29 Apr 2024 501Der Women 2024: Sara Graham

For 32 years, Sara Graham has called Greenbrier home. It’s where she went to school, started a family and became one of Central Arkansas’s most respected teachers.

“Upon arriving in the 501, I immediately felt like part of the community and I knew I wanted to contribute by teaching here,” Graham said. “Greenbrier is more than just my workplace—it’s my hometown.”

The granddaughter of foster parents, Graham witnessed firsthand the beauty of mentoring small children and used that experience as the foundation for her career.

“I have always felt a strong connection to Early Childhood Education, and Greenbrier schools have played an essential role in my education,” she said. “As a student and now as a teacher, I continue to learn and grow in the Greenbrier district as a professional and have taken on many leadership roles, including district curriculum planning for my grade level.”

Graham’s impact on her students is cherished within the Greenbrier community. For the 2021-22 school year, she was named Eastside’s Teacher of the Year and received the school’s Whatever It Takes Award, highlighting her mentorship and servant leadership.

“Sara Graham is a staple figure and an incredibly effective educator,” said Superintendent Scott Spainhour. “She has been instrumental in Eastside Elementary School reaching many goals and ensuring high levels of student learning, including her work in helping Eastside reach Professional Learning Community Model School Designation. We are incredibly thankful for her dedication.”

Her principal also praises her work. “Mrs. Graham is the professional, personal and spiritual anchor to her kindergarten teacher team and the Eastside staff as a whole,” Eastside Principal Melissa West said. “Her years of service supporting students and teachers have been invaluable to the Greenbrier community.”

In June, she and her husband, Chase, will celebrate 28 years of marriage.“Chase and I married very young and made our commitment to each other and to God a priority. We met at Greenbrier Nazarene, and we are still very involved.”

If she could give advice to her younger self, it would be to live fearlessly while valuing personal growth. “Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try new things,” Graham said. “Invest time and care into yourself so you can continue to be your best for others.”