Watch this story produced by J.O. Kelly East Program for the Springdale Fire Department. This year's theme is fire safety in the kitchen.
https://youtu.be/b44wh2fZ9_Y
MILISA STEINER, SRO, Hellstern, Young, Hunt
On Milisa Steiner’s 18th birthday her father allowed her to drive her parents’ brand new vehicle. She didn’t make it out of the garage. As she was backing up, she hit her own Jeep. She quickly made two phone calls, one to her older brother and another to her favorite police officer.
“I called my brother Alex,” recalls Steiner, whose maiden name was Tejada. “Then I called Officer (Mike) Hignite. He was my teacher in the Springdale High School Law Academy and he was also our school student resource officer.”
Why did she choose to call Officer Hignite?
“I knew I could talk to him,” Steiner responds. “I wanted him to tell me how I could fix my father’s car. He told me to call my dad, so I did. My dad wasn’t angry. He’s amazing. He said it was an accident and accidents happen.”
That wasn’t the only time Steiner visited with Officer Hignite. In fact, Steiner credits Hignite with her decision to become a police officer. Now she serves as an SRO, working at Hellstern Middle School as well as Young and Hunt Elementary Schools.
“Officer Hignite is the reason I am on the Springdale police force,” Steiner says. “He was my law and public safety teacher in the Law Academy. He was always there for us. He built us up. That stuck with me. I decided one day I wanted to be in position where students could come to me just as we did to Officer Hignite.”
Now that she is an SRO, she’s had plenty of opportunities to visit with students. One example comes quickly to her mind.
“I’m in my fifth year at Hellstern,” says Steiner. “One girl from a few years ago moved from Springdale to Texas. She still keeps my updated on her grades and jobs. When she applies for jobs she uses me as a reference. She has always reached out to me. She’s 18 now and wants to go into law enforcement.
“Any time students reach out to me, it’s the best feeling. I try to make every interaction with students positive. That’s what they will remember. That’s why even if it’s helping them get a ball off the roof or translating for them (Steiner is fluent in English and Spanish), I always want to be positive.”
Steiner’s intent is to make a difference in the lives of the students, teachers and staff she interacts with. Her parents laid the framework for her desire to be a difference maker.
“My mom and dad moved to California from El Salvador when they were teenagers,” Steiner explains of her parents, Samuel and Milagro Tejada. “They are grateful they have lived the American dream. So, every year they go back to El Salvador and donate clothes, shoes and school supplies. They have taught me what it means to give back.”
The community Steiner loves giving back to is Springdale. Her family moved to Springdale when she was five years old and she is quick to say, “Springdale is home. I went to George Elementary from first through fourth grade, then Harp Elementary for fifth grade, J.O. Kelly Middle School, George Junior High and Springdale High School. Then I went to the University of Arkansas, where I earned my degree.
At SHS she followed in the footsteps of Alex, who was a superstar kicker for the football team before becoming an outstanding placekicker for the Razorbacks.
“Since everyone knew Alex was my brother, I had to carry myself a certain way,” Steiner says. “Everyone knew him. Now that I am an officer, people talk to me rather than think of me as Alex’s sister.”
According to Steiner’s husband, Bob, everyone talks to his wife.
“My husband calls me ‘Mayor Millie’ because everywhere we go somebody talks to me,” Steiner says. “It’s especially nice when students recognize me out of uniform. It’s a great feeling when they are comfortable coming up to me away from school.”
Steiner likes everyone to be comfortable around her. It’s easy for her husband, who is a United States Marshall (“We met at work,” she says.) It’s just as easy for staffs at the schools where she works.
“I have a coffee pot in my office,” Steiner explains. “Counselors, custodians and other staff members know they can come have a cup of coffee with me.
“There’s a time to be nice and there is a time to go to work. I can go to work. At the end of the day it’s all about helping people.”
Helping people is what Milisa Steiner is all about. She and the entire staff of SROs that serve the district are among the reasons Springdale Public Schools are #THEChoice.
Let's #ShieldUp to protect our families.
The world is a better place because of teachers! Happy World Teacher's Day! Springdale Schools is grateful for all the educators in our district.
Thank you for keeping Springdale Public Schools a safe place for everyone.
It is October 5th, please apply for Free and Reduced Lunch. It is time to POWER UP!
Thanks to T&T Expresso and United Federal Credit Union, Sonora Elementary teachers enjoyed coffee delivery Friday morning. Since the school encouraged its teachers to "Be the Bean" for students last semester, it was only natural to deliver coffee beans, in a delicious form, to the teachers as a thank you. Great partnerships help make Springdale Public Schools #THEChoice !
Christine Dolan, a second grade teacher at Tyson Elementary, has won $500 and 500 bonus points from Scholastic Books after entering the company's contest for the eighth time. She says, "I enter every year and when I received notification I had won I had to consult another teacher to make sure I had actually won. Our students are excited. We normally add about 100 books to our classroom in a year. This will allow us to add about 250 books. I am so grateful for winning that I wouldn't mind winning again next year." Principal Shelly Poage adds, "We are book crazy in our school. Readers are leaders at Tyson Elementary."
Springdale Schools is proud to be home of seven National Merit Semifinalists! Congratulations! Way to go, Scholars!
Springdale Public Schools is grateful for all our custodians and recognizes the hard work they do every day! Thank you! #NationalCustodianDay
Watch LIVE Har-Ber Wildcats vs Rogers Heritage War Eagles on Springdale Schools YouTube.
https://youtu.be/AFzWrLYgiWA
Watch LIVE Springdale Bulldogs vs Bentonville West Wolverines on Springdale Schools YouTube.
https://youtu.be/aD2qivgFNxo
Please congratulate the Shelter Insurance Football Players of the Week, Landon Phipps of Springdale High School (red top) and Christian Ramirez of Har-Ber High School (blue jersey)
Let's Shield Up!
One of the greatest attributes of our educators, like Jesus Albarran, is caring so much about our students. Springdale Schools is happy to support and is grateful for our compassionate teachers and staff. #ThankATeacher
Watch LIVE Central Junior High Warrior Football 8th and 9th Grade vs Farmington
https://youtu.be/Gd93PAeuvrM
Gifted and Talented continues to excel! Check out all the great work from this department in the October Newsletter
https://www.smore.com/x07mb
On this weeks episode of Asi Es Springdale:
We discuss the Flu Clinic Information, Ozark Guidance, Truity Check presentation and Economic Arkansas
https://www.smore.com/4jtq8-this-is-springdale
There is so much more to Free and Reduced Lunch than Great Food!
Hay mucho mas beneficios en aplicar para almuerzos gratis o reducidos que solo buena comida
