By Billy Woods
WM School District
As
Academies of West Memphis English teacher Cherilyn Minnis gathers with
13 other teachers around Arkansas on Wednesday at the state Capitol,
it'll be like a renewal.
Minnis is one of 14 teachers who have
been recognized as both regional teachers of the year and nominees for
the state's top teacher award.
It's Minnis' second time to be honored, but this time she said she'll be more appreciative.
Three years ago, her house burned down and with it the plaque that honored her for regional teacher of the year.
"For
some reason (in 2009) I didn't think it was that big a deal," Minnis
said of winning the regional award. "When I was told I had won this year
I was much more excited. Because for me it'll be like a renewal. I'll
get that plaque back."
Governor Asa Hutchinson and Arkansas
Department of Education commisioner Johnny Key will recognize the
regional finalists at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Old Supreme Court room
at the Capitol.
Minnis has been teaching since the fall of 1967 and she's been teaching at West Memphis' high school since the fall of 1970.
She said she has plenty of motivation to continue teaching.
"I
take a sincere interest in students," said Minnnis. "I've seen numerous
changes in teaching techniques in the last 40-something years. I'm
still driven by individualizing the students. I try my best to try and
find the essence of every child. I'm always looking for the uniqueness
in every child."
Minnis noted that most people start slowing
down and are less productive or effective in their later years. But this
award proves she's just as strong now as she ever has been as a
teacher.
"In the physical sense, I walk briskly," Minnis said
with a laugh. "Mentally, I'm still stimulated by academic pursuits of
the kids. The teaching process has changed a lot and I've had to adapt
to all of the changes. That has also kept me sharp and it keeps me
alert."
Minnis, who has won the West Memphis School District
Teacher of the Year award four times in her career, keeps the line
moving with West Memphis teachers being named regional teacher of the
year.
The WMSD has had state teacher of the year nominees in eight of the last nine years.
Other
nominees for state teacher and regional teacher of the year award
winners include Susan Waggener (who was the state's teacher of the year)
in 2008-09, her daughter Rebecca Waggener-Vaughn in 2010-11, Kisa
Morman in 2011-12, Asha Foster in 2012-13, Tifanie King in 2014-15,
Audrey Craven in 2015-16.
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