Ashdown teacher nationally certified
Emily Freeman, gifted and talented coordinator at Ashdown Public Schools, has become a national board certified teacher.
“National board certification affirms to me that I am an educator who thrives on inspiring my students,” Freeman said. “By getting this certification, I validated my knowledge of students’ engagement. This process allowed me to have a deeper understanding of my educational skills that help inspire my students. After going through this process, I am a more efficient educator.“
Freeman is responsible for all GT students at Ashdown. She schedules and plans all classroom activities and guides the chess and Quiz Bowl teams.
She is also a member of the local Delta Kappa Gamma Teacher Sorority and serves as treasurer for the Arkansans for Gifted & Talented Education, Arkansas Association of Gifted Education Administrators and International Society for Technology in Education.
“I am so proud of Mrs. Freeman and all the extra time and effort she has put into becoming a national board certified teacher,” said Ashdown Superintendent Casey Nichols. “She always goes above and beyond for our students and is extremely dedicated to them.”
Freeman said her core beliefs as an educator are integrity, respect, responsibility and being a servant leader.
“I am extremely proud to provide the best education possible for my students by fostering a love of learning that will help guide them in our ever-changing future,” she said. “I believe hands-on learning is the best way for my students to learn, giving them the freedom to learn through real experiences. I believe it is very important for an educator to be a life-long learner and to stay up with the cutting edge trends in education.”
Freeman said being able to give the gift of learning to her students is what has always made her passionate as an educator.
“The education we provide to students can never be taken from them,” she said. “Students will take the experiences they have gained to achieve the successes they see for themselves in their lives. I love seeing students spark curiosity and think critically to learn from their struggles. I’m amazed at what students are able to create when they feel empowered.”