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Jackson Selected Ashdown Teacher of the Year

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"I am humbled by this honor," states Jeanne Jackson, Ashdown's 2014 District Teacher of the Year. Jackson was honored with the award at the 2014 Little River Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet on April 3.

Now in her twenty-third year of teaching at Ashdown High School, Jackson stated, "I have never had any desire to teach elsewhere." During her tenure at AHS, she has taught many subjects, including Oral Communcations at a variety of grade levels; all levels of Psychology, from General to Advanced Placement; Drama classes I, II, and III; ACT Prep; and a media class called Pantherzone TV, and has even served as a Braille assignment coordinator.

In addition, Jackson has taken on additional duties, such as Leadership Team member, ACSIP chair, AdvancEd chair, Instructional Lead Teacher, and program director of the 21st Century Afterschool Program for grades K-4 for two years.

She has served the Arkansas Leadership Academy Teacher Leader Institute for twelve sessions, first as a graduate, then as a facilitator and teacher learning coach. She says, "I utilize the processes and concepts of the Arkansas Leadership Academy every day. I wish every educator could be exposed the ALA Academy Way."

AHS Principal Tim Erwin calls Jackson "a caring individual who truly nurtures her students." He describes her as "hardworking, loyal, and determined ... one of the best educators I have had the pleasure to work with. Her students notice her desire for their success and strive to be better people."

Prior to becoming a teacher, Jackson spent 18 years as a journalist: 15 in broadcasting and three with the Little River News, where she received Arkansas Press Association first place awards for In-depth Reporting and Editorial, along with several honorable mentions for news reporting.

Married for 37 years to Reg Jackson, the couple has two sons and daughters-in-law and two grandchildren: Mark and Stephanie Jackson with daughter Marlee and Brett and Erica Jackson with son Brycen. She gives credit to Reg "who has built sets, [created props] out of PVC pipe, drove mini-buses, corralled students, and argued with judges," along with her sons who "survived having their mother as their teacher four times in three years."

AHS Scholarship Committee Encouraging Contributors

The Ashdown High School Scholarship Committee will soon be awarding scholarships to 2014 AHS graduates, as it has since its formation in 1986, and contributors are encouraged to either continue donations as they have in previous years or become new scholarship donors and contribute to the success of new Ashdown High School graduates in their post-secondary endeavors.

"Last year, we awarded 38 scholarships with a total value of $15,405," states Ronda Pounds, chairperson of the committee. "This brings the total scholarships to over $320,188 awarded to 917 students over the course of our 28-year history."

Pounds also states that 100% of all donated monies are awarded every year and that all donations are tax deductible.

The Scholarship Committee has also authorized an alumni fund through which former students of Ashdown High School and businesses may contribute to the program in any amount and at any time. Such contributions may be made in honor or memory of friends and loved ones.

As in previous years, scholarship recipients will be announced and scholarships awarded at a tea sponsored by the committee. The date for this year's tea is Sunday, May 4 at 2:00 p.m. in the Ashdown High School cafeteria. "All donors are welcome at the tea," Pounds continues, "and welcome to participate in presenting the scholarship they are giving if they would like."

To be awarded to 2014 AHS graduates, contributions must be received by April 18. They may be mailed to or dropped off at the Ashdown School District Central Office at 511 N. Second Street, Ashdown, Arkansas 71822.

Ashdown School District to Host 2014 Special Olympics Area Games

The Special Olympics Area Games for school-aged athletes will be held at the Ashdown High School Fred Jester Memorial Track Field on April 29, 2014. Opening ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m.

School-aged athletes with special needs will compete in a variety of track and field style events. Every athlete will receive awards after each individual event. All parents, friends and community members are invited and encouraged to come and cheer the athletes on or even serve as a day volunteer.

This is the first year for the Ashdown District to host the area games for Special Olympics of Arkansas Area 11, which includes Little River, Sevier, Howard, Hempstead and Miller Counties. Dozens of Special Olympics athletes from schools in all those counties will be participating in the single day event at the Fred Jester Memorial Track.

The Ashdown special needs teachers and staff would like to provide a hot dog lunch for each participating athlete. Anyone who would like to donate food items or money -- or to be a day volunteer to help with the event -- may please contact Elisha Stone at 870-898-4448 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing competitions to more than 4.2 million athletes in 170 countries. The motto of Special Olympics athletes is "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

Ashdown Student Selected for Henderson 100

Ashdown High School junior Lavonica Powell was recently informed that she has been selected for this year's Henderson 100 program by its directors on the campus of Henderson State University in Arkadelphia.

Ashdown FFA Members Place in Southern District Career Development and Leadership Events

Six teams of Ashdown FFA members traveled to the campus of Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia to compete in the Southern District Career Development Events on March 18.

The four-member Land Team placed 5th and consists of Madison Kidd, Ethan Erwin, Erica Erwin, and Taylor Kirby, who was 9th high individual. Placing 2nd in Poultry Team competition was Colton Ard (3rd high individual), Charles Swilley (6th high individual), Seth Kruse (7th high individual), and Kinley Wright.

Ashdown's Livestock Team placed 4th with members Chelsie Stewart (8th high individual), Aubrey Burchfield, Madison McAllister, and Abby Burchfield. The Forestry Team, made up of members Cole Grimes, Grace Gwin, Walker Morton, and Joe Pennington, placed 17th.

The Land, Poultry, Livestock and Food Science Teams will compete at the State CDE contest on April 18 on the campus of the University of Arkansas of Fayetteville.

The Ashdown FFA Chapter's Open and Closing Ceremonies Team, who placed 2nd in the Little River Sub-Area contest, also competed in the Southern District Leadership Events held on the campus of SAU in Magnolia on March 7, where they placed 7th. Team members are Callie Redfearn - president; Karen McMillan - vice-president; Hannah Redfearn - secretary; Caitlin Caskey - treasurer; Makenna Kuykendall - reporter; Cole Grimes - junior advisor; and Maddie McAllister - sentinel.

ArtsSmart Performers Teach Students Their Skills

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ArtsSmart, under the supervision of Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council, Inc. and the Arkansas Arts Council, chooses only the best guest artists to visit area schools and not only entertain the students, but also teach them to love both visual and performance arts. Two such artists visited the Ashdown students at Margaret Daniel Primary School and C. D. Franks Elementary School in the last month.