Joel Lookadoo, a ninth-grade algebra teacher at Lakeside Junior High in Springdale has been chosen as the 2020 Arkansas teacher of the year.
He was chosen over three other finalists, Melissa Spence of Conway, Jeffrey Whitlow of Little Rock and Catherine Beckham of Mountain Home.
Lookadoo, who has a degree in math education from UCA and a master’s from Arkansas State, coached basketball in the beginning of his career but turned his focus to teaching. An article in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette says he spends several weeks getting to know eighth graders so that he’ll already be familiar with them when they arrive in his Algebra 1 class as ninth graders.
Among other attributes, Lookadoo was cited for his Beyond program, in which he helps students prepare for the ACT and development of a character education program to help students deal with anxiety and depression,
He’ll have a paid leave from his classroom next year, get a $14,000 award from the Walton Family Foundation and compete for national teacher of the year. He’ll also have a non-voting seat on the state Board of Education. He succeeds Stacey McAdoo, a teacher at Central High School.