LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – This week is American Education Week, a time to celebrate teachers and staff in public schools who help shape the future through their students.
After being in the profession for 16 years, Michelle Balmat is now a third-grade teacher at Baker Elementary in Little Rock. She said she knew she wanted to be an educator from a specific experience she had in fourth grade struggling to read aloud.
“I mispronounced words, I stumbled, I stuttered,” Balmat described. “I was not a strong reader.”
She said the experience helped her choose what she wanted to do with her life at a young age.
“I want to become a teacher. I want to make a difference in children’s lives and I never want a child to feel the way I did in fourth grade,” Balmat said.
Balmat has been recognized as a high-performing educator by the state’s Department of Education.
She said American Education Week is just one more reason to feel the love from the community.
“Teaching is not an easy job. It’s not easy, but it is extremely rewarding,” Balmat said. “So you know, it’s nice to be recognized.”
Balmat says her passion for the job is fueled by two things from her students.
“One: Them trusting me with their education. Like you can see that trust, I love that,” Balmat said. “The other would be definitely watching them learn.”
And she’s grateful for her community of instructors.
“The one thing about teaching is you cannot do this alone,” Balmat said. “For me, being able to collaborate with other teachers and other educators really, really helps me.”
American Education Week ends Friday but the support for public school teachers extends far beyond this deadline.