Profile
Beth Stewart
School Improvement Specialist
South Conway County School District (Morrilton)
Beth Stewart walks into her job every day with the mantra technology is just like using a pencil—it should be that easy and comfortable. Although Beth is not as confident as the students are with using technology, she instills this motivation of technology integration everyday as she walks through Arkansas schools.
Beth started teaching special education at an elementary school right out of the University of Central Arkansas where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education. Beth quickly learned the ropes of teaching students with disabilities so she decided to move to the high school environment at Bauxite High School. She was the only special education teacher on assignment in the school. Beth eventually decided to take a break from the traditional classroom to raise her sons, but she could not stay away from the world of teaching and learning.
Beth soon found herself teaching technology in-services for Dawson Education Services Cooperative in the summer. She taught everything from PowerPoint 101 to the Best Website for Teachers. She mentions, “I think the biggest challenge there was the difference in the learning curve,” but with her background in individualized education, Beth helped many teachers gain the skills necessary to be effective in using technology in the classroom.
Beth went from teaching technology courses to teachers and preschool students back to the traditional classroom where she taught 5th grade in Arkadelphia. At this time, Beth had the confidence and experience to be an educational leader of change. Finishing her Masters in Educational Leadership, Beth took a job as principal at Ouachita High School.
As the chief educator at Ouachita High School, Beth ensures not to make technology the "showstopper." She regularly models the seamless use of technology integration at her school and still gets to train fellow educators in technology integration. She regularly presents at state and national conferences.
Coming from a family of educators, Beth’s commitment to helping all students succeed is evident in everything she does—from working with students one-on-one to training thousands of fellow teachers. With all the work she puts in, Beth still makes time for herself and her family. Beth is currently finishing her doctorate in Educational Leadership and loves to spend time with husband and sons—their newest hobby is going out into the woods geocaching.