Joel Lookadoo, a ninth-grade algebra teacher at Lakeside Junior High in Springdale has been chosen as the 2020 Arkansas teacher of the year.

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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.

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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.

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