Hot Springs World Class High School science teacher Cassie Jay-Barron and counselor Amy Snider were recognized by Yale University this week as recipients of the 2022 Yale Educator Award.
The Yale Educator Recognition Program honors outstanding educators from around the world who inspire their students to perform at high levels and achieve excellence.
Students entering the Yale Class of 2026 this fall, which includes recent HSWCHS graduate Marlissa Archie, were asked to nominate exceptional educators who have made a significant impact on their lives.
Archie, this year's valedictorian, nominated Snider and Jay-Barron, who were selected as winners by a committee in the Yale Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Out of 339 nominees, representing 43 states and 21 countries, only 48 teachers and 29 counselors were selected to receive the award. Of those, HSWCHS was the only school to have two awardees.
Snider and Jay-Barron noted they were very humbled to be recognized.
"It just felt validating too," said Jay-Barron. "You know, we spent hours and hours perfecting the applications and getting (Archie) there. And that felt like enough. But getting to receive something that we weren't expecting or even knew existed later on, it just feels like validation of our work."
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Snider, who was a senior counselor for many years before the school became an academy, now works with students from freshman year on. Archie was one of those whom she saw grow and develop into the student and person she is now.
"Like Ms. Barron said, just trying to get her into Yale and jumping through all the hoops, that was such a success, I thought, for me too; I was like, 'We got into Yale.' 'We're going to Yale,'" she said, laughing.
Because students are extensions of themselves, as teachers, she noted they invest their lives into seeing them succeed.
"Knowing the investment into a student just makes it all so worthwhile," she said. "And then seeing this, was just truly humbling. I thought, 'Marly had to think about me, and had to write and do an application.' I was just, like I said ... I was just humbled so dearly."
The Hot Springs School Board gave special recognition during Tuesday night's regular monthly meeting.
"We're so proud of both of you, and what an impact you make on our kids," said district Superintendent Stephanie Nehus. "You know, we do that every day and it's not always recognized. But what an awesome honor, and we just wanted to congratulate you."
Jay-Barron says success is really a personal thing and that it looks different for every student.
"They want different things, so my philosophy is I want to show them all options and then prepare them for the one that they choose. So, success for some students is going to Yale. Success for some students is working in a factory and being able to pay their bills comfortably," she said.
"And I'm dedicated to making sure that that happens no matter what their version of success is."
Snider noted she is very similar.
"Being a counselor, of course, I want to meet the whole child's needs: their social, emotional, and, of course, academic needs ... just being a teacher first and then a counselor," she said. "And that success factor -- I always say growth. A person comes to us as a student and they have so much room for growth. And you just kind of meet them where they are and you hope that they will strengthen their wings and be ready to fly when they leave our high school. And sometimes that looks different."
In a congratulatory letter, the Yale Office of Undergraduate Admissions thanked them for their hard work as an educator, noting "The entire admissions office credits the excellent quality of this year's first-year class to teachers like you who have been shaping our students long before they arrive at Yale. We thank you for your ongoing efforts and hope that Yale will do as well as you have in supporting and inspiring your students."