Declaration of Learning participants receive recognition from governor
LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Asa Hutchinson, the Arkansas Department of Education, and state and national partners recognized Melissa Baker, U.S. history teacher for grades seven and eight at Newport High School; Sara Dacus, English language arts teacher for grade eight at Ahlf Junior High School in Searcy; and Sara Sawyer, English language arts teacher for grade eight at Ahlf Junior High School, on June 13 for their successful completion of the Arkansas Declaration of Learning program.
The 2018-19 academic year was
Sawyer’s second year of being involved in the program, and she served as a mentor, advising her fellow educators as they worked to bring the subjects they teach to life.
Arkansas is the first state in the nation to participate in the program, which gives educators the opportunity to create innovative units and lesson plans using historical objects and art from state and national museums. This program also includes a student-led civic-engagement project that extends learning beyond the classroom.
Program partners include the Arkansas Department of Education, the Clinton Foundation, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Central Arkansas Library System, the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Reception Rooms.
“I continue to be amazed at the exceptional ability our teachers have to impart not only academic knowledge to their students but the importance of serving others,” Hutchinson said.
“There is no better way to instill the importance of civic engagement than by using history to lay the foundation for our future. Not only are you shaping the future of your students; you are making Arkansas a better place to live,” the governor said.
“The Arkansas Declaration of Learning program is one of many that put Arkansas at the forefront of education in the nation,” ADE Commissioner Johnny Key said. “The hard work and commitment from these outstanding educators is to be commended. They have worked for an entire year to create, review and revise dynamic lesson plans that incorporate multiple subject areas and promote community engagement. I congratulate each of you for your contribution and know that your students have benefited greatly from your efforts.”
Now entering its fifth year, approximately 150 Arkansas educators have participated in the program, reaching more than 8,000 students. Thirty-eight additional school librarians and teachers of art, social studies and English language arts in grades four through 12 were selected to participate during the 2019-20 academic year. These new participants will spend the next year developing, revising and implementing lesson plans in the classroom and school libraries and working with their students to create civic-engagement projects that address issues in their schools or communities.
To learn more about the program and to hear testimonials from past participants, visit bit.ly/2WqBJcC and https://t.e2ma.net/click/gdkz5/o3d2mh/ caz50d.
Applications for the sixth year of the program will open in January 2020. To learn more, contact ADE’s Cassandra Barnett at