The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) celebrated Magnolia as a gold-level R.I.S.E. (Reading Initiative for Student Excellence) Community during a special event held December 2 at East Side Elementary. ADE staff members, South Central Service Cooperative Literacy Specialists, Magnolia community members, school personnel and board members, students, and teachers from across the District attended. KTHV Channel 11’s Craig O’Neill from Little Rock joined the celebration and later read to a group of East Side students. ADE donated more than twenty books to the Magnolia School District campus libraries. To conclude the celebration, a group of East Side teachers performed a skit to promote the monthly character word, “Compassion,” and encourage students to participate in the upcoming food donation drive for the Stewpot.
R.I.S.E Community Award presented to the Magnolia School District and Magnolia community members.
Pictured: Front Row L to R - Brandon Waddell, ADE R.I.S.E. Community Award Public Relations Advisor and Penny Talley, MSD Literacy Coordinator
Row two L to R - Kristen Reeves, Peoples Bank
Bonnie Keith, Chamber of Commerce and Magnolia Junior Charity League
Anna Smith, Partners in Education
Chris Ludwig, Boys and Girls Club of Magnolia
Talesha Tatom, Farmers Bank & Trust
Kizmet Davis, Columbia County United Community Organization
Row three L to R - Jason Ray, Farmers Bank & Trust
John Ward, MSD Superintendent
Mike Waters, MSD School Board President
Jeff Venable, Cadence Bank