Barbara Scram has been named Arkansas City’s master teacher for the 2007-2008 school year. This was her second year to be nominated.
The award is given annually by the Ark City Teachers Association. Scram has taught kindergarten for USD 470 for more than 25 years. Other finalists this year were Mary Young, high school Language Arts teacher, and Laura Ehler, eighth grade Language Arts teacher.
“I was shocked and excited,” Scram, a teacher at Adams Elementary, said in a written statement released by the school district.. “In my 25 years of teaching, I never would have dreamed this.”
ACTA began the selection process by asking its membership to submit nominations. The group narrowed it down to three finalists and then voted again on the winner.
Scram grew up in Ark City and after completing her teaching degree at Emporia State, moved back to begin her career as a kindergarten teacher. Now, almost 26 years later, she still loves teaching kindergarten.
“I think I’m a good fit for it,” she said. “I love to be active and just really enjoy working with the younger age group.”
Aside from teaching the all-day kindergarten program at Adams, Scram teaches during the After School and Summer School programs and is currently serving on the Professional Development Council.
Her husband Mark is a P.E. teacher at the middle school. Their oldest son Deik plays minor league baseball while their younger son, Mark, is a sophomore at Cowley College. She said they help each other to achieve goals and she is proud to share this award with them.