Shawnda Bradshaw, Nancy Schuyler Named 2007 Outstanding Teachers by South Shore Foundation
August 2007

Nancy Schuyler

Shawnda Bradshaw

The South Shore Foundation Board of Directors recently named its Outstanding Teachers for 2007. The elementary school honor went to Nancy Schuyler, a Yellville-Summit Elementary teacher with 31 years of experience. The high school honor went to Shawnda Bradshaw, a Bergman High School teacher with 13 years of experience. Each received a $1,000 cash award, which was presented at their schools.

Mrs. Schuyler has spent her career in special education. She is a graduate of Indiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in special education. She has taught in Indiana, Iowa, and Arkansas with six years at Yellville-Summit. In addition, Mrs. Schuyler has earned graduate credits in special education disability areas (1976-83) and courses that provided unique teaching methods (1984-2000). As a result, she initiated inclusive instructional methods in grades 1-5. She is currently working toward a master’s degree in reading through the University of Central Arkansas.

Mrs. Schuyler was a presenter at the 2004 Arkansas Council on Exceptional Children state convention, was a 1975 cum laude graduate of Indiana State University, and became a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society in 1972.

Mrs. Schuyler said evidence of her students’ success comes both in school and after graduating. She said one former student joined the U.S. Navy for his career. Within school, six of her students have been nominated by classroom teachers for the C.A.T.S club. (Children Aiming to Succeed). Some of her students have been able to be mainstreamed into the general education classrooms with only indirect support from special education services.

Mrs. Bradshaw has taught math at Bergman High School seven years. She earned her bachelor’s degree at College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, Mo., then earned a master’s degree in education with emphasis on mathematics at Southwest Missouri State University. Before teaching at Bergman, Mrs. Bradshaw taught at Mansfield and Monett, Mo., and at Blytheville, Ark.

Mrs. Bradshaw helped start after-school tutoring. She helps students with course work and preparation for tests such as ACT (American College Testing) and Arkansas EOC (End of Course) testing. Calling the EOC a “high stakes exam,” she holds annual meetings with parents so they can help their children succeed on the EOC tests. At the meeting parents complete a practice exam, and discuss the grading system with Mrs. Bradshaw, who shares test-taking strategies.

Bergman High School math students scored higher than the state average since 2004, Mrs. Bradshaw said, with 90 percent of her geometry students scoring “proficient” or “advanced” compared to the Arkansas average of 60 percent in 2006. An indication of student success is that  many students earn college credits (North Arkansas College) for college algebra / trigonometry concurrent with the high school course. Also, five 2006 Bergman graduates are majoring in premed or engineering while others are successful in the military and workforce using math skills.

South Shore Foundation is the charitable arm of Northern Arkansas Telephone Company of Flippin, an independent, family owned telecommunications company serving six exchanges: Flippin, Bull Shoals, Diamond City, Lead Hill, Omaha, and Pyatt. To contact the South Shore Foundation, call 1-800-775-6682 for more information or a grant application.