Spotlight: Andrew Harrison (AR '23)

Arkansas Milken Educator Andrew Harrison attributes his success to role models like his father, uncles, grandfathers and football coaches who preached the importance of hard work and perseverance. Now, when faced with challenges, Andrew goes the extra mile to be successful. Drawing on lessons learned from his first year of teaching, he builds rapport with his students to help them reach new heights. “This job is about helping others reach their goals and pushing them to their fullest potential. It’s about becoming a member of the school community and putting others before yourself.” Andrew received a 2023-24 Arkansas Milken Educator Award in Mayflower on October 4, 2023.

Milken Family Foundation: How have students responded since your Milken Educator Award surprise?

Andrew Harrison (AR '23): The response from my students and community has been overwhelmingly positive and humbling. Students made me signs, notes, and cards congratulating me on receiving the award. I didn’t expect them to be so happy for me, but they were genuinely excited; which was truly humbling. Some even asked if I was going to retire now!

MFF: Who are your role models as an educator?

Harrison: Growing up, my role models were the men of my family (my dad, uncles, and grandpas) and my football coaches. These men had a tremendous impact on me and helped shape me into the person I am today. They all preached the value of hard work and how to stay focused through the hard times in life. I attribute my success in life to these men. 

Professionally, I have been tremendously blessed to work with so many amazing people across various schools. My current principal at Mayflower High, TJ Slough, has been a great mentor and role model for me. He truly challenged me to become a better educator and future leader. Two other role models that have helped me grow as an educator are Veronica Hebard and Lynn Raney, who serve as our district curriculum coordinators. Their knowledge of curriculum and pedagogy are second to none, and they’re always willing to help anyone who needs it. Lastly, my fellow Instructional Leadership Team members Sabrena Thacker, Heather Malone, and Courtney McSpadden have truly shown me how important it is to work with amazing people. Our team was faced with numerous challenges, and we were always able to band together in order to succeed. Their willingness to put egos aside, share their knowledge, and put in countless hours of extra work, all while pushing each other to greater heights, was truly amazing.  

MFF: Tell us about your first year of teaching. 

Harrison: For the most part it was a blur. I taught world history, US history, and psychology/sociology while coaching football. I also lived an hour away from the district and drove a morning bus route. However, the Augusta School District was filled with amazing teachers and students. I learned more in my first year of teaching than I have in the nine subsequent years since. My first year was centered around the basics: how to interact with students, how to lesson plan, how to manage student behavior, how and what it means to be a professional, etc. Fortunately, my students were great and helped me survive my first year more than they’ll ever know. Fellow teacher Matt House was a really big help for me during that year. He was an open book and very patient in answering the thousands of questions I threw at him on a weekly basis. Overall, I learned that to be a great teacher, you have to build rapport with your students and staff. To get respect, you have to give it.  Without establishing positive relationships and respect you’ll end up on your own, and this job is impossible to do by yourself.  

MFF: What do you hope students remember from their time with you?

Harrison: I hope my students remember the laughs and our classroom culture of empathy and respect. I hope they know I loved them and I tried my best each day to lead with humility and to show them how to treat people with kindness and respect. Although I hope they learned the content, I really hope they learned life lessons and real world skills such as critical thinking, document analysis, and how to respectfully engage in political discourse that they can take with them for the rest of their lives.  

MFF: What is it like teaching and coaching at your alma mater? Are there any strategies or practices you’re implementing as an educator that you wish you had seen as a student? 

Harrison: It’s really surreal honestly. Teenage me would never have dreamed, in a million years, of teaching and coaching back in my hometown. It’s really cool to work with some of my former teachers and coaches.  I really didn’t think I would ever go into teaching until after my freshman year of college. I always wanted to be a firefighter or serve in the military. My former teachers and now fellow colleagues are a huge reason why I am an educator now.  However, I wouldn’t go back and change anything and I am very blessed to be working here at the Mayflower School District. I have recently been promoted to assistant principal of our elementary and middle schools. 

MFF: What advice would you share with people who are interested in becoming teachers?

Harrison: My number one piece of advice would be you have to love kids, if you’re not a kid person, this isn’t the right career for you. You have to be willing to serve others. This job is not about you or how much you can financially gain. This job is about helping others reach their goals and pushing them to their fullest potential. It’s about becoming a member of the school community and putting others before yourself. If you can look at yourself in the mirror and honestly say that you love kids, that you’re not concerned with money, and are willing to put others first, then teaching may be the right choice for you.   

Watch our interview with Andrew Harrison (AR '23) on the day of his Milken Award notification: