If she’s your teacher, then you’re in her favorite class.
Perhaps it’s that very outlook and her sheer love of the work that earned Nancy Wood the state award for Teacher of the Year 2022 in Adult Education. The award was recently presented to her by the Arkansas Association of Continuing Education at its annual conference in Little Rock.
“I was completely surprised when I heard my name called during the presentation for the teacher of the year,” Wood said. “Upon reflection, I think this award represents my years of commitment to improve my teaching and, accordingly, my commitment to my students’ success.
“A friend once asked me which age group I enjoyed teaching the most,” Wood said, “and I honestly had to say, ‘Whatever class I am teaching at the time.’ Since I’m teaching adults now, they are my favorite!”
Wood came to Adult Education with a well-earned philosophy gained from dealing with students running the gamut from first grade to junior high. She began her 35-year career in education at Dunbar Jr. High in Little Rock teaching eighth grade American History. After moving to Eureka Springs, she taught at Clear Spring School where she balanced multiple subjects in combined first and second grade classes and combined seventh and eighth grade classes.
“Clear Spring School is where I was able to hone my teaching skills answering the demands of multiple levels and abilities which, in turn, prepared me for the next phrase of my teaching life,” Wood said.
For the last 17 years she has been teaching at North Arkansas College’s Carroll County Center in Berryville, working with adult learners in ESL (English as a Second Language) and ABE (Adult Basic Education)/GED classes. During the last seven years she has concentrated on helping adults achieve their Arkansas High School Diploma to improve job and career possibilities.
As she began working with a mature age group, Wood realized she still had some things to learn. So, while she was busy teaching adult students Wood herself became one and earned her Masters in Adult Education at the University of Arkansas with an Adult Education Licensure.
According to Wood, there are more reasons why people seek out adult education than one would think. It’s not just all about getting a GED. Adult education differs from K-12 in that adults are self-directed and motivated internally to learn. They choose to come to school after working all day or night and taking care of their families’ needs. Their learning will have an immediate relevance to their personal lives. They may not feel confident academically when they arrive, but they quickly find that they can learn the requirements needed for workforce preparation and the GED.
“It is a privilege and honor to work with GED and ABE students,” Wood said. “Adults come to our classes rich with life experiences and a need to either improve their opportunities in life or fulfill a personal goal or dream. Many are thinking of their children’s future while others, like our late teen students, are just starting to dream of their own future. Students who want to apply to college may come just to gain strength in a subject they’re weak in. Some students have even had full successful lives, and, at retirement, come to school to complete a personal educational goal that they had put aside earlier in life.”
Meanwhile, Nancy Wood continues to pursue her own personal goal of doing well as long as she can the thing she loves most – the joy of teaching.