Cooper teacher extolls Beta Sigma chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma

Although she started as a guest speaker, PE4Life teacher Donna Lewis of Cooper Elementary School was so impressed with the Beta Sigma chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, she plans to join. Since 1974, the group of women teachers has been serving the community of Northwest Arkansas.

While it is a women’s group, treasurer Susan Osborne said it’s not actually a sorority, in spite of the Greek letters. There are no requirements to join and the organization is always looking for members. It’s made up of teachers — both working teachers and retired teachers.

It meets six times a year in a variety of places. Sometimes it meets at a school to make it convenient for the speaker. When Lewis spoke on health and well being, it met in the Cooper Library.

Speakers range from those with self-help topics, like Lewis, to local superintendents speaking about changes in education or city people talking about upcoming events, Osborne said. Occasionally, meetings are just for fun, like when the group dedicated one meeting to playing Bunko.

Its annual service project takes place in the fall, she said. It buys and stuffs backpacks with clothing, socks and sweaters for new arrivals at the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter. Children often arrive at the shelter with only the clothes they are wearing and being welcomed with their own backpack full of essentials helps, she explained. Members spend their own money buying items for the backpacks. The group doesn’t do any fundraising.

There’s also an annual scholarship which is awarded at a dinner each spring. It always goes to either a college student preparing to study education or a teacher who is working toward an advanced degree or even National Board Certification. The scholarship is funded through the society’s dues, Osborne said.

The next meeting will be at Panera’s in Bentonville at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 12. Radio personality Susan Goss is the guest speaker and everyone is welcome to attend, Osborne said. For more information, contact her at 479-903-0513 or email at sosborne1215@gmail.com.

Photo submitted Coach Donna Lewis usually teaches elementary students, but recently she spoke to a group of educators — members of Beta Sigma chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. The society is looking for new members.