Featured image (from left to right): Amy Counts (Arkansas Dept of Education), Capri Bell Salaam (2023 Arkansas Teacher of the Year), Rhea Jennings (Cedar Ridge High School media specialist), David Ward (elementary teacher), Johnny Henderson (middle school English teacher), Tracey Owens (superintendent), Stacy Young (elementary counselor), Shirl Nelson (elementary media specialist), Carol Woods (elementary G.T. teacher), Brianna Goodman (communications coordinator), Abbi Limbaugh (director of curriculum and instruction).
The Cedar Ridge School District recently received the Gold R.I.S.E. Community Award. This award is presented by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) to only four schools in the state. ADE’s Reading Initiative for Student Excellence, or R.I.S.E. Arkansas program, encourages reading beyond just the classroom and sets a goal to create communities and schools that promote a culture of reading for residents of all ages. To be eligible for the recognition, schools and communities submitted a letter of commitment, developed an action plan, and provided a portfolio that showed evidence of implementation throughout the year. During this time, the department provided guidance, resources, and support for engaging the community in planned reading activities. Applications were then scored using a rubric.
The district started several projects and implemented new programs to help them receive this award, including the Cedar Ridge Book Bus that traveled the district and visited with the community this past summer, the new Book Vending Machine that is available to all elementary students, the Royal Reader program that brings guest readers to the elementary each semester, and book giveaways at several events with hundreds of books being placed in children’s hands to take home.
In a media release, the district said the recognition is a testament to the dedication of the entire school community — the exceptional teachers, talented students, and supportive parents and community members. It highlights their remarkable strides in fostering a reading culture within the school and broader community.
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