Blytheville native named Ark. Teacher of the Year

Blytheville native Ali Weimer was selected as the 2013 Arkansas Teacher of the Year, an honor those who know her say she was born for.

Weimer, a Blytheville High School graduate who is now a kindergarten teacher at Avondale Elementary School in Marion, was nominated for the award by her colleagues who wrote letters of recommendation to the Teacher of the Year Selection Committee on her behalf.

As Teacher of the Year, Weimer will receive a $15,000 check from the Walton Family Foundation, as well as receiving a year of paid leave to serve as a non-voting member of the Arkansas State Board of Education, representing teachers throughout the state.

Though she's only been a teacher for six years, Weimer began showing a proclivity for teaching at a very young age, according to her mother, Kelly Bourisaw, who told the CN she always knew this was something her daughter would do.

"I've been saying she was a teacher since she was 5 (years old)," Bourisaw said, "She seemed to really have a knack for it and when she and her sister would play school it was always the Teacher of the Year doing the teaching."

Bourisaw said she is proud of her daughter's big accomplishment as well as being proud that she is from Blytheville.

"This is such a good thing for Blytheville and it reflects very well on its schools," she said.

Weimer said she is very honored to receive such a major award, especially given the number of great educators throughout the state, and is looking forward to what's to come in her year on the state board.

"This is such an honor, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to represent teachers and be their vioce. I will admit though, leaving my classroom for a year is going to be a little sad," Weimer said.

Weimer holds a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and a master's degree in educational leadership, both from Arkansas State University.

cpinkard@blythevillecourier.com