Jessica Skordal, speech & debate teacher at Bentonville West High School, was recently named Teacher of the Year by the Arkansas Communication & Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA). Skordal was officially presented the award at the ACTAA’s annual Fall Conference on Petit Jean Mountain Sep. 19-21.

Skordal is a highly respected teacher with 10 years of experience in the communication classroom. An alumni of the Bentonville Schools, she currently serves as the Director of Speech & Debate for the students of Bentonville West High School. Skordal has studied political science, education, and leadership at the University of Arkansas. She received an MA in Secondary Education & Teaching.

Beck Greenway, a colleague from Bentonville High School, praises Skordal's significant contributions to the field of communication education in Arkansas. "Her passion for providing learning opportunities for students both in and out of the classroom, her role as a trusted servant, compassionate coach, and valued mentor, and her leadership in the state-wide community make her a true asset to Arkansas," reported Greenway at the presentation ceremony.

“Jessica is passionate about providing opportunities for the students of Arkansas to be transformed through communication education,” shared ACTAA President Zackery Tucker. “When students learn the critical skills to think for themselves, speak their passion, and act to serve others, they are equipped to transform their communities. Jessica's leadership is evidence of effective ethical communication as an essential discipline, life skill, and art form.”

Skordal’s leadership abilities benefit educators across Arkansas as she regularly leads professional development and serves ACTAA as its second vice president. Despite coaching one of the more nationally competitive speech & debate programs in the state, Skordal makes time to mentor other educators in speech & debate instruction.

As ACTAA Teacher of the Year, Skordal will be nominated by the association for the National Federation of State High Schools Association (NFHS) Outstanding Speech, Debate, & Theatre Educator award this winter.

The Arkansas Communication and Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA) is a non-profit professional organization serving educators. Its purpose is to promote communication, debate, forensics and theatre as an essential discipline, life skill, and art form. Additionally, ACTAA is the official sanctioning organization authorized by the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) and National Federation of State High Schools Association (NFHS) to govern interscholastic speech and debate competition in Arkansas.