Sherry Roland

I am a senior high English teacher at Valley View High School, where I teach or have taught Senior English, Advanced Senior English, Junior English, AP Language and Composition, Journalism I and II, Yearbook, Inclusion classes, and Creative Writing. I have been at Valley View for 10 years, receiving my 10-year pin just a week ago. I previously taught at Brookland High School for three years. However, my first job after graduating from ASU was at Osceola Junior High School.

This year I received a grant called the Big Give, where I gave groups of students money to promote their causes; some of the causes were poverty, abstinence, bullying, healthy lifestyles, and voter registration. It was a project that covered all the skills the kids needed to know, but I did it in a fun and creative way. This is my MARK: my creative passion to help others, including all my students. I have also in the past held Girls Talk meetings at lunch for any girls to discuss self-esteem, goals, and many other issues. I am there for my students, and the students know this. I will help any student reach his goal: be it a college application, a scholarship, a job, a recommendation letter, personal goals and skills, and more. I try to teach my objectives and involve the kids in way in which they truly learn. During Beowulf, I stand on desks act out scenes and roll in the floor fighting with Grendel. I hope I am an encourager to all of my students to follow their dreams, to set goals, and to be optimistic. I involve my students in service learning or community work. Each year I organize several charity drives for local and national groups. I participate in the National Make a Difference Day, sponsored by USA Weekend Magazine, and my students and I were even recognized in that publication as a runner-up. Over 13 years, I have involved my students in helping the Northeast Arkansas Women’s Crisis Center, St. Jude’s, Make-A-Wish, the Pajama Program, World Vision, NEA Food Bank, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and many more organizations. I believe all students are writers and are the AUTHORS of their own lives. I also publish many articles in local newspapers and magazines as well as in national magazines. I have been published in most all of the local newspapers, in the local Parent magazine, in Redbook, in Good Housekeeping’s Quick and Simple, in All You, in numerous anthologies, and on various websites.

I was recently honored as the Arkansas English Teacher of the Year by ACTELA (Arkansas Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts) for 2007-2008. I have also been nominated for National Teacher of Excellence for the NCTE (the National Council of Teachers of English). I may be recognized in the fall at the national convention in San Antonia, Texas. In addition, I have won numerous grants, awards, and recognitions- locally and nationally. I won Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, Disney Hands Nominee for teacher creativity, Teacher of the Month at Brookland and Valley View, V.I.P. Teacher at Valley View by the principal, and M.V.T. (Most Valuable Teacher) by the Valley View Senior High Football team. I have been recognized as an outstanding poet, writer, volunteer, and creative teacher for unique lesson plans (by Scholastic).

I graduated from Valley View in 1990 as salutatorian and graduated from Arkansas State University as Magna Cum Laude and Outstanding B.S.E. English Graduate in 1994. Not only have I taught in the schools, but I have tutored, been involved in homebound services, taught summer school at Jonesboro High School, managed detention and Saturday school at Brookland, presented workshops to Greene County Tech with ASU professor Dr. Rob Lamm, co-taught college classes, and co-directed the Northeast Arkansas Writing Project in Jonesboro and Forrest City.

I am a 36-year old mother of an 8-½ year old girl Sabrina (who attends Valley View) and have been the wife of Michael Roland for 18 years. I was born, raised, and currently live in Jonesboro, AR. I also volunteer to give speeches or give my time to local groups. I was the Celebrity Usher for the Foundation of Arts Bridges of Teribethia, I was the guest speaker at the 2008 Girl Scouts Gold and Silver Award Banquet, and I have done much work for the NEA Center for Healthy Children. I am also involved in Delta Kappa Gamma; area teachers elected me as President of the local chapter, Beta Chi. I am also currently a member of ACTELA, NCTE, AEA, and NEA.