by Meghan Ables, 2016 Arkansas Teacher of the Year

When I look back prior to December 7, 2015, I see myself wearing my favorite maroon football jersey with my custom-painted shoes displaying the words “Go” and “Birds” in bright white and maroon. I hear myself on the microphone leading the cheers and reminding the teams about the tradition they are protecting with every victory. I see high fives and secret handshakes at the door of room 109. I see handwritten notes on the wall that say, “My favorite teacher: teaches to the heart, not the textbook.” I feel unconditional love from every student. All of these things bring me insurmountable joy.

December 7 changed me. Serving as the 2016 Arkansas Teacher of the Year took me down the road less traveled, down a road I wish every teacher could experience because they deserve it. This ATOY adventure rocked my world. This year out of my classroom pushed me out of my comfort zone and into the bigger world of education. It was a year like no other… a year of learning, loving, connecting and cheering. As this year winds down, I can assure you that I have been blessed beyond measure.

A Year of Learning

Now, after a year-and-a-half of training, traveling, learning, speaking, connecting and cheering, I can honestly say I have been transformed. I have had the amazing privilege of learning from the best. I have visited 48 schools around the state and seen our best teachers first hand, and wow, Arkansas teachers are undeniably awesome! I also had the honor of sitting next to the other 53 state Teachers of the Year and hearing how they are impacting education at the district and state levels. To have the opportunity to be mentored by past National Teachers of the Year is a rare blessing. Not many teachers can say the National Teacher of the Year is just a phone call away.

Every day that I work at the Arkansas Department of Education I learn something. Being there on a regular basis has been eye opening to say the least. What I believed to be true (from the perspective as a classroom teacher) was far from the truth. These educators (yes, I said educators because most of them are in fact teachers) love kids and work tirelessly to make education in Arkansas better. I consistently hear them asking questions like, “Will this be best for students?” or “Will this take things off teachers’ already full plates?” Commissioner Johnny Key has instilled a sense of collaboration among all of the departments, and he has unified his team, putting them on a path to leading the nation in student-focused education. I do believe Arkansas will reach these goals and set national standards with his leadership and strong vision.

Going through the Leadership Academy has been a true inspiration. This training has given me so many strategies to build my leadership skills. It put me in the room with the best teacher leaders across the state where I could collaborate, share and grow. I have created life-long friends through the process and grown my Personal Learning Network.

In addition, serving on the State Board of Education has taught me so much about policy and procedures. Each month I have looked forward to serving and learning alongside these amazing people. What a perfect combination of board members to represent our schools, teachers and students. Teachers, rest assured this board is working on your behalf, giving everything it has to be fair and balanced. Students, be confident in knowing this board thinks about you with every decision made.

A Year of Loving

In January of 2016 I met my Teacher of the Year cohort from around the country. We are a truly unique group; we are student advocates and fighters for public education. We have grown to love each other as a family… we have experienced the loss of loved ones and the birth of six babies together. Individually, we each faced our fears and overcame obstacles, knowing others were there waiting to celebrate with us. No matter where I go, I have a friend waiting there to greet me, a friend who loves children just like I do. It has been an honor to grow alongside my new teacher family.

This year I learned to love myself. The qualities that I once saw as flaws became my unique stamp. The girl who would once make excuses as to why her voice was so “raspy” has learned to embrace her sound and speak with conviction and passion like never before. The girl who once fought to straighten out her God-given curls has learned to let them be free. Now, people see my hair and hear my voice and are instantly connected to who I am. These qualities have become my trademark, per say. I am so grateful that this experience transformed the way I see myself.

A Year of Connecting

Yes, I have always loved social media and believed in its power. I have been able to connect with teachers across the state through my Facebook Group, Arkansas Teacher of the Year 2016. I sought out the stories that reflect best practices of our schools, students and teachers, with my Facebook friends also helping me find what I was looking for. It has been such a joy to share the stories of my educator colleagues. It is for this reason, that I will be renaming my group when my year is over, focusing on educators sharing their stories along with educational resources.

In January of 2016 I started my Twitter account (@ables_meghan). To be honest, I initially thought it would take up too much time, but I was unaware of the professional learning that can take place via Twitter. It wasn’t long before I was connecting with educators around the world, participating in Twitter national chats and talking with authors about their educational resources. This spring I began co-hosting Twitter chats, giving teachers a voice into the development of the Arkansas Accountability System under the new Every Student Succeeds Act. In May we started our first ever ATOY chat (#ATOYchat), bringing past and present Teachers of the Year together to share information. This feedback can go back to ADE to help it shape decisions with teacher input. I am also excited about the launch of #EduAR chat for Arkansas teachers. There is nothing more powerful than teacher leaders connecting and sharing.

A Year of Cheering, Cheering Loudly

Ever since I was 14 years old, I have loved cheerleading. I remember my coach, whose leadership helped me step into education in the first place, telling me that not everyone loved cheering like I did. There are some things that are just in our blood, and being a cheerleader is definitely in mine. People always ask me where this kind of joy and positivity come from, and I simply answer, “My joy comes from the Lord.”

The joy from my classroom was transformed to a joy of celebrating teachers this year. Every school I visited I asked the principal about his outstanding teacher leaders. Time and time again I heard the words, “My teacher is a champion for students. She wants every child to succeed, wants every teacher to grow, wants to bring positive change… She is a leader of teachers and a lover of students.” I was so proud to present these teachers with an Impact Award via the Arkansas Teacher Impact Celebration initiative (#ARTeacherImpact). I would encourage anyone who meets or knows outstanding educators to cheer loud! Let them know by providing public recognition. Make sure they know how they have made an impact. Be sure to use the hashtag so everyone can meet them and cheer for them.

The day Courtney Cochran was named the 2017 ATOY was a day of true cheering for me! I will be cheering for Courtney as she steps into her new role this July and as she takes each step down this road less traveled. She will be, without a doubt, an amazing Arkansas Teacher of the Year! Go Courtney!!

A Year of Thankfulness

I am truly thankful for this opportunity to represent teachers across Arkansas. I must start where it all began. Thank you to the parents who blessed me with the opportunity to teach and reach your children. These students taught me how to be a better person; they taught me how to be strong and face the cards life may deal you. To my co-workers at Stuttgart High School, you got me here. You welcomed me to the team, helped me grow as a teacher, stood by me as a friend and cheered for me as I started this chapter. To my principal, Donnie Boothe, who knew I might not always ask for permission, he always celebrated with me when my out-of-the-box methods brought success to my students.

To the Communications Team at ADE, thank you for embracing my creativity, accepting me for who I am and being my cheerleader this year. You opened your arms and welcomed me, while giving me guidance through this transformational process.

To the State Board members, thank you for putting students first. Thank you for recognizing the importance of teacher voice, supporting innovation in schools and making it a priority to elevate the teaching profession.

To those ADE team members who listened to my questions, guided me into understanding the “why” and recognized my hard work, thank you! I will never forget cheering alongside all of you this year.

To all of my mentors, Ouida Newton and all of the other past Arkansas Teachers of the Year, thank you! Your support and encouragement meant the world to me as I stepped out on this journey, and it kept me on track as I near the end.

To Emily and Paul at the Council of Chief State School Officers, thank you for teaching me to lead in a whole new way.

Commissioner Key, thank you for believing in me. Your leadership inspires me, and Arkansas is blessed to have you leading the charge of transforming education in Arkansas.

To the Walton Family Foundation, thank you for not only your financial contribution to me but your support to past and future ATOYs and educators around the state.

To SMART Technologies for the technology package for my classroom; Microsoft for providing technology and professional development; to Walden University for helping me further my education; to Extra Yard for Teachers for celebrating the state Teachers of the Year; to Voya for your ongoing support to teachers throughout the year; to the University of Phoenix for giving more than 50 students a free college degree; to Scholastic for sponsoring our National Network of State Teachers of the Year events, to Space Camp for taking me on a true adventure; to the White House for welcoming us and celebrating us so graciously; to Vice President Biden for allowing us into his home and recognizing our work; to ASCD for giving me the greatest pep rally ever; to ECET2 for bringing me inspiration; to the Leadership Academy for the opportunity to learn alongside my colleagues; to every CCSSO partner that made each state teacher feel like a celebrity…. THANK YOU! I am so thankful for all of you and how you support educators across the nation.

Thank You, God, for guiding me, equipping me and having a plan so much greater than my own. I give You all of the glory.

Thank you to my family for holding my hand on this journey. My husband, Timmy, and my daughter, Jessie, have allowed me to travel the nation and state, resulting in fewer home-cooked dinners.

To my family, my support system, thank you for making all of this possible. I love you all.

In all that you do, be a cheerleader to someone. Why? Because everyone needs a cheerleader!