Siloam Springs Community Guide

2023 Siloam Springs community guide | 21 Serving the wellness, obstetric, and gynecological healthcare needs of women in Siloam Springs and the surrounding areas since 1998. 479-524-9312 603-2 N Progress Ave, Suite 100 Siloam Springs, AR 72761 www.siloamwomenscenter.com Monday - Friday 8am-4pm Our health care team has board-certified physicians and trained clinical and clerical support staff. We offer care in routine and surgical gynecology, obstetrics, and fetal evaluation with ultrasound services available right in our office. Chad Hill, M.D. Michael Collins, M.D. Mary Marquette, M.D. Wendy Pyburn, MSN, APRN, FNP-C Gynecology/Urogynecology Annual Wellness Exams Prenatal OB Care Services: of the honor of the Pioneer Citizen Award. "Mr. Ramey has been an incredible representative for our school district and our community," Farrell said. "He has enriched and touched the lives of many and is very worthy of this honor." Grant Loyd, a current school board member who was elected months before Ramey stepped down, was in high school when Ramey was the principal. "Mr. Ramey was the principal at Siloam Springs High School when I came through, and I will always remember the impact that he had on me one night aer a game," Loyd recalled. "As I was coming off the field, he stopped me to tell me that was a great block I had during the game. It may not seem like a big gesture to some, but as a high schooler it stood out to me that my principal noticed a receiver making a block that usually goes unnoticed and let me know he noticed. "ose kinds of moments are what I think of when I think of Mr. Ramey," continued Loyd. "He always takes the time to let people know that he notices them. He is selfless and the definition of a servant leader to many. Mr. Ramey impacted more than he will ever know, by simply just being himself – kind, caring and watchful." Teachers: e Most Important Asset Ramey stepped down in June 2019 aer nearly 20 years in the role and less than a year before the onset of the pandemic. He said that he's glad he got out when he did, but it's disappointing how hard everything has been since then. "COVID has been a disaster for everybody, but especially for kids and families," said Ramey. "It's been really hard. I think the victims, besides the children and their families, are the teachers. "ey have really been through a lot of hardship over having to learn how to instruct online and how to adjust. I'd imagine learning loss has been staggering," he added. Ramey noted that teachers are the most important asset to the district. "Any school district is built on the heart and soul of the teachers," he said. "Teachers are the ones that make the difference. ey're the ones that are with the children in the classroom everyday." Ramey went on to comment on how education has evolved, noting that the last few years have been particularly challenging and overly political. "I think we are all better off if we keep politics out of education, but it just seems to continue wrapping itself around it," said Ramey. "We don't need to be too far to the right, we don't need to be too far to the le; we need to be in the middle, pulling people together and working together so everyone sees the best interest of the kids. "It's always easy to beat up public education. I think it's important for people to remember that public education means everybody, not just a select few. ere are a lot of buzz words right now and there has been a lot of distrust and acrimony around politics, and that's going to bleed into the public schools." Ramey said it's important to examine these topics and decide if they are worth discussing. "ings like critical race theory, that's not taught in Arkansas," he said. "at's not a part of Arkansas' high schools. It's a waste of breath and uneducated to say that we have that when we don't." Ramey added that history is an important thing in education. "We need to know where we came from so we know where we're going," he said. Ramey praised former Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the work he did with public education, but said that the verdict is still out on current Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. "Everybody went to school, but it doesn't mean you know what you're talking about," he said. Ramey also noted his suggestions for improving state education. "If we want to improve the state, universal pre-K may be the best, quickest, strongest way to improve education as well as continue the Arkansas reading and science initiative, which has always been a solid project." continued on page 22

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