Cedar Ridge Schools has been honored by the Arkansas Governor’s Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education. The school’s gifted and talented teacher, Carol Woods, accepted the Act 56 Award of $3,000 for an Outstanding Gifted Program in a district with fewer than 1,000 students.
The award was presented during a luncheon today at the Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education Spring Conference in Little Rock.
Krystal Nail, the state’s program advisor for the Office of Gifted and Talented and Advanced Placement expressed her pride in the district’s program.
“We are proud of your work and thank you for your support of services to gifted students in Arkansas,” Nail said in the award announcement.
Woods said she was honored to accept the award for Cedar Ridge Schools.
“I believe the gifted and talented program can have a great impact on the lives of children in helping them realize their full potential,” she said. “I believe children are our most important asset and that my primary role, as an educator, is to nourish their talents with hope that they will live a life filled with rich experiences and that some will become the ‘difference makers’ who can and will solve some of mankind’s greatest problems and help create a better place for themselves and for those around them.”
Cedar Ridge Superintendent Dr. Andy Ashley noted that Woods makes a noticeable impact on her students.
“We are blessed to have an educator like Mrs. Woods leading our gifted and talented program,” he said. “Our students have had so many unique learning opportunities because of Mrs. Woods, and they will forever be grateful that they had the chance to be in her class.”
Cedar Ridge Elementary Principal Kathy Magness, gifted and talented teacher Carol Woods, State Representative Dwight Tosh, and Superintendent Dr. Andy Ashley attended the Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education Spring Conference on Thursday where Cedar Ridge Schools received the Act 56 Award. / Image submitted
