“Will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed!”

~Dr. Seuss, Oh the Places You’ll Go!

In a year that has seen many changes for Arkansas education, there has also been positive news. Educational leaders have stepped up, students have excelled and individual schools have received national honors. We at the OEP also hope to give out some credit where credit is due, by recognizing top performing schools around the state based on benchmark and end-of-course exam scores.

Here are some of the AR educational leaders recognized this year:

Jonathan Crossley Named 2014 Arkansas Teacher of the Year

Crossley is an English teacher at Palestine-Wheatley High School. You can view video of the announcement from Governor Beebe here.

Kim Wilbanks Named 2014 Superintendent of the Year

Dr. Kim Wilbanks, Superintendent of Jonesboro School District, received 2014 Superintendent of the Year.

Josh Baker Named Top Ag Educator in Arkansas

Many AR students and schools have also excelled this past year. Here are a few highlights:

• 45 Arkansas Students are National Merit Scholars Read more about this at the OEP blog post.
• 9 Arkansas Public Schools Named Exemplary
• 4 Arkansas schools named National Blue Ribbon Schools
• 2013 Outstanding Educational Performance (OEP) Awards

Congratulations to the educators, students and schools that were honored this year for their accomplishments in the Natural State and to anyone that we may have forgotten. Well done.