LITTLE ROCK -- Two area educators were recently honored by Gov. Asa Hutchinson for their dedication to the Arkansas Declaration of Learning program.
Pamela Wallace, a social studies teacher at Hot Springs Intermediate, was one of 26 teachers who participated in the program for 2017-18.
Jil'Lana Heard, a librarian at Lake Hamilton High School, participated as a mentor for this year's program.
According to a news release, the Declaration of Learning program was formed in 2013 as part of an interagency educational initiative that began when representatives from 13 national organizations signed the Declaration of Learning. This declaration pledged that these organizations would work with state and local partners to create learning tools for educators and students in middle and secondary education.
The program uses historic art and objects from state and national museums and libraries to develop innovative lesson plans centered around civic engagement, the release said.
"I am so proud of Mrs. Wallace's accomplishment," said Becky Rosburg, associate superintendent for Hot Springs School District. "She is an awesome social studies teacher and I know she will take what she learned in the program and implement it into her lessons. Her sixth-graders are going to love going to social studies class next year."
Wallace said in the release that because of the program, students are aware of constitutional rights and ways to be contributing citizens to their communities.
"The program impacted the future leaders' views of active citizenship in the local community with each knowing citizenship is more than voting," she said.
Heard chose to serve as a mentor because of her past experience as a participant. She said in the release the experience was so rewarding she wanted to continue to impact even more teachers and students with object-based teaching.
"My participants took strategies learned at the summit and engaged their students into making a difference in their community," she said. "I am thankful for the opportunity to watch these amazing educators grow."
The program recently starteƄd its fourth year and applications are scheduled to open in January 2019 for the fifth year. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Ig48WQ.
Local on 07/12/2018