Plunkett honored by Chamber

Tracy Plunkett has qualities that have helped her become one of the best educators in Mississippi County, and her focus has always been helping make the Blytheville School District the best it can be.

Plunkett, teacher of the year at Blytheville Primary School, was selected Educator of the Year by the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce. She received her award at the March 10 Chamber banquet, held at the Briggs-Seabaugh Wellness Center at Arkansas Northeastern College. Four Blytheville educators attended the banquet, and they had already been recognized at their respective buildings. They included Plunkett, Carlecia Gentry of Blytheville Elementary School, Ladonna Hester of Blytheville Middle School and Robin Snead of Blytheville High School.

Tenaris sponsored Plunkett's award for the Chamber.

"I was just very surprised, very excited and honored to receive this recognition," said Plunkett, who has spent 22 years with the district. "To be nominated by the colleagues that I work with is an honor in itself; to be named the BPS Teacher of the Year and be associated with these other teachers is also quite flattering."

"We are very proud of Tracy for her receiving the Chamber Educator of the Year Award," said Sally Cooke, director of curriculum for the district. "She is a great example of someone who goes the extra mile to make sure her students get whatever it takes to be successful."

In addition to her duties as a kindergarten teacher, Plunkett works on curriculum to use with her students. Plunkett prepares assessments and is one of the district's parental involvement facilitators. While at BPS she was also named the 2010 Arkansas Mentor of the Year based on "exemplary service that Plunkett provided her novice teacher, and her outstanding modeling of effective educational practices."

Plunkett is a 1983 graduate of BHS. She received her two-year degree from then-Mississippi County Community College, and her bachelor of science degree in early childhood/elementary education from Arkansas State University in December 1991.

Gregg Yarbrough, her principal at BPS, noted that Plunkett is tremendously efficient and hard working. "Mrs. Plunkett is involved in her community, is a parental involvement coordinator and curriculum team leader at our school, and would help anyone who might need her services," he said. "She mentors new teachers, and every spring she is highly requested by the parents for their children for the following school year. Mrs. Plunkett goes over and above the call of duty. She is extremely dependable and willing to do what it takes to make her students successful."

Plunkett has always enjoyed stepping out of her "comfort zone" to try new ideas for her students. In Plunkett's eyes, only by doing her job a little differently can she decide what the best teaching practices are for her students, and thus concentrate on them.

"This has been a great school year for me and, hopefully, for my students," she added. "I love my job, I love teaching and I love learning. And if I can incorporate some new ideas into my classroom, it will help me to be the best that I can be, and to be a better teacher and a person."