Hot Springs School District educator Lamont Page said he did not expect to be recognized with an award during the 16th annual Conference on Alternative Education last month in Fort Smith.
The Arkansas Association of Alternative Educators named Page as the 2015 winner of the Alternative Apple Award as the Outstanding AAAE Educator of the year. Page taught social studies for two years at Hot Springs ALE Summit School, where he spent 17 years as an educator.
The award was presented close to the conclusion of the conference.
"I was sitting there talking to one of my friends, because it was at the end of the conference," Page said. "I went back to the hotel and dressed to travel."
Page was not aware he had been announced as this year's award recipient until he saw the reactions of others.
"They called my name and I'm still sitting there," Page said. "I wasn't even paying attention. I was talking to the person next to me. They said, 'They just called your name.' I looked around and everybody was clapping and looking at me."
Page was called to the stage at the Fort Smith Convention Center. He thanked the association for the award, but had not prepared a speech.
Westark College, now the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, offered Page a basketball scholarship after he graduated from Hot Springs High School. He did not expect to return to Hot Springs. He dreamed of playing professional basketball. Page later transferred to play at Ouachita Baptist University.
The Hot Springs School District offered Page a position at the newly formed Summit School 17 years ago. He spent the prior year as a juvenile probation officer. He spent 15 years in student support services at Summit.
"I always say the work in ALE is something you are born to do," Page said. "It's not something you choose."
Page relates to many of the students because he grew up in a single parent household in government housing. He said ALE has been a "life saver" for many students.
Summit offers counseling through Therapeutic Family Services on campus. Page said the certified counselors can offer services teachers may not be prepared to provide.
Page began to take classes at Henderson State University again in 2011. He earned his certification to coach and to teach social studies and science.
Summit moved Page into the classroom after Director Jim Morgan retired in 2013. He taught social studies and became coach of the junior high basketball team.
Natasha Lenox began in 2013 as the new principal. Lenox had previously been awarded the district's Distinguished Educator Award for the Summit School. She nominated Page for this year's award.
"I owe a lot to her," Page said. "She gave me my opportunity to teach. She gave me my job to teach. I owe that plaque and all of it to her. If it wasn't for her giving me the opportunity, I wouldn't be here now."
Hot Springs' junior boys basketball team finished Page's first year with a 22-2 record. The Trojans won 19 straight games to win the regular season conference title and the team's second straight 5A-Southwest district title. They returned to the finals last season.
Page graduated from Henderson with a Master of Arts in Teaching earlier this year. He stepped down from his position as coach to become the dean of students at Hot Springs Intermediate School.
He believes ALE provides a better environment for its students and allows teachers in traditional classrooms to teach more efficiently to other students.
"I think it is very instrumental in any school system because if you've got kids causing problems, you are not going to be able to teach," Page said. "We take them out of the regular school setting. We put them in a setting that's a little more closely knit. The classrooms are a little smaller."
Page plans to remain involved with ALE in the district and with the state association. Page submitted a request to the AAAE to present at next year's conference.
"I just want to tell my story, tell about what I have done in ALE and some of the things I have done too I feel like could maybe help somebody else when dealing with ALE kids," Page said.
Local on 08/26/2015