya Hill, Savannah Hollowell, Destiny Jones, Kayson LeGrand, Tessa Lovins, Jaxon Oliger, Hayden Owens, Jackson Sisco, Wyatt Standley, Norah Strain, Lanie Stull, Kaibri Walker, and Collins Wolfram First Grade: Travis Cecil, Jayden Digges, Jordyn Frazier, Christina French, Jaxson Gofton, Timothy Merchant, Ryker Powell, Oakley Simmons, and Treavor Swafford .
Parent Teacher Conferences
After two years of virtual parent-teacher communication, we were finally able to hold onsite face-to-face parent teacher conferences this week. I was extremely glad to see parents in the hallways talking to faculty and staff about their kids and the progress we have made this year. Parent-teacher conferences are a wonderful opportunity to increase communication between school and home, keep parents informed about their child’s progress, and make plans for the student’s future. Although parent teacher conferences are sometimes dreaded by all parties involved, they don’t have to be a bad experience. Productive and successful conferences are carefully planned and should include more positive information than negative. As a school, our primary goal is to make parent-teacher conferences as relaxed as possible. I want parents to feel comfortable asking questions and share with the teachers their vision for their child’s future. We want to work with parents to find common solutions to the issues our students face. If you could not attend this week’s parent teacher conferences, I ask you to please contact your child’s teacher to set up a conference. If you were able to attend, please follow up with teachers so that we can work together to ensure all students at Corning Schools learn, grow, and find success.
Being a teacher during a crisis
I remember being a high schooler on 9/11 and watching everyone scrambling around the school in panic as our country was under siege. I remember one teacher refusing to turn on the TV so that we could watch updates from school “because he just couldn’t take anymore terrible news.” He fidgeted around the room and wouldn’t let students talk about what just happened. His temper was short and he was visibly distressed. This teacher was obviously disturbed and possibly experiencing a form of shock, which is absolutely understandable given what just happened, but I vividly remember that his reaction to the crisis freaked me out even more than I already was. The fear I had previous to his class was only amplified. Later that day, I went to band class and the teacher told us not to worry about pulling out our instruments, because today we would just be talking with each other. He impressed on us the seriousness of the situation and talked about what it means to make a plan during a crisis. He didn’t mince words, and told us he didn’t know what would happen next and that he had fear. But he also exuded a tremendous sense of calm. He allowed students to speak, measured his words, and controlled his voice. And like my teacher earlier that day, his attitude and reaction to the crisis became my attitude and reaction to the crisis.
Lady Bobcats yield to Hornets; 12-9
The Lady Bobcats traveled to Harrisburg in a conference game on March 10 with the Lady Hornets capturing the lead early and holding it to win the game; 12-9. The Hornets wasted no time scoring in the 1st inning on a single by Anna Claire Tracy. They continued scoring and pulled away in the 2nd inning with 6 runs due to successful singles by Emma Adams, Kendyll Grissom, Olivia Rhinehard, along with an error that produced 2 runs. A fielder’s choice induced by Corning pitcher Ava Goodman resulted in one run. Goodman started the game for Corning and allowed 10 hits and 12 runs over 5 2/3s innings, striking out 2. Hawlee Morris got the start for Harrisburg and lasted 7 innings, allowing 11 hits and 9 runs while striking out 2.
Lady Cats fall to WR in top of 6 th ; 19-14
The Corning Lady Bobcats faced Walnut Ridge at home in a March 8 conference game that was a competitive matchup resulting in the WR Lady Bobcats coming out on top in a game that was tied in top of the 6th inning.
Corning Coach & players selected 3A-3 All-Conference in basketball
Corning basketball was well represented in this year’s All Conference selections. For the Corning Bobcats All Conference players are: Jayce Couch, Luke Blanchard and Clayton Vanpool Lady Bobcats selected for All Conference are: Makenna Lunsford, Whitley Bolen, Katie Hampton, and Kenlie Watson Coach for the Lady Cats, Jerry Songer represents the Corning sports program as 3A-3 Conference Co-Coach of the Year.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES State of Arkansas District 56
From one-time bonuses to increased funding for safety equipment, the 93rd General Assembly made support for law enforcement a top priority in this fiscal session. Act 224 provides a onetime stipend of $5,000 to full-time certified city and county law enforcement officers as well as probation and parole officers.
STATE CAPITOL WEEK IN REVIEW
LITTLE ROCK – The legislature completed the 2022 fiscal session in 23 days, approving a budget for state government that calls for spending about $6 billion in general revenue next year. A highlight of the fiscal session was approval of crime prevention measures, such as funding $5,000 salary supplements for local law enforcement officers.