Stacy Key, chair of the Division of Sciences and Mathematics, was recently selected to participate in the National Conference of Governor Schools in New Orleans.
Key, who has been a math instructor at Ozarks since 1999, has been involved in the Arkansas Governor’s School for the past 12 years. He teaches math courses and serves as the coordinator of academics for the state program, which is held each summer on the campus of Hendrix College.
The National Conference of Governors Schools is an organization for the various governors schools from across the nation. The conference, held in October, brought together individuals who serve in some capacity with a state governors school.
Key was one of five individuals from the Arkansas Governor’s School selected for the national conference.
"These individuals are committed to quality education and providing academic opportunities for high school students beyond what they might receive in their local high schools," Key said. "The conference has seminars about best practices and ways to improve governors schools, as well as discussion groups to address issues that the different governors schools are facing and practical solutions to these problems. The conference provided me with the opportunity to meet some wonderful, experienced and dedicated educators with a passion for improving the academic quality in their states. It also allowed me to realize the fantastic program that we offer each summer to 400 rising high school seniors in the state of Arkansas, giving them an experience to gather with other students focused on learning and becoming better critical thinkers and problem solvers. We certainly need these type of young people in our state and nation."
There are approximately 60 governors schools representing 35 states, many of which have multiple, discipline-specific schools. Arkansas and a few other states have a more comprehensive program. Arkansas offers students the option of selecting one of eight concentrations: drama, English language arts, instrumental music, mathematics, natural science, social science, visual arts and vocal music. In addition to the concentration area, each student takes a course in critical thinking, logic and epistemology and a course in personal and social development. The Arkansas Governor’s School is a six-week program and is the second oldest governors school in the nation. It is the largest of the governors schools with a student population of 400 and was started in 1980 by then-Governor Bill Clinton.
Stacy Key, chair of the Division of Sciences and Mathematics, was selected to attend the National Conference of Governors Schools, held in New Orleans in October.
Topics: Mathematics