Carlee Qualls, a fifth-grade English Language Arts teacher at Cave City Elementary, has been named the August Face of Arkansas by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. This monthly series highlights Arkansans who make a positive impact in their communities.

Teaching with Passion

Qualls brings classroom lessons to life through unforgettable experiences that leave a lasting impact on her students. She believes that learning should be engaging and fun, and her students have benefited from her creative approach to teaching.

Qualls is not only a dedicated teacher but also a devoted member of her community. She has volunteered at the Cave City Watermelon Festival to help raise funds for an inclusive playground and has coached peewee basketball. Her commitment to her students and community has earned her recognition as a role model for teachers in Arkansas.

Education Reform

The state of Arkansas is transforming its education system, and Qualls has seen the positive impact of these changes in her classroom. Since Governor Sanders signed the Arkansas LEARNS Act into law, teachers have greater access to student performance data, which has helped identify strengths and close learning gaps.

The results have been impressive, with Arkansas students posting a 20% increase in proficiency across every grade and subject on the ATLAS exam. Qualls is proud to be part of this effort and is committed to continuing to provide her students with the best possible education.

Original reporting: NEA Report (Jonesboro) — read the source article.