Landreth-Blair Memorial Grant

K-8 Teacher of the Year

Vicki Gonterman, Gibbs Magnet School in Little Rock, is the K-8 Teacher of the Year. She was nominated by Dr. Walter Nunn at UALR, who has participated in several travel seminars with Vicki in the past. She teaches social studies and international studies to students from kindergarten through fifth grade. She has been recognized nationally and internationally for her work in teaching students about Japan and for her work in economics education. She was one of the master teachers with the Life Interrupted project, and her students participate in Heifer International’s Read to Feed challenge as part of their community outreach.

Marshia Coleman Award

For the first year, ACSS is honoring teachers at the beginning of their careers with a new award, the Marshia Coleman Award. This award recognizes a teacher in the first three years of his or her career who has demonstrated innovation and enthusiasm for teaching social studies. The award Is given in memory of Marshia Coleman, a long-time member of ACSS, who passed away in March 2007. Marshia was dedicated to helping pre-service and beginning teachers to learn the ropes of engaging teaching. The first recipient of this award is Kimble Edwards, who teaches eighth-grade history at Jacksonville Middle School for Boys. She has quickly impressed her colleagues with her dedication to planning and teaching exciting, primary-source-based lessons. She incorporates technology into her lessons and student assignments, and she has written several successful grants to equip her classroom with technology. She is also a frequent presenter at the Arkansas Curriculum Conference.

Friend of Social Studies

The award for Friend of Social Studies goes to someone who is not necessarily a member of ACSS, but who promotes social studies education in our state. Martha Morton, director of Arkansas Global Programs at UALR, is best known for her Bringing China to Arkansas Program, which uses a Freeman Foundation grant to educate teachers in Arkansas about China, through a summer study tour and year-long activities. Teachers are required to develop lesson plans and outreach programs. They also present at the Arkansas Curriculum Conference each year, as well as hosting a booth in the exhibit hall. The program has portable exhibits that travel to classrooms, museums, and libraries throughout the state. Martha also has a similar program for Mexico, and she coordinates activities to promote exchanges with Chengdu, China, Tibet, and Bhutan. She brings the world to Arkansas students and teachers.

Member of the Year

The 2007 Member of the Year has been an important part of this organization for many years. Maenette LaRue taught in Alma for many years and is a teacher-consultant for the Arkansas Geographic Alliance. Since retiring from teaching, she has continued to be very active in ACSS as president, past-president, and membership chair. She also managed a major overhaul of the ACSS web site. She is responsible for many aspects of our annual meeting in Little Rock. She has represented ACSS at national meetings and has met with our Congressional delegation to promote social studies nationally. She travels around the state teaching summer workshops for teachers, and she has written and distributed lesson plans that integrate Arkansas history and geography. She hosts the annual retreat of the board of directors at her Deer Hollow Ranch and generously advises all who serve on the board.

9-12 Teacher of the Year

Our 9-12 Teacher of the Year is Anne Linn, a social studies teacher at Arkadelphia High School. A former student said of her, “It was so amazing to be understood and to be given challenging work. She respected us, and worked with us individually so we could excel even more. She told us we had great potential, and I needed to hear that.” Anne has also taught at the middle school level where she was gifted/talented coordinator. Anne is an award-winning teacher-consultant in the Arkansas Geographic Alliance, serving as an inspirational leader. Her students have participated in Project Citizen, Arkansas Economic Challenge, and the Arkansas Geographic Bee. Anne coordinated the state Geographic Bee for several years.

Meet your 2006 ACSS Award Winners

Landreth-Blair Memorial Grant

This $500 grant is given annually to a project that promotes social studies education in the classroom or community. From several excellent proposals, this year we chose a project entitled “Bringing Arkansas History Alive,” designed to incorporate technology into Arkansas history and inform students, parents, and the community about Arkansas history through student presentations in Jacksonville, Arkansas. The short-term goal of this project is to engage students by allowing them to learn state and local history through interactive, relevant activities. The long-term goal is for students to realize that their place in this world is important by connecting themselves to those who preceded them. Students will re-enact individuals and events in Arkansas history and make mini-movies to present to their parents and other students. For this creative project, we are pleased to award the Landreth-Blair Memorial Grant to Mrs. Kimble Edwards.

University Educator of the Year

Our selection for University Educator of the Year is a professor of Arkansas history at the University of Central Arkansas. Her research interest is “The Lost Year” of 1958-1959 when Little Rock high schools closed in response to the desegregation of Central High School the previous year. She helped produce a documentary on this subject, which premiered at the Hot Springs Film Festival this year, and is currently writing a book on the subject. This university educator has enriched teachers’ knowledge of desegregation in Arkansas public schools and the “Lost Year” in particular by offering professional development workshops, including some at the Arkansas Conference on Teaching. ACSS is proud to recognize Dr. Sondra Gordy as University Educator of the Year.

Elementary/ Middle Level Teacher of the Year (K-8)

Our selection for Elementary or Middle Level Teacher of the Year has exhibited exemplary, hands-on teaching techniques at Mann Middle School in Little Rock. In addition to exciting her students about Arkansas history through cooperative learning, salt-dough map projects, and investigation of primary sources, she sponsors an after-school club for students interested in history. In her first year of working with students in History Day competition, she helped students advance to the national competition. Students in the Mann History Club listened to guest speakers and went on field trips to local historic sites. It is our pleasure to recognize Ms. Wilma Sutton as Elementary/ Middle Level Teacher of the Year.

Secondary Teacher of the Year (9-12)

Our selection for Secondary Teacher of the Year teaches American history and is social studies department chair and GT coordinator in Springdale. He teaches his students how to practice historical scholarship, and his students have advanced to National History Day competition for the past three years. He has helped other teachers in his area to learn how to get involved in History Day research. His enthusiasm and dedication make him a positive role model for both students and beginning teachers. He supports social studies education through his membership in NCSS, ACSS, and the Arkansas Historical Association. We are proud to award the Secondary Teacher of the Year to Mr. Winfield Watson.

Member of the Year

From the several nominees, we chose as ACSS Member of the Year an individual whose organization and enthusiasm greatly contributes to the success of our organization. She attends all board meetings and provides leadership in social studies education in Bald Knob, Arkansas. She has served as secretary for many years, and last year successfully applied for the Landreth-Blair grant, enriching her history classes with biographies and historical fiction. We are excited to present the ACSS Member of the Year to Mrs. Lois Blanton.

Friend of Social Studies

This award is reserved for a person, who though not a member of ACSS, promotes social studies education in the community and in schools. This year’s winner comes from Lavaca, Arkansas, where he is an outstanding classroom teacher. During his school’s Social Studies Night, he turned a long hallway into a simulated Underground Railroad. Students led their parents from a safe house (a classroom) through the countryside to another safe house. During another social studies night, big band music filled the school as students and parents, dressed as WWII soldiers and 1940's teenagers, danced to the band. This individual has also contributed to community history by having his students interview those who have lived in Lavaca for a long time, and then compiling a book on the history of the town and a museum in a downtown building. In these pursuits, his classroom truly has no walls, and he teaches not only his students, but the entire community. We are pleased to recognize Mr. Jack James as the 2006 Friend of Social Studies.