SSD Teacher Angie Walters Named Arkansas Teacher of the Year Regional Finalist

Angie Walters, gifted and talented facilitator at East End Elementary and East End Intermediate, is one of 12 outstanding teachers in Arkansas who have been named a regional finalist in the 2022 Arkansas Teacher of the Year program.

In her 24 years as an educator in the Sheridan School District, Walters has touched the lives of countless students and has made a profound impact in the district’s community. She has served in a variety of roles such as literacy specialist, classroom teacher, and gifted facilitator. 

“Ms. Walters is an incredible teacher and an effective leader among her peers,” said Jerrod Williams, Sheridan School District’s Superintendent. “She sets high expectations for herself and her students while cultivating a safe and rigorous educational environment where students can excel. I am pleased to see her recognized for her unwavering dedication to her students.”

Walters focuses on building strong relationships with students and encouraging student voice in the classroom. She takes students beyond the classroom by encouraging problem-solving with the Stock Market Game and providing opportunities to engage with their communities through entrepreneurship.

Earlier this year, Walters was selected as one of five educators in Arkansas to receive the Educator Recognition Award from the Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education (AGATE). In 2019, she was recognized as the Grant County Chamber of Commerce Elementary Teacher of the Year.

When asked about what her role as a gifted educator means to her, Ms. Walters shared a heartfelt story. “Early in my teaching career, the parent of one of my students gave me a plaque. On it were the following words: ‘Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the apples in the seeds.’ My role as a GT facilitator means I get to plant seeds. While my students are with me, I use those opportunities to cultivate the soil and water those seeds so that they begin to grow and develop into seedlings. I may never get to see those seeds develop into fully grown, fruit-bearing plants, but I get to plant the seeds.”

Walters and the other regional finalists will be recognized at an event on Aug. 5 at the Governor’s Mansion. During the event, the four state semi-finalists will be announced.