Bergman Teacher Awarded Arts Degree Grant

BERGMAN, AR. - Grace Archer, a dedicated educator in Bergman, has been awarded the Parsons-Burnett grant from the Arkansas Retired Teachers Association. This prestigious grant will support Archer as she pursues a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) through an online program at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

The MFA is the highest degree available in the field of fine arts, requiring 90 hours of rigorous study. For Archer, this academic milestone is about more than personal achievement; it is a strategic move to better serve her students. By adding this degree to her license, Archer intends to offer concurrent college credits, providing students with a streamlined path toward earning an associate's degree.

While Archer currently teaches social studies - a position she accepted to return to her alma mater as a "proud Bergman Panther" - her original certification is in art education. Although she initially viewed the social studies role as a temporary placement, she has developed a genuine passion for the subject.

Archer has already successfully integrated her artistic background into her history curriculum using an interdisciplinary approach. Her students engage in creative, hands-on projects to better understand complex historical events. Examples include constructing city plans to visualize urbanization, designing World War II propaganda, and creating newspapers centered on the Civil Rights movement. Her Civics and Economics students also participate in immersive activities, such as roleplaying as members of Congress and developing realistic household budgets.

Archer expressed deep gratitude for the grant, noting that it significantly eases the financial burden of balancing a full-time teaching career with graduate school. With this support, she aims to continue growing in her practice and enhancing the educational experience for her students every day.

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