AWM teachers meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill

By Billy Woods

WM School District

Three Academies of West Memphis teachers visited Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. in early December to meet with Arkansas senator John Boozman.

Marjorie Hunter, Gabriel Halliburton and Laura Long attended the National Council for the Social Studies Conference. While there, the trio met with Boozman, lobbying for increased emphasis on social studies education.

As a result, there are two bills in congress promoting social studies. One is an appropriation bill allocating $4 million for professional development for teachers, including summer workshops and institutes.

A second bill is the ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) that provides a budget for increased social studies education. Boozman indicated that he would research the two pieces of legislation and that he is expected to support both bills.