Even from an early age, West Hagaman, a 2021 graduate of Magnolia High School, was certain not only of what he wanted to do for a living, but also where he wanted to work. Following in the footsteps of his mother and two grandmothers, he was intent on becoming an educator in his hometown of Magnolia.
“In high school and college, I remember hearing friends express doubts about what they would want to do for a living,” Hagaman said. “Eventually it hit me that I was fortunate to always know what my calling was. I already had the blueprints handed down to me from the teachers in my family.”
Reflecting on his journey from student to a high school special education teacher in Magnolia, Hagaman said his career path reflects a growing trend in education known as the “Grow Your Own” approach — programs designed to recruit and develop teachers from within local communities. The model emphasizes nurturing homegrown talent to address teacher shortages and strengthen community ties.
Hagaman’s mother and grandmothers earned education degrees at Southern Arkansas University (SAU). His mother worked as a teacher at East Side Elementary for 22 years, Central Elementary School for five years and has been working at Magnolia Middle School for one year. He said seeing the interactions that his mother and grandmothers had with their students had a profound impact on him growing up.
“Our family would go out to a restaurant and kids would run up, wanting to say hi and get a hug from their teacher,” he said. “Those moments taught me that education is much more than a curriculum. As a teacher, your students almost become your kids in a sense — they rely on you for support and guidance.”
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Motivated to get a jump start on a career in education, during his junior year of high school Hagaman enrolled in a class called “Intro to Education.” The course paired students with mentor teachers to get firsthand classroom experience.
“Some of my responsibilities included assisting with lesson planning, preparing materials and setting up activities,” he said. “On some days, I was asked to start the lesson, and on some days, I was asked to finish the lesson. My mentor, Emily Baker, set a great example for me. I knew that if someday I could be like her, I would know I’ve done something right.”
As he considered his options after graduation, only for a short time did Hagaman consider pursuing higher education and a career elsewhere in the state like his peers.
“Ultimately, I decided to stay in my hometown, not only because of my history and connections here, but also because of its location in a low socioeconomic district,” he said. “Going to college and starting my education anywhere else wouldn’t give me the same experience. By staying here in Magnolia, I knew I would be helping my community.”
Hagaman went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in K-6 elementary education and a master’s in K-12 special education from SAU — an institution now bolstered by more than $1.9 million in combined funding and support from Forward Arkansas, aimed at transforming its teacher preparation program and empowering future educators.
“One of my biggest takeaways from my time at SAU was learning that as an educator, you are not in it alone,” he said. “Quality education relies on the collaboration of teachers — our willingness to listen to each other, solve problems and foster the best learning environment for our students.”
Before earning his teaching license, Hagaman spent a year as a paraprofessional at Central Elementary School in Magnolia, working closely with students and gaining hands-on classroom experience.
Two years ago, he became a special education teacher for East Side Elementary. Now serving in the same role at Magnolia High School, he is responsible for working with students with Individualized Educational Plans, assisting them as they attend their classes.
“I feel like special education students are often counted out in schools and society as a whole,” Hagaman said. “People automatically assume that those with disabilities are not capable of accomplishing certain things. My goal is to change this narrative and show how they exceed expectations. After all, some of the students I worked with are now going on to apply for college.”
He said it is the small victories that keep him motivated even when the going gets tough.
“I take pride when a student has shown up to school for five days straight,” he said. “Or imagine how exciting it is when someone gets excited about the 90 percent they scored on a test. These are the things that remind me how meaningful my job is.”
Hagaman said his interest in special education stemmed from a childhood neighbor with nonverbal autism.
“I would regularly spend time with her and would help with her feeding tube,” he said. “For me, this was completely normal. I am blessed to have parents that showed me no one is different. All people are deserving of respect and dignity.”
While Hagaman is happy to remain in the classroom for now, he envisions eventually stepping into a broader role — serving as a special education examiner or a Local Education Agency (LEA) representative, positions that would allow him to support students and educators at the district level.
During his time away from the classroom, Hagaman still knows he can always count on the support of his mother and grandmother.
“Let’s say I start describing a difficult situation with a student to my mom and grandmother,” he said. “Well, they may chuckle, roll their eyes and tell me about an even more difficult situation from their career. Being able to hear their relatable stories and have a laugh really takes the edge off.”
Hagaman said his mother used to light up when she would hear students calling her name in public.
“She used to hear children shouting, ‘Hi Mrs. Hagaman,” he said. “Now what makes her proud is hearing the next generation of students hollering for me, “Hey, Mr. Hagaman!’ It’s a full-circle moment — a sign that the next generation of Magnolia students is in good hands.”