Little Rock, Arkansas — July 18, 2023 — The 2023 Arkansas Rural Education Association’s Teachers of the Year are Christy Owen of the Magnolia School District and Lauren Dorman of the Rector School District.
Owen and Dorman were each presented with a crystal apple gift and a check for $1,000 from the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas have sponsored the Rural Teacher of the Year Award since 2004.
Teacher-of-the-year nominations are vetted by the state’s 15 educational cooperatives, which then submit a finalist for each educational cooperative district to the Arkansas Rural Education Association for consideration.
The winners each agreed that teaching at rural schools can present challenges, but strong, consistent relationships and support by their communities and parents far outweigh the challenges.
The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas comprise 17 electric distribution cooperatives; Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AECI), a Little Rock-based cooperative that provides services to the distribution cooperatives; and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC), a generation and transmission cooperative. The distribution cooperatives provide electricity to approximately 600,000 homes, farms and businesses in Arkansas and surrounding states.
For additional information, contact:
Rob Roedel, Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, (501) 570-2296 or email Rob.