Philanthropy and Service
AECC/AECI Philanthropies and Service Projects
20th Century Club
American Cancer Fund
American Cancer Society
American Heart Association
American Red Cross
AR Kids Read
Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame
Arkansas Arts Center
Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Arkansas Department of Emergency Management
Arkansas Foodbank Network
Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation
Arkansas Hunger Relief
Arkansas Rice Depot
Arkansas Rural Teacher of the Year
Benton High School Cheer
Boy Scouts of America
Bryant Boys and Girls Club
CARTI Foundation
Central Arkansas IAAP Chapter
Children’s Protection Center
Clark County Boys & Girls Club
Cub Scouts
First Tee
For His Throne Ministries
Habitat for Humanity
Humane Society of Saline County
Huntington’s Disease Society
Junior Achievement Program
Keep Arkansas Beautiful
Kiwanis Activities
Lambs List
Lions Club
Little Rock Animal Village
Little Rock Roadrunners
Make-A-Wish Foundation
Maumelle Friends of the Animals
NABMU
National Park Service
Newport Area Chamber of Commerce
NRECA Glen English Foundation
OAYO- Ozark Area Youth Organization
P.A.R.K. Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids Foundation
Play Ball Little Rock Blackhawks
Pulaski County Sheriff Reserve Association
Razorback Foundation University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Red Wolves Foundation Arkansas State University
Riley’s Warrior’s
Saline County Striders
Siloam Springs Children’s Center
Summer Cereal Drive – Arkansas Foodbank
Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure
Toys for Tots Campaign, Marine Corps Reserve
University of Arkansas Community College at Hope Foundation
VTN Studio
Where Angels Run
Winthrop P Rockefeller Cancer Institute Foundation
Women Run Arkansas of Saline County
Women’s Foundation of Arkansas
Arkansas Rural Teacher of the Year

A resident of Leola, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Henderson State University and a Master of library and informational science degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She has taught at the Poyen Public Schools since 1979.
According to Newton, community expectations are high in rural schools. Parents and other community members expect a student who attends a rural school to perform better than students who attend larger schools, she said.
“Whatever it takes to reach children is what educators do,” said Newton, a third-generation teacher. “A small school allows teachers to adjust instruction based on a student’s need. I believe that teachers can touch lives and communities for a lifetime.”
The Rural Teacher of the Year Award winner is selected based on the quality and depth of answers to questions in the following categories: professional biography, educational history, professional development, community involvement, teaching philosophy, education issues and the teaching profession.
Arkansas Rural Teacher of the Year Winners:
Beverly Froud
White County Central High School
2012
Kathy Rusert
Acorn High School
2011
Mindy Brinkman
Hampton High School
2010
Ginny Chambliss
Rison High School
2009
Patricia Hesse
Weiner Elementary and High School
2008
Jimmy Stroud
Hector High School
2007
William Tims Edwards II
Oden High School
2006
Reginald (Reggie) Fryar
Van Cove High School
2005
Beverly Cothran
Bruno-Pyatt Schools
2004
Lavina Grandon
Valley Springs High School