By Krishnan Collins
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO –The Jonesboro Public Schools’ school board recognized eight new nationally certified board teachers at the JPS school board meeting Feb 11.

   The district now has 44 nationally certified board teachers and the process to become a nationally certified board teacher is a challenging process. 

    Christopher Taylor, a kindergarten teacher, described the challenges. 

   “Intense,” Taylor said. “It was very intense. It was probably one of the hardest professional things I’ve ever had to do. But I feel like it’s made me a better teacher. As I was going through the process I was actually able to see things that would help me improve as a teacher.”

   Teachers worked for months and sometimes even years producing videos, collaborating and typing reports all to be able to identify student needs inside and outside of the classroom. One teacher said there were 100 plus pages of typed material in the process. 

   Although a big goal of the process was identifying student needs, the ability to identify teacher needs was also gained. 

   The JPS board did not divert from the agenda on a very straight forward meeting night. The board did enter executive session, as the agenda said it would, to discuss employment, transfers, resignations and retirement for the 2020-21 school year. 

   Some discussion ensued over the issue of approving next school year’s academic calendar.    

   Board member Archie Ryan asked, “Is there anything unusual about the calendar?”

    It was said there was nothing unusual about the calendar but the school year would be starting on Aug. 13 which is the first day the district is allowed to have school and on a Thursday. The calendar also allows school to get out seemingly earlier than usual as school will end before Memorial Day. Memorial day in 2021 is May 31. 

   Students of Annie Camp Junior High School, Jimaria Jackson, Diamonique Reynolds, A’niah Graves, McKinna Robinson and Allannah Orsby were recognized at the board meeting after saving the life of a man who was going to attempt suicide. 

   According to KAIT8, Dec. 5, 2019, the members of the Annie Camp Junior High School basketball team were walking to Sonic. On the way there, they saw a man tying cords to a bridge and he put a cord around his neck. 

   The players called the police and continued to talk to the man. The man’s life was saved as officers arrived on the scene. 

   The JPS board’s next meeting is set for March 10 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held in the JPS administration building.

Editors Note: Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash