The Cutter Morning Star School Board last week named Laura Baber, a retired principal from the Benton School District, as the elementary school's new principal.
"I am excited to be selected to Cutter Morning Star Elementary School for the principal position. I have worked in Garland County in the past, and I am excited to be back in Garland County. I am excited to be a part of their staff. I have researched about the school district and just ready to be a part of it," Baber said.
"We are very excited that the board approved Mrs. Laura Baber to be our next elementary school principal," Superintendent Nancy Anderson said. "Mrs. Baber is a student focus (and) student-centered (person). She cares about the kids. She always put kids first. Her experience and expertise are going to help Cutter Morning Star (to move) forward. We are very excited to have her on our team."
Terry Lawler, K-12 principal, will be assisting Baber to make sure she has a smooth transition into the elementary school.
"I am excited to work with Mrs. Baber and to continue to work with our elementary school staff next school year. We have done a lot of work at the elementary school, and I am excited for Mrs. Baber, who is a master principal, to be able to come in to work with our teachers to continue (the work). As she leads our building to even greater things, I am just so grateful to be a part of it," Lawler said.
Baber said she feels she was selected because of her 32 years of experience in the education field. "I have been a teacher, a Title I coordinator, an assistant principal, a principal and (chief financial officer) of the Benton school districts."
Baber had seven years of experience as the principal at Angie Grant Elementary School in Benton, she said, noting, "I have experience in all aspects of education."
Baber said she knew at 10 years old she wanted to become a teacher and that becoming a teacher is what she was meant to do, noting she never wanted to do anything else. She said she loves working with students and to see them grow and learn.
"Education is my passion. Kids are my passion," Baber said, noting she wants the parents to know she will work hard for their children to be successful, not just as learners in the school but as citizens.
Baber said every aspect of a child is important to her, and she wants to make sure they are well-rounded individuals and prepared for the next chapter of life when they leave the elementary school.
Baber graduated from Mount Ida High School in 1983 and earned her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and minored in History at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville in 1987. She went back to school and got her master's degree in Elementary Administration from Henderson State University in 1990 while working at Glenwood, she said.
"After that, I didn't get any other advanced degrees, but I continued to go to school just for various licensures. I have 30 graduate hours above my master's degree, but they are in various areas," Baber said.
Baber decided to retire from Angie Grant Elementary School to help babysit her new grandchild.
"I retired knowing that I probably would be going back as soon as (my daughter) could find employment that was conducive to day care," she said.
Local on 02/04/2020