Posted on August 5, 2019
By Caleb Slinkard
Managing Editor
They’re words that parents love to hear (and at least some children dread): the first day of school is just around the corner. The first day of school for El Dorado, Parkers Chapel and Junction City is Tuesday, Aug. 13. Smackover-Norphlet and Strong-Hutting begin Aug. 14.
The El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce is inviting new area teachers to the Educator’s Breakfast on Aug. 8 to celebrate the new school year, complete with door prizes and goodie bags to help them get the year started off on the right foot.
The breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the College Avenue Church of Christ in the Family Life Center, with the program starting at 8 a.m. and lasting about an hour. Chamber Membership & Events Coordinator Jaren Books is in charge of the event this year, and he said last year more than 100 new teachers started in Union County.
“This is a good way to welcome them to our community,” Books said. “It’s a small ‘thank you’ for what they do. We try to provide a speaker who is encouraging and uplifting, to inspire them to give their best to our young people.”
The event is open to new teachers at any Union County school, and free for them to attend. Guests can also attend, with tickets costing $20 a piece. The event’s keynote speaker will be former El Dorado School District superintendent Bob Watson.
“During the event, we also recognize last year’s teachers of the year,” Books said.
Books said the event is also an opportunity for the community to show support for the professionals responsible for educating the next generation.
“We welcome the community to come meet our teachers,” he said. “Its an opportunity to show support for our local teachers and community. These people are training our future.”
To RSVP or purchase tickets, contact Books at 870-863-6113 or jaren@goeldorado.com.
For more information about the upcoming school year, check out the News-Times’ 2019 Back to School section in Tuesday’s newspaper.