August 2017 Administrator Newsletter

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Debbie Atkinson Principal, Bergman Elementary, Bergman School District Get to Know Debbie! Above is a photograph taken of Debbie Atkinson and her Husband enjoying the AAEA Board Retreat In 1987, Debbie Atkinson was student teaching 4th grade in Bergman School District. Back then, it was a six week program. She finished during the first week of November. Green Forest School District had a teacher leave her position and Debbie was fortunate enough to get the position teaching a 3rd/4th grade split class beginning the second week of November. In 1988, Debbie and her husband moved to Midland, TX. Debbie’s husband helped with her dad’s business. She then received a job teaching 2nd grade. In 1989, she was Hired to teach 3rd grade at the school of her dreams- Bergman. In 2001, she moved from the classroom to being the principal. In the 3rd grade, Debbie made an A on a paper about what she wanted to be when she grew up. She wrote about being a teacher and that desire stayed with her. Debbie can’t recall what happened early on that made her want to be a teacher, but she had many great teachers in her life that continued to fuel that flame. Early in Debbie’s teaching career, the thought of becoming an administrator took on a much greater spark. That leads us to where she is today, Principal of Bergman Elementary. Read more about Debbie on the following page. 6 AAEA Administrator August 2017
* What is your favorite thing about your job? “I love so many things about my job, but greeting the students in the morning has to be one of my favorites. I get hugs and I get to hear the things they are excited about. It also gives them the opportunity to let me know if their day hasn’t started off well and what I can do to help turn it around.” * What is the most challenging part of your job? “Sometimes our students have some pretty sad situations going on at home. It is hard not being able to do more for them. It is a challenge to make them feel safe at school and get them to a place where they are ready to learn.” * What would you tell someone who was thinking about a similar career? “I would tell them to ‘Go for it!’ I have been in education for 30 years. I still get up every morning and look forward to the day. I would remind them it is not an easy job, but if their heart is in it, they can make a difference every day in the lives of many children. This career has been a blessing to me.” * What is the best advice you have ever received? “When I was just beginning my job as the principal, my previous principal, Rick Nance told me I would not make everyone happy and that I shouldn’t make decisions to please people. I should base my decisions on what I believed to be the best for our school and the students. If I did that, then when people get upset, I could look myself in the mirror and be okay with people being upset with me because I made a decision based on what was best and not just what people wanted.” * What major changes have you seen in education during your career? “One of the biggest changes has to be the use of technology integrated into the classrooms, not just being used by the teachers, but by the students. Another major change is the shift from teaching content to teaching students. Although the shift to student–centered, personalized learning can be difficult, I believe the pay-off will be worth it.” * What’s something that amazes you? “As in any work place, people suffer loss or deal with challenging situations. The staff in our district may not know each other well, and we sure don’t see each other very often, but, when needed, they come together and offer support in ways that amaze me.” * What have you done that you are most proud of? “One accomplishment at Bergman Elementary that makes me especially proud is our outstanding system of support through RTI. My staff has worked diligently to create effective tiers of support from intervention to enrichment. Our system has garnered some attention as we have presented our plan at the state conference, and schools have even made site visits to try to replicate something similar.” Special thanks to you, Debbie Atkinson, for allowing us to recognize your success as an administrator and for the information you shared that can inspire others in the same field! -AAEA 7 AAEA Administrator August 2017
Page 1 and 2: The Administrator Newsletter Volume
Page 3 and 4: The “AAEA Administrator” is a m
Page 5 and 6: EXECUTIVE Viewpoint Continued… We
Page 7: From your Arkansas teachers: Presid
Page 11 and 12: Administrator Job Openings The AAEA
Page 13 and 14: 2017 Summer Conference! Thank you t
Page 15 and 16: AAEA Conducts Training For New Ar
Page 17 and 18: AASA encourages you to participate
Page 19 and 20: The Arkansas PTA was recently award
Page 21: Publication Presented to you by Ark

August 2017 Administrator Newsletter

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