Inspiring the next generation of educators

West Memphis superintendent adresses students about becoming teachers

By Ralph Hardin

ralphhardin@gmail.com

'Don't take your education for granted. Rejoice in learning and inspire somebody to learn.'

That’s the message West Memphis Superintendent of Schools Richard Atwill relayed last week as he addressed dozens of WMSD students.

Atwill was the speaker at ASU Mid-South's 13th Annual Future Educators' Forum last Thursday.

See TEACH, page A3

Photos courtesy of WMSD TEACH

From page A1

Students from several different schools attended the fair where they attended sessions about the teaching profession, including 'Stories from the Classroom', 'What Principals Look for When Hiring', and 'The Character of a Teacher'.

Colleges and universities in Arkansas and across the nation have seen the number of degree candidates seeking education licensure drop steadily in recent years (by 30% from 2013 to 2022) and that decline in enrollment has made it harder and harder for schools to replace retiring teachers and those leaving the field of education behind to pursue other career paths.

Teaching and education reform have been hot topics during the 2023 General Assembly’s regular legislative session in Little Rock over the past three months.

After Atwill encouraged students to go into the education field, he advised them to 'have compassion because we all have struggles' and 'to respect people with less power than you.'

'If you're going to be a teacher,” he said, be an amazing teacher.'