Arch Insights
Pendleton County High
School’s Ron Hudson
Receives Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award
Franklin,
W.Va., March 24, 2016 – Teaching wasn’t the
obvious career choice for Ron Hudson. However,
one inspired look led him to realize his
ultimate passion. “I was encouraged by one of my
teachers to attend college,” he said. “I
attended college and graduated with a degree in
agricultural education. I wasn’t sure I wanted
to teach, but I thought it would be a good
experience for at least a few years.
“Then when I least expected
it, it happened,” he continued. “I saw a student
get that look in his eye and you knew he just
got it. It’s hard to explain exactly what that
look is, but when you see it, you never forget
it. I have been blessed to witness this look by
many students.”
As a result of Hudson’s
ability to teach real world experiences, he
received statewide recognition today at a
student assembly held at Pendleton County High
School. He becomes one of only 10 West Virginia
teachers to receive a 2016 Arch Coal Teacher
Achievement Award. This is the 28th year the
awards have been presented in West Virginia. It
is the longest-running, privately funded teacher
recognition program in the state.
“We are honored to recognize
an outstanding West Virginia teacher such as Ron
Hudson with an Arch Coal Teacher Achievement
Award,” said John W. Eaves, Arch Coal chairman
and chief executive officer. “His dedication to
the teaching profession and to ensuring the
success of his students will serve the citizens
of the state well, both now and in the future.
Ron is just one of the many West Virginia
classroom educators who are constantly striving
to adapt to new teaching methods, technologies
and curriculum. We congratulate them all on
their commitment to improving the lives of those
in the state.”
Hudson teaches agriculture
courses at Pendleton County High School in
Franklin, W.Va. He has 22 years of teaching
experience. “Education comes in many forms,” he
said. “As a classroom teacher this could take
place in front of the class at a black board or
even a smart board, but for me it happens
anywhere and anytime. All kids can learn at any
time, even if they are not thinking about it. I
am also able to teach them about living in the
world and surviving. This is why I went into
agricultural education.”
“I recently read a quote from
a retired agriculture teacher who said, ‘I teach
about life first, and then with time left, I
teach about agriculture.’ This greatly describes
Mr. Hudson’s strongest teaching attribute, which
I believe is his ability to see each individual
as a person first and a student second,” said
Danielle Grant, agricultural science teacher at
Buffalo High School. “He understands each child
comes from a different background, has different
intellectual ability and will respond to
different learning styles. He takes the time to
get to know every student personally and then
works to diversify the curriculum to appeal to
their learning style.”
Hudson earned an Associate
Degree in general agriculture and animal science
from the State University of New York at Alfred,
and a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of
Science degree from West Virginia University in
Morgantown. Hudson is the West Virginia Future
Farmers of America (FFA) Eastern Region teacher
president and he attends the national FFA
conference each year. He also is one of three
Accredited Parliamentarians of Agriculture
Teachers in the state of West Virginia. In
addition to overseeing a number of school FFA
volunteer projects, he is a member of Faith
Lutheran Church and the Franklin Ruritan Club.
Teachers are nominated by the
public, and a blue-ribbon panel of past awards
recipients selects the annual winners. Each
Teacher Achievement Awards recipient is
presented with a distinctive trophy, a classroom
plaque and a personal cash award.
The West
Virginia Foundation for the Improvement of
Education, a foundation of the West Virginia
Education Association (WVEA), also presents a
$1,000 cash award to each recipient’s school for
use with at-risk students.
“The West Virginia Education
Association and the West Virginia Foundation for
the Improvement of Education are pleased to
partner with Arch Coal as it recognizes some of
the great teachers that work throughout our
state,” said WVEA President Dale Lee. “Teachers
are rarely honored for the hard work and long
hours they put into providing a high-quality
education for the students of our state, and I
want to thank Arch Coal for recognizing our
teachers. These teachers exemplify the spirit
and dedication of their peers throughout the
state.”
The Teacher Achievement Awards
are underwritten by the Arch Coal Foundation and
are supported in program promotion by the West
Virginia Department of Education, the WVEA and
the West Virginia Library Commission.
Arch Coal and the Arch Coal Foundation have a
long history of supporting educational and
community causes in West Virginia.
The Arch Coal Foundation
also supports teacher recognition or grants
programs in Wyoming and Colorado.
Information
about West Virginia recipients, as well as past
recipients, is posted at archteacherawards.com.