Pulaski County Educator Named 2025 Arkansas Teacher of the Year

LITTLE ROCK - During a surprise announcement today at Chenal Elementary School in the Pulaski County Special School District, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Arkansas Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva recognized Jeanie Wilcoxon, a fourth-grade math teacher, as the 2025 Arkansas Teacher of the Year.

"Jeanie Wilcoxon is the kind of teacher every parent wants their kids to have," Governor Sanders said. "Whether it's in math class, the LEGO club, or the coding club, Jeanie finds ways to ensure every subject is fun and every student has the skills they need to succeed. Congratulations to Jeanie for being this year's Arkansas Teacher of the Year. I look forward to working with her to implement bold, transformative change across Arkansas' education landscape."

"Ms. Wilcoxon serves as the perfect example of excellence in teaching," Oliva said. "Not only is this evident in her daily interactions with students in her classroom, but it also is reflected in her students' test scores. Ms. Wilcoxon has achieved significant learning gains with her students, and we look forward to working alongside her, as she shares her best practices in teaching with the rest of the state."

With 25 years of experience in the teaching profession, Wilcoxon's math students have consistently ranked in the top 3 percent on standardized tests. She promotes increased engagement with math, the understanding of math concepts, and improved problem-solving skills. Her efforts include organizing math clubs that focus on coding and applying math principles in real-world contexts.

Influenced by her high school algebra teacher, Wilcoxon has been a classroom teacher, high school coach, tutor, and mentor teacher. She has been with the Pulaski County Special School District since 2011, where she also served as an assistant high school volleyball coach from 2016 to 2022. From 2010 to 2011, she was a fifth-grade language arts teacher in the Dumas School District, and prior to that, she taught multiple grades at the Iberville Parish Schools in Plaquemine, LA.

Wilcoxon is a graduate of Dumas High School and holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Secondary Physical Education from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. She completed post baccalaureate work in elementary education from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA.

She was named the Pulaski County Special School District Teacher of the Year for 2023-2024 and the Iberville Parish Teacher of the Year for 2006-2007. She also is a member of the Order of Omega leadership honor society.

Prior to being selected as the ATOY, Wilcoxon was named an ATOY Regional Finalist, receiving a $1,000 prize, and an ATOY State Semi-Finalist, which included an additional $1,000. Today she received an additional $14,000 award sponsored by the Walton Family Foundation and is eligible to apply for the National Teacher of the Year program.

Wilcoxon's one-year tenure as ATOY will begin on July 1, 2025, during which time she will travel the state promoting the teaching profession and serving as a non-voting member on the State Board of Education.

To learn more about the ATOY program, visit https://dese.link/ATOY.

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