by Barbara Jenkins

photos by Emily Reames

Shining a Light on Education:  AVECC Recognizes Outstanding Teachers 

Arkansas Valley Electric recently awarded four outstanding teachers the 2024 Teacher Appreciation Award. The Teacher Appreciation Award highlights teachers across the River Valley who serve their school, students, fellow teachers, and community with the utmost respect, dedication, and willingness to provide a top-tier education to future generations. 

This year, two teachers were awarded $2,500, and two were awarded $500. 

Lawanda Mounts, Mansfield Elementary Special Education

Lawanda Mounts believes teaching is a calling, "a mission." She has dedicated her life to providing life-changing instruction to students for 41 years. She started teaching at Mansfield School District eight years ago and believes that is where she is meant to be. 

"I realized as a child that I wanted to teach. Teaching special education is a way I can minister to other families who have special needs kids, as well as my own."

The submitted nomination for Mrs. Mounts read, "Mrs. Mounts plays a critical role in shaping our school's culture. Her contributions are invaluable, and her presence is felt in every corner of our school. Without a doubt, our school would not be what it is today without Mrs. Mounts' unwavering dedication, compassion, and expertise. She is an irreplaceable asset to our community."

Shane Freeman, JC Westside High School Agriculture Education

Shane Freeman answered his alma mater's call for an agriculture teacher four years ago. He formerly served Westside as a coach, but after the job came open a few years in a row, he decided his strong agricultural background could best serve the school if he became the new "ag" teacher. 

"[Over the past few years,] our FFA program has grown to over 50 kids at one time. We are trying to get our kids out in our community as part of our Rockin Rebel program, and we have kids showing animals and representing Westside at the Johnson County Fair and the Arkansas State Fair." 

The submitted nomination for Mr. Freeman read, "There were many years that we didn't have an agri program that had kids showing animals. We went through several agri teachers before Mr. Freeman.  He is one of the best. School wouldn't be the same without him."

Angie Bailey, Waldron High School Spanish teacher/ Track & Field and Cross  Country Coach

Angie Bailey and her husband moved to Waldron for her husband's position with the Arkansas Game and Fish. It did not take long for Waldron to become a true home for the Bailey family. 

While attending Oklahoma State University, Angie obtained a minor in Spanish, hoping that would help her in future employment endeavors in the engineering field. However, during her time at university, she realized her true love was teaching. 

She became the Waldron High School Spanish teacher and has opened the world to her students for 27 years. She also coaches girls' track and Field and boys' and Girls' Cross Country, where her teams have earned multiple state titles. 

"The Waldron community is fantastic. I knew I wanted to raise a family here because Waldron became a family to us. We love our Waldron family."

The submitted nomination for Mrs. Bailey read, "One of Coach Bailey's 'superpowers' is her ability to stay calm and rise to [any] occasion. Schools are better off with people like Mrs. Bailey. The world is better because of Angie Bailey."

Lori Stuart, Pleasant View 7th-8th Grade Science and Health

Lori Stuart believes in the power of education. She started her career in education as a personal endeavor to help her own daughters homeschool. As her daughters grew, she transitioned to working in the public school system. She has taught in Arkansas for six years and in Oklahoma for 13 years. 

"Teachers come to work every day striving to get our fellow teachers to work together on curriculum and ensure that our students learn and benefit the most from our instruction. I love teaching the most when I'm in a classroom full of kids and a student gets excited about overcoming a hurdle and learning something new. Just seeing the excitement on their faces, knowing that they've got it, and knowing I helped them get there."

The submitted nomination for Mrs. Stuart read, "Mrs. Stuart's dependability, collaborative nature, dedication to students, and leadership make her a deserving candidate. Her remarkable contributions significantly enrich the educational environment, making her a beacon of excellence in teaching."

Arkansas Valley Electric wholeheartedly thanks every teacher across the River Valley who is shaping the minds of our future generations and is truly living out the motto, "Changing the Communities We Serve."