When Nicole Martin’s daughter was in the second grade at Mayflower Elementary School, the child consistently came home excited about one particular subject — science, taught by Tonya Hogue.
That’s why Martin, a science teacher herself, nominated Hogue for an honor. Hogue, who now teaches fourth-grade science, is a finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching from the Arkansas Department of Education.
“She’s fantastic,” Martin said. A former Mayflower Middle School science teacher, Martin is a science specialist at the University of Central Arkansas STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Institute.
“I loved how engaged my child was in her class,” Martin said. “She was teaching all the subjects then, … but she was very strong in her content knowledge and letting them experience the science.”
Martin said her daughter, Reese, now 11, “wasn’t in love with school in second grade, but she came home so excited about what she was learning every day [in science]. ‘Mrs. Hogue taught us this … Mrs. Hogue showed us this ….’
“It wasn’t just paper-and-pencil work; they were engaged in science, … and [Hogue] made it important to them. They were doing science.”
Hogue, 43, said her application involved filling out paperwork, including the demographics of the district, and videoing herself teaching a lesson, then reflecting on the lesson and writing about it.
“It was actually kind of nerve-racking,” Hogue said. “When she first nominated me, I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh. Are you serious?’” Hogue said she didn’t expect it to go further. “It’s a huge honor.”
Hogue said she was notified in a letter, which had gotten soggy in her mailbox during a rain, that she was a finalist.
‘I opened it up, and it was just a complete shock and surprise. I just couldn’t believe it.”
Hogue, who grew up in Conway and still lives there, said she immerses herself in her subject and is “always at school.”
She said she had two great-aunts who were teachers, and she just always wanted to be a teacher.
“I always played school, always loved going to school and learning, so it was just natural,” Hogue said.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in early-childhood education from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, and her first job was in 1998 at Julia Lee Moore Elementary School in Conway as a paraprofessional in a self-contained/special-education classroom.
In addition to working at the school, Hogue worked in the day care at the Conway Regional Health and Fitness Center and took classes toward her master’s degree in special education.
Hogue was hired in 2001 at Mayflower Elementary School to teach special education.
“When I first started here, I was the resource teacher for fourth and fifth grades,” she said.
Hogue taught reading and math to special-education students in a combined classroom with non-special-education students, and she also pulled special-education students out of regular class for instruction.
“I loved it. Being able to work with a small group and watch the kids grow was amazing,” she said.
Hogue then had the opportunity to move to the fourth grade, where she taught all subjects for six years.
When adjustments were needed because of growth in the district, Hogue said, she volunteered to move to second grade, for which she developed a science curriculum and taught for four years before going back to the fourth grade in the 2016-17 school year. By that time, the curriculum had become departmentalized by subjects, and she chose science.
“I was always interested in science. I’m kind of a jack-of-all-trades, and I’m not scared to try something new or learn something new,” she said.
One of her projects is to take the students to the school garden, which was started by a parent.
“I usually take the students out there, and we plant the garden in the fall. Then we discuss how planting in the fall is different than planting in the spring, and we talk about their different functions, and we water it. We’re going to take over the composting.”
Hogue said she has also tutored students after school almost as long as she’s taught there, and she previously coached an elementary school Quiz Bowl team.
Last year, she became the Mayflower High School robotics-team coach after the previous coach retired.
“That has been amazing,” Hogue said. “I can remember the kids when they were in fourth grade, and I can see how much they’ve grown, and it’s absolutely amazing.
“Their first year, year before last, they were Rookie of the Year at regionals. Last year, they were considered veterans, and we ranked about 34 at regional out of 56 teams — not bad for a second-year team.”
She takes every opportunity to keep up to date in science. She has participated in numerous science trainings, including two STEM grants at UCA, Grasping Phenomenal Science, Code.org training and others at Arch Ford, the Educational Service Cooperative in Plumerville, as well as Discovery Network STEM trainings such as Tinkerfest at Toad Suck Daze.
“I try to always incorporate what I have learned into my classroom, including technology and tinkering,” she said.
Hogue said she will find out in June if she is one of two Arkansas teachers who will receive the Presidential Award.
“By then, I will be busy with school and forget about it,” she said.
Mayflower Elementary School Principal Candie Watts said Hogue deserves the honor.
“Ms. Hogue is a dedicated professional who instills her own curiosity and passion for science and mathematics in both students and colleagues,” Watts said. “She is committed to breaking down stereotypical barriers in the science and mathematics field by engaging students in learning beyond the traditional classroom walls. Hands-on experiential learning in our outdoor classroom and with our robotics team are examples of integrated learning Ms. Hogue uses to promote science and math.”
Hogue said her goal is to keep encouraging students to love science and learning.
“I always want to try to inspire kids and foster that curiosity and make sure they feel comfortable in taking risks and problem-solving,” she said, “because if they can problem-solve and they’re willing to take risks, and they have background of some technology in today’s world, they’ll be able to get a better job in the future.”
“Even in fourth grade … if I can foster that now, hopefully, it will stay with them till they get to the end of high school, and maybe they’ll be interested in becoming an engineer or using their STEM skills, and it will just give them the confidence to do something they thought they couldn’t do before.”
Martin said Reese is in the accelerated pathway in science at Carl Stuart Middle School in Conway, and Martin gives Hogue a lot of the credit.
“I feel like that foundation Tonya laid — that was a huge deal for my daughter,” Martin said.
Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.