Benton High School’s Stewart Thompson, Math Teacher and Web Master (he created, enhanced and maintains www.bentonhighschool.com, the school’s official web site) has been chosen the 2006 High School Regional I High School Teacher of the Year! Region I includes the Parishes of Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Jackson, Lincoln, Red River, Webster, and A. E. Phillips Laboratory School. Mr. Thompson was first chosen as Teacher of the Year at Benton High, then Teacher of the Year for Bossier Parish, and now Teacher of the Year at the Regional I level.  This qualifies Mr. Thompson for the 2006 State Level Teacher of the Year selections which will be held in Alexandria later this month.  Benton High is very proud of Stewart Thompson!

“Ten Seconds Can Change Your Life” was the theme presented by Bobby Petrocelli, who spoke at a Benton High School student body assembly sponsored by SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions).  Rather than preach to the students about the “don’ts” of drinking and driving, taking drugs and other destructive behavior, Mr. Petrocelli told the story of his life—how a drunk driver plowed his truck into Petrocelli’s home and killed his wife.  He relayed the message that just a few seconds and one bad decision can have devastating effects on so many lives.  Students were allowed to stay after the assembly to talk with Bobby Petrocelli and review the materials he brought for them. SADD is sponsored by Speech and English teacher Selitha Turner.