Sandra Lanehart, Superintendent
935 Scogin Drive, Monticello AR 71655Â
    870-367-4000
Vision: Fostering A Community of Lifetime Learners
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Washington, DC - No Kid Hungry today announced ten national Summer Hunger Heroes. This year’s honorees hail from nine states and the United States Department of Agriculture and have shown outstanding commitment to summer hunger relief through their work to expand summer meals in rural communities and get the new Summer EBT (also known as Sun Bucks) program underway.
Summer has traditionally been the hungriest time of year for kids, as regular school meals are not available. Thanks to hard fought policy wins, this year promises to be different. New and monumental changes to summer meal rules offer flexible options like multi-day meal distribution and deliveries that reach kids in more remote areas of the state. And for the first time this summer, Summer EBT will mean $120 in grocery benefits for each eligible child.Â
“These summer programs offer nutrition for kids and real economic relief for families, and they’re only possible because of people who have committed their careers to this work,” said Eleni Towns, director, No Kid Hungry State Campaigns. “They’re the real heroes, doing the work, day after day, of ending hunger by connecting kids to food—whether it be delivering summer meals to their rural community or ensuring Summer EBT is available for kids in their state. They’re the face of No Kid Hungry.”
Amanda West, the Child Nutrition Director for Monticello School District in Monticello, Arkansas, is President of the Arkansas School Nutrition Association and has been a critical support to Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance’s Summer EBT outreach to school districts. Amanda lives by her personal code of supporting those in her community who are most in need, and works daily to support kids struggling with hunger, because, as she always says, “one hungry child is one too many!”
About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America. But millions of kids in the United States live with hunger. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs  that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.Â
I am excited to announce that Ms. Bennie Vincent was selected Monticello School District’s Educator of the Year at the Monticello-Drew County Chamber of Commerce
Awards Banquet on March 4, 2024. This is Ms. Bennie Vincent’s 36th year as an educator. She has dedicated her life to the children who have passed through her classroom doors. Through her tireless efforts, she has built musical foundations that will last her students a lifetime.
In 2015, I attended my first ever Monticello Graduation. Ms. Vincent’s choir sang the National Anthem a cappella. That choir under Ms. Vincent’s direction sang so beautifully, so moving and with so much pride that I was moved to tears. I am still moved by the music that Ms. Vincent creates through her students. Ms. Vincent is recognized throughout the state for her excellence in music education. Her choirs always receive superior ratings in competitions, and she always receives an invitation from the Governor to perform at the Capitol each year.
I want to personally thank Ms. Vincent for her professionalism, dedication, kindness, and her desire to instill in every student a love of music. Ms. Vincent is a master teacher in every sense of the word. She walks the walk every day and is highly respected by her students, their parents, her peers, the community and the state.
The value of incorporating music into a child's education cannot be over-emphasized or stressed enough. There is a tremendous amount of educational research that proves that an education rich in music improves students' cognitive function and academic performance. Ms. Vincent’s has positively impacted the lives of thousands of children in every aspect of their education in and out of the choir room. The students of Monticello High School as well as the students of Monticello Middle School are very fortunate to have Ms. Vincent as their teacher.Â
SANDRA LANEHART
Superintendent
It’s a great day to be a Billie! The Jr. Quiz bowl team competed in the 4A Regional tournament and came away with 2nd place! They represented Monticello very well. This win qualifies them for the state tournament on Feb. 17 in Batesville. Team members are: Front row: Jarrod Courtney (scorekeeper), Tristan Halley, Mary Richie Groves, Weston Courtney Back row: Caleb Norris, Chloe Armbrust, Atlan Savage, Eli Coburn (Captain), Lily Copico, Jessica Meier, McKenley Bryant.Â
