Jan Scholl is a retired North Little Rock teacher. But, she has not done real well at the retired part. Her lifelong passion for kids has driven her back into some very important work. (Jan Scholl, Arkansan of the Week) “Another thing that I would love for us to get involved in--Children's Hospital is doing a phone-a-thon…”

While other women her age may be relaxing and enjoying the spoils of decades of labor, Jan Scholl continues to work tirelessly.

She started the North Little Rock Mayor's Youth Council shortly after retirement. It’s an organization that teaches teenagers how to serve.

(Scholl) “I have a really diverse group of kids I work with. I try to get all races and genders, everybody to be as different as I can, because everybody can serve. You don't have to be smart or rich or anything.”

The program takes in 75 kids each year, and requires them to serve four hours a month. But, Jan says, most go above and beyond that--sometimes accumulating as many as 1,000 hours by the end of the year.

They help non-profits like the Ronald McDonald House, the Cancer Society, and the Rice Depot.

(Scholl) “I try to get the children to be able to talk to adults, to research problems they might want to change in the community, to network with people. Basically, to become an activist in the community for change.”

And Jan tries to give them a boost into the next stage of their lives as well, working hard to raise money for scholarships for each senior that completes her program.

(Scholl) “I think it's very important for every person to realize that they can make a difference. It doesn't matter who you are. This is just a way for kids to begin to do things in the community and to see how to go about it, and to realize other people will help them if they just ask, and there are other people who have the same concerns they do.”

Jan has a daughter whom she adopted from Russia. She's a senior, and is--of course--in the program as well.

If you'd like to nominate someone to be the Arkansan of the Week, send an e-mail to scottinman@katv.com.