Presented annually by ASBA, the Dr. Dan Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant and lasting contribution to public education in Arkansas. Nominees may include school board members, administrators, teachers, school employees, attorneys, legislators, elected officials, or school patrons.
Help us recognize someone whose service and dedication have made a difference for Arkansas public schools!
🔗 Submit a nomination: https://bit.ly/drdan26
📋 View award criteria: https://aptg.co/Gd45Kf
📅 Deadline: October 15, 2026
The recipient will be honored during the ASBA Annual Conference Awards Ceremony on December 10, 2026.
Who deserves to be recognized for their outstanding service to Arkansas public education? Nominate them today! #StudentFocusedLeadership
Jonesboro School District board members brought plenty of energy to New Teacher Orientation by greeting administrators, celebrating new educators, and even showing off a few dance moves along the way!
Board President Dr. Charles Coleman, Vice President Joe Sheppard, and Board Members Justin Parkey, Brock Ferguson, and Ashleigh Givens were all on hand to help welcome the newest members of the Jonesboro team.
We love seeing school board members take part in the celebration! #StudentFocusedLeadership
𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘼𝙧𝙠𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙨 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝘽𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨! 🍎📚
Continuing our back-to-school series with Farmington School District!
Board President Travis Warren spent time with Farmington staff during back-to-school inservice, addressing the team and connecting with the educators and employees who serve students each day.
School board leadership is about more than the boardroom. Being present, building relationships, and supporting staff are all part of helping start the school year strong.
Thank you, Travis, for representing school board leadership in action!
#StudentFocusedLeadership
To be featured, send photos or videos to jprothro@arsba.org.
Todd has served on the Valley View School District Board of Education since 2017, including a term as board president. During his board service, he has helped lead a district serving approximately 2,900 students and 345 employees. He has navigated key initiatives including a superintendent search, board vacancy appointment, policy updates, and the transition to a zoned district.
Professionally, Todd brings more than 30 years of experience in enterprise technology and architecture across a variety of industries. He currently works at City Water and Light of Jonesboro and holds an MBA and two undergraduate degrees from Arkansas State University.
Todd is also active in his community, volunteering with Valley View schools and the Jonesboro Community Health and Education Foundation. When he is not working or serving his community, you might find him teaching scuba diving through JT Dive Shop!
Todd and his wife have been married for 23 years, and their son is a senior at Valley View High School.
We are proud to welcome Todd to the ASBA Board of Directors and look forward to the leadership and perspective he will bring. Please help us give him a warm ASBA welcome! #StudentFocusedLeadership
Our back-to-school series continues in Alpena School District, where Board President Lynette Cantwell joined district leaders in welcoming students, staff, and families back for a new school year!
School board members play an important role in supporting their schools, and being present at events like these is one of the many ways they stay connected to the communities they serve.
📸 Pictured from left: Superintendent Matt Ferguson, Board President Lynette Cantwell, and Principal Sara Curry.
#StudentFocusedLeadership
This one-day event brings school board members and administrators together for timely updates and practical guidance on issues affecting Arkansas public education. Hear from state leaders and experts, connect with peers, and gain valuable information to support your work at the local level.
Whether you attend in person or virtually, this is a great opportunity to strengthen your leadership and stay informed. We hope to see you there!
View the agenda: https://aptg.co/3mgzlT
Register: bit.ly/arboardconnect
Learn more at https://www.arsba.org/article/3047781.
#StudentFocusedLeadership
On August 11, Shirley School District board members Coy Myers, Samantha Shull, and Callie Davidson partnered with Petit Jean Electric and Petit Jean Fiber to welcome students back by opening doors in the car rider line.
Thank you for helping make the first days back a welcoming experience for Shirley students and families!
📸 Pictured from left: Board Member Coy Myers; Board President Samantha Shull; two Petit Jean team members; Board Secretary and Petit Jean employee Callie Davidson; and Superintendent Aaron Wiggins.
#StudentFocusedLeadership
𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘼𝙧𝙠𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙨 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝘽𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨! 🍎📚
Across Arkansas, school board members are showing up and supporting their schools as students and staff begin a new year. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting board members taking part in back-to-school activities in their districts!
First up: 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝘽𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙈𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙙 𝘿𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮’𝙨 “𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝙊𝙣𝙚” 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢.
Through this board-approved initiative, all 1,800 Gentry students receive teacher-selected school supplies at no cost to their families. Working alongside community partners, the district helps ensure every student has the supplies they need to walk through the doors ready to learn from day one.
Thank you to Todd and school board members across the Natural State who are showing up for their students, staff, and communities this back-to-school season!
𝘛𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘰𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵'𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬-𝘵𝘰-𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘫𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰@𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘣𝘢.𝘰𝘳𝘨.
#StudentFocusedLeadership
This one-day event, worth 6 boardsmanship training hours, focuses on equipping school board members and administrators with the tools and insights they need to lead effectively. We will cover current issues affecting the work you do in your local districts, encourage you to connect with peers from across the state, and offer training sessions that are both practical and relevant.
Whether you attend in person or virtually, this is a great opportunity to strengthen your leadership and stay informed. We hope to see you there!
Register online at bit.ly/arboardconnect under the “Registrations / Publications” tab. Full agenda coming soon!
Learn more at https://www.arsba.org/article/3047781. #StudentFocusedLeadership
Thank you to our outstanding student leaders—Madi Duke (Beebe High School), Austin Bernard (Little Rock Parkview High School), Cooper Jones (Lake Hamilton High School), Mallory Thompson (Bryant High School), Annslee Young (Sheridan High School), and Micah Autrey (Morrilton High School)—for sharing their perspectives openly and honestly. We also appreciate ASBA Board Vice President Travis Warren for facilitating this meaningful conversation.
One of the biggest takeaways was that school leaders and board members must be willing to listen to and value student voices. When students are included in the conversation, schools are better equipped to meet their needs and prepare them for success in today’s world.
Stay tuned for more highlights from the 2026 Southern Region Leadership Conference! Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, sponsored, volunteered, and supported this tri-state event! #MeetingtheMoment
Don't miss three days of engaging keynote speakers, practical breakout sessions, inspiring student voices, and valuable networking with school board members and education leaders from across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi—all in beautiful Hot Springs.
Online registration closes today. Don't worry - On-site registration will be available, but this is your last opportunity to secure your spot before the conference begins.
View the schedule and register today: https://www.arsba.org/page/2026-southern-region-leadership-conference
#MeetingtheMoment #StudentFocusedLeadership
Arkansas School Boards Association offices will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of the holiday. We will resume normal business hours on Monday, July 6.
We wish you a safe and happy Independence Day!
🎙️ 𝗔𝗦𝗕𝗔 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 5 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲!
In this episode, we are joined by Jill Barham, Interim Executive Director of the Arkansas Ethics Commission, and Drew Blankenship, Staff Attorney for the Commission. They discuss recent changes to Arkansas campaign finance reporting requirements, what school board candidates and members need to know, common reporting questions, and where to turn for assistance. Whether you're considering a run for office or currently serving on a school board, this conversation offers practical guidance to help you stay informed and compliant.
Listen on our website at https://www.arsba.org/page/asba-boardcast or on your favorite podcast platform:
🎧 Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Amazon Music
Other helpful resources related to campaign finance are available at the following link: https://www.arsba.org/browse/28231141
Also, we are always looking for feedback from our members on what you want to hear! Submit this brief survey to share your ideas for future episodes. - https://bit.ly/boardcastsurvey
#StudentFocusedLeadership #ASBABoardCast
Inside this issue:
• AA Degrees at an A-Rated District – See how Greenbrier is helping students earn associate degrees before graduation, with nearly 11% of this year's senior class completing the milestone on campus.
• Oliva Pushes "Accelerated Mindset" – Arkansas' Secretary of Education challenges schools to expand opportunities for advanced learners and increase associate degree attainment.
• What to Do About "The Big Shrink" – District leaders discuss enrollment declines, school choice, and strategies for navigating a changing educational landscape.
• Parham: "We Work as a Team" – ASBA's president shares key lessons for newly elected board members on governance, leadership, and student-focused decision-making.
• Six Receive ASBA Scholarships – Meet the students recognized by the ASBA Educational Foundation for their academic achievement and future plans in education and beyond.
The journal has been mailed to all recipients. This and previous issues of Report Card are available online at arsba.org/page/report-card-magazine.
The June 2026 issue can also be downloaded at the following link: https://aptg.co/VXMLkq
Thank you for staying connected with ASBA!
Cody Kees will continue his summer series, The School Leader's Legal Playbook, with two sessions next week, on June 15 and June 17.
Don't miss this valuable training opportunity - only 3 dates remain this summer!
Please note: These are not sequential sessions. The same training will be offered on multiple dates, and attendees only need to register for one session.
Learn more: https://arsba.org/article/2812363
Register: https://bit.ly/arboardconnect
It's time to get registered for the 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, taking place 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟗–𝟐𝟏 at the 𝐇𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 in beautiful 𝐇𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐀𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐬!
This year’s theme, 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩: 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮’𝙨 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨, brings together school board members, superintendents, and education leaders from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi for a dynamic exchange of ideas and experiences.
💡 High-impact sessions
🤝 Meaningful networking
🎯 Practical strategies you can use immediately
𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Rex Nelson - “From State of Disaster to State of Excellence”
𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Dr. Rochelle Redus - "Meeting the Moment: Leading through Hard Decisions with Clarity and Unity"
𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: https://aptg.co/ZYTdb8
Walk away inspired, informed, and ready to lead with clarity and purpose.
💲 Early Bird Workshop: $175
💲 Full Conference: $545
💲 Guest Meal Ticket: $199
*Please note this is an in-person only conference.
Make plans to be there. This is one you don’t want to miss!
𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞: https://www.arsba.org/page/2026-southern-region-leadership-conference
𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫: https://bit.ly/arboardconnect
Join the Arkansas School Boards Association and representatives from Simbli on Tuesday, June 16, at 11:30 a.m. for a second Lunch & Learn webinar focused on the ASBA Policy Service's transition to Simbli.
This session will provide an overview of the Simbli Policy Module, explain how districts can access ASBA model policies on the new platform—with or without a Simbli subscription—and answer questions about navigating the system. The session will be most beneficial to school personnel responsible for maintaining district policies.
As a reminder, ASBA will complete its transition to the Simbli Policy Module on July 1. This training is an excellent opportunity to become familiar with the platform and get your questions answered before the transition is complete.
A recording of the webinar will be available after the live session; however, attending live is strongly encouraged to ensure you have the opportunity to ask questions and receive real-time support.
📅 Date: Tuesday, June 16
🕦 Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Register (FREE): https://bit.ly/asbasimbli2
To learn more about ASBA's transition to the Simbli policy module and how to access your new Simbli account, visit https://www.arsba.org/page/model-policies.
#StudentFocusedLeadership
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿: 𝟲/𝟭 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝗥𝗟𝗖!
As a final reminder, ASBA is accepting presentation proposals for the 2026 Southern Region Leadership Conference, July 19–21 in Hot Springs!
This year’s theme—Meeting the Moment: Strategic Leadership for Today’s Schools—focuses on real challenges and practical solutions for today’s school leaders. We are looking for sessions that offer fresh perspectives, proven strategies, and ideas that help boards lead effectively and improve student outcomes.
Have a strategy that’s working or insight worth sharing? Submit a proposal for a 60-minute session. School board member participation on presenting teams is encouraged.
🗓 Deadline to submit: June 1, 2026
🔗 Submit your proposal: https://forms.gle/HjcyvYdrkWikHMwe8
#StudentFocusedLeadership
Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day weekend as we honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.
Cody Kees will begin his summer series, The School Leader's Legal Playbook, next week, on May 28.
Also, a new date and location have been added to the schedule! Cody will offer a training on July 6 at the Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative, located at 4 North Double Springs Road, Farmington.
Don't miss this valuable training opportunity - get registered for your preferred date today!
Please note: These are not sequential sessions. The same training will be offered on multiple dates, and attendees only need to register for one session.
Learn more: https://arsba.org/article/2812363
Register: https://bit.ly/arboardconnect
