TEXARKANA, Arkansas - Junior high students entered Arkansas Middle School for the very first time Monday morning, with the sun shining on their backs and the future in front of them.
Principal Theresa Cowling stood at the entrance of the brand new building, greeting students as they were dropped off. She said this moment was very special to her as an educator.
"This is definitely the highlight of my career," Cowling said. "It is not very often that a principal is granted the opportunity to help build something wonderful for their students, and I am grateful for this opportunity and can't wait to be a part of the history of Arkansas Middle School. I am honored to be a part of this new journey for our middle school students.
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Cowling said the state-of-the-art school has the infrastructure to improve the learning environment for students within the Texarkana, Arkansas School District.
"I believe we have designed learning spaces which will increase collaboration and peer-to-peer learning," she said. "The integration of digital learning is important, and we have purchased additional technology and state-of-the art Promethean Boards to enhance student learning. The natural light students and teachers will enjoy in each classroom is a plus, too.
"Students and teachers will have two gyms and two band halls to expand our athletic and band programs. The space and design of this building is going to provide us so many new scheduling options."
The building is split up into four main sectors - sixth-grade wing, seventh-grade wing, eighth-grade wing and fine arts wing. This is in addition to a media center right in the middle of all sectors.
There is also a full gymnasium and practice court next to the cafeteria, which includes an amphitheater stage.
Cowling said her students are ecstatic to be a part of the transition.
"Our seventh-and-eighth-grade students toured the building last week and each group left beaming with pride," she said. "The kids kept saying 'I can't believe this is our new school,' and 'this looks like a college campus.' It is fulfilling to know your students are proud of our new school. As the principal, I can't wait to work with our team of administrators and teachers to help us utilize this new facility to its fullest capacity to ensure student success."
All in all, she thanked the district for being able to make it possible and for the support throughout the process.
"I am proud to work for the amazing Texarkana, Arkansas School Board and Dr. Becky Kesler, superintendent," Cowling said. "Their forward-thinking made building this expansive modern facility possible for our students without asking our taxpayers to increase bonds. I know our parents and community members are going to be proud of our new facilities, too."