Snowville Elementary School has named Mrs. Angela Arnold as their 2022-23 Teacher of the Year.
Mrs. Arnold is 1993 graduate of Pulaski County High School. She then earned her degree at Bluefield University. She has been in education for 26 years, beginning with a 13-year stay at Hillsville Elementary in Carroll County. She has now been at Snowville Elementary School for 13 years, where she teaches fourth grade.
“Mrs. Arnold is a dynamic teacher who brings an energy to her classroom that is impressive,” Amy Shrewsbury, Snowville Elementary School Principal said. “She has a sense of community in her room that is inviting where students are excited to learn and to take charge of their own learning.”
“I was blessed to have teachers who inspired and molded me into who I am today,” Mrs. Arnold said. “One being Mrs Swope, who made history so intriguing. I remember hanging onto every word, as she was a storyteller of the past. Also, Mr. Kasik, who had an excitement and flair to his teaching style. In both of these classes, I didn't care about the time, because I was drawn into their world. Another reason I decided to go into teaching is because I have a heart for low socioeconomic students. I wanted to be able to provide a classroom for students that was welcoming, positive, hands-on, and challenging by fostering a culture of high expectations.”
While she has spent over a quarter century now in education, she didn’t immediately begin in that direction.
“I entered college as an accounting major,” she explained. “Like most students who start college, I was not completely sure what path to take. My roommates happened to be in the teaching program. I was intrigued and inspired by their studies, so I changed my major. My mother said I was a teacher to many stuffed animals as a child, so I assume it has always been part of my path.”
What is her favorite part of teaching?
“My favorite thing about teaching is seeing students excited about what they are learning,” Mrs. Arnold said. “I love when students remind me to goof around when I get too serious. I am allowed to break out into song and dance with no judgment. (If you have been in my classroom, you know it's going to happen.) As with most teachers, what we love the most is when you see how much a struggling student has improved and you think to yourself, ‘This is why I became a teacher.’"
What does she see as a challenge for teachers?
“The ever-changing curriculum,” she said. “Just when you have everything you need to be successful, new standards are implemented for the next year. I usually work throughout the summer to learn, plan, and gather materials to be ready for the upcoming school year.”
After teaching the same grade for such a long period of time, we asked if she had ever considered a different subject or grade level to try?
“Wow, this is a hard question,” she said. “I have taught the same grade for 26 years. Is there life outside of fourth grade? If I had to choose, I would like to try high school history. I have a passion for teaching that subject. Will that age be okay with singing/dancing? It's the only way I know how to teach the standards.”
Having a passion for history also made her choice of a different career, had she not become a teacher, much easier.
“Oh, this is easy … an archaeologist! I would love to make some historical discoveries,” she admitted.
The Snowville family has taken quite a liking to Mrs. Arnold, and the form nominating her for Teacher of the Year showed that fact.
“Mrs. Arnold is described as an energetic teacher whose drive to see her students succeed is impressive. You can walk into her classroom at any given time to see students actively engaged and taking pride in the work they are doing. Her teaching style is dynamic and is one that captures her students’ attention regardless of the subject matter being presented. She has a particular love for teaching social studies and former students will tell you that they love history because of Mrs. Arnold. Beyond her ability to do an excellent job in teaching, there is a sense of community that she builds in her classroom that makes all students feel valued and respected. Snowville Elementary School is honored to have Mrs. Arnold as a member of our teaching faculty and appreciate all of the time and dedication she invests into our school community.”
When not busy with work, Mrs. Arnold enjoys being with friends and family.
“I love to be on the water with my family,” she said. “When the weather is nice, we are usually on the boat. I love to read, shop, and spend time helping with my church. God has given me so much to be thankful for, so I want to give back to Him as much as I can.”
Mrs. Arnold is married to her high school sweetheart, Jamie Arnold, and they have been married for 25 years. They have two children, Kelsey and Parker, who are 20-year-old twins that also graduated from Pulaski County High School.