"I have worked hard in my classes to make sure that my students feel part of the community and get involved in issues facing the community," said C. Ray Baker, formerly a teacher of eleventh and twelfth grade American History at Southside High School in Fort Smith,and then Mayor of the city of Fort Smith. Every year at Southside High School, Mr. Baker presented his students with a pertinent community issue that they try to resolve together. In this program, students successfully proposed a penny sales tax pledged to the improvement of city drainage and streets. In his 35 years as an educator, Mr. Baker made it a priority to shape generations of students who "take their citizenship heritage seriously.
University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, B.S.
