October School Board Recognition 2023

RISE School Awards

A big Panther congratulations to Eastside Elementary and Stagecoach Elementary for being the recipients of the 2023 Reading Initiative for Student Excellence or RISE Arkansas School Award! Principals Jill Fletcher and Carol Skiba were presented with the award at the October, 17, 2023 school board meeting by Sandy Shepard from the Arkansas Department of Education.

RISE Arkansas fosters a culture of reading by coordinating a statewide reading campaign with community partners, parents, and teachers to establish the importance of reading in communities, homes, and schools. In an effort to promote the continued growth of RISE Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Education recognizes schools that have successfully implemented these practices for their students.

Only 47 schools in Arkansas have earned the RISE Award. Of the 22 schools that applied last year, only 11 achieved it! We are so proud of Eastside Elementary and Stagecoach Elementary for being recipients of a 2023 RISE Arkansas School Award!

National Merit Semifinalists

Our National Merit Semifinalists were honored at the October Cabot School Board meeting! Congratulations Ryan Decker, Chandler Ford, Katelin Kellar, Anna McPhail, Maddie Peck, and Gavin Reardon.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter this program by taking the Preliminary SAT and by meeting published program entry and participation requirements.

There are around 1.5 million students that participate in this exam every year. Of those students, about 16,000 have scores which qualify them as Semifinalists. The state of Arkansas had 126 National Merit Semifinalists this year, and 6 of those are from Cabot High School.

Student Spotlight 
Alivia Partido, Eastside Elementary

Alivia is a fourth grader that shows perseverance everyday by pushing herself beyond expectations. She comes to school everyday ready to work hard and does not give up despite her physical challenges. She joined Eastside Elementary two years ago and didn’t want to talk or come to school, now she is a leader, on the broadcasting team and offers support to younger students!

PLC Building Recognition
Melissa Boroughs, Eastside Elementary - IIF (Instructional Innovation Facilitator)

Mrs. Boroughs leads team meeting through the PLC process and models lessons in classrooms as well as teaches small groups in reading and intervention. She was nominated by fellow staff members due to the level of support she brings to them everyday.

PLC Building Recognition
Shirley Wade & Stacy Cates, Cabot Freshman Academy

There are over 800 students at the Cabot Freshman Academy and Principal Ahna Davis chose to recognize 9th grader Jackson Leonard as well as Alegebra teachers Shirley Wade and Stacy Cates.

Ms. Wade and Ms. Cates teach a double block of algebra twice a day. Ms. Davis says they have one of the toughest but most rewarding jobs. Seventy-two-percent of their students grew in math last year and they are just as excited to see growth this year.

Student Spotlight 
Jackson Leonard, Cabot Freshman Academy

Jackson is a student of Ms. Wade and Ms. Cates. He has not enjoyed math in the past but because of Ms. Wade and Ms. Cates, Jackson is earning A's and enjoying math for the first time. He is inspired by his teachers and his self-confidence in math has skyrocketed.

These amazing educators and students were each given a very special Cabot School Board "It's about KIDS" coin. We appreciate our students and staff for going above and beyond in and outside the classroom!

October School Board Recognition 2023