Two Hinds Community College teachers have been recognized at the national level by an education software company.

Debra Ball and Kim Arthur, both teachers at Hinds’ main campus in Raymond, received from Plato Learning the 2011 Inspired Educators of the Year award in the post-secondary category.

Ball and Arthur, who both have 19 years of experience in education, teach developmental skills lab classes that use Plato Learning, a software program that consists of online courses in various subjects. They also assist other lab teachers who use the software. Subjects taught are English, math and reading. The lab classes are required for students who have not scored the minimum requirement on any college entrance exam.

Hinds, the state’s largest community college with about 19,000 students at six campuses, has been using Plato since 1999. This year, about 4,200 are using the program.

“Both Kim and Debra are just outstanding examples of what it means to be an Inspired Educator,” Vin Riera, chief executive officer for Plato Learning, said in a press release. “Their focus is completely on their students, empowering each one of them to be successful.”

Ball and Arthur, both Raymond residents, were chosen from a pool of 42 educators across the country.

“I was thrilled,” said Ball, who has been a teacher at Hinds for nine years. “It was a very nice honor. The only reason we are so successful are the people around us.”

Arthur, who has been teaching at Hinds for five years, said, “The program is very effective. We are using it to reiterate what they are learning in the classroom.”

Both are 1983 graduates of Mississippi College — Ball in home economics and Arthur in business administration.

The 2011 Inspired Educators of the Year in the kindergarten through 12th-grade category was awarded to Lisa Lavoie of North Country Alternative Charter School in Littleton, N.H.