Arkansas School Boards Association

On Friday, October 25th, colleagues, friends, and family of Dr. Tony Prothro gathered to celebrate his retirement after 12 years of dedicated service as ASBA's Executive Director. Before that, Dr. Prothro spent his career in the field of education as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. With his unwavering commitment to 'student-focused leadership,' Dr. Prothro has left an indelible mark on our organization and the countless lives he’s touched. Congratulations on your retirement, Dr. Prothro! We wish you the best in your next chapter. We know the grandkids are excited to have "Doc" all to themselves! #StudentFocusedLeadership

Last week's regional meetings brought us to Prescott, Barton, Magnet Cove, and Poyen, where ASBA staff were warmly welcomed by each school community. Attendees enjoyed meaningful discussions, valuable insights, and connections with fellow board members. Thank you to everyone who joined us and to our host districts for making each stop memorable! #StudentFocusedLeadership

Spotlight on Success! 💡 Nathan Miller, high school history teacher at Founders Classical Academy of Rogers, was nominated by his student, Isaac Grandy, to HonorEd, a national non-profit organization that recognizes exceptional teachers. Nathan was chosen as the October 2024 Honoree! Check out the article here, along with some amazing photos: https://www.honored.org/honoree/nathan-miller/ #StudentFocusedLeadership #SpotlightonSuccess

ASBA Members can now save 40% on any new Simbli module subscription or upgrade through December 31, 2024. Simbli Board Management Software provides options to enhance your board's governance with tools for meetings, planning, policies, and more. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3YetQ8w.

Join us as an exhibitor at the upcoming ASBA Annual Conference! Discover opportunities to showcase your products and services to a diverse and engaged audience at the ASBA Annual Conference. Join us as an exhibitor and connect with school board members and administrators. Don't miss this chance to gain visibility and grow your business. Contact Angela Ellis at aellis@arsba.org or 501.492.4816 to secure your exhibition space today and be a part of this premier event. Deadline to register is November 15.

Thank you to those who hosted and attended last week's Regional Meetings in Jonesboro, Clinton, and Mayflower! This month's meetings have provided a great opportunity for ASBA staff to connect with our members and make plans for the future. #StudentFocusedLeadership

🔔 Final Reminder! 🔔 The deadline to submit an entry for this year's Student Essay and Speaking Contest is 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟏𝟎/𝟐𝟒, 𝐚𝐭 𝟒 𝐩𝐦. Please help us spread the word to Arkansas 11th and 12th graders about this great opportunity! 💰ℂ𝕒𝕤𝕙 𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕫𝕖𝕤💰will be awarded as well as the honor of presenting at the ASBA Annual Conference! One entry per district is allowed. Learn more at bit.ly/24sscontest. #StudentFocusedLeadership #ResilientandReady

𝐀𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡! 🌱 The Arkadelphia Public Schools Board of Education met in a work session on Friday, October 11th. Henderson State University Chancellor Trey Berry began the work session with an inspirational challenge for the district leadership. Superintendent Nikki Thomas and the seven school board members reviewed the current strategic plan by identifying the progress and potential toward reaching each goal. The District is now looking to move forward with building a new Arkadelphia High School. Clayton Vaden of Lewis Architects Engineers, Dr. Charles Stein, Director of the Arkansas Division of Public School Academic Facilities, and Transportation, and Jason Holsclaw, Stephens, Inc., provided information and options for consideration as a new building project takes shape. Exciting things are happening! Job well done to district board members and administrators! #StudentFocusedLeadership

🔔 Reminder! ASBA is accepting presentation proposals for the 71st Annual Conference! We are seeking submissions from school staff, board members, and organizations with insights to help improve student outcomes. Presentations will be on Dec 11-12. Submit by Nov 8! Read full proposal details at bit.ly/asbarfp24. #StudentFocusedLeadership #ResilientandReady

Happy National Principals Month! Thank you to all of the principals who are committed to making a difference every day in Arkansas schools. Your impact is invaluable! #StudentFocusedLeadership #ThankAPrincipal #NationalPrincipalsMonth

One final reminder! TOMORROW is the deadline to nominate for this year's Dr. Dan Award! Get your nominations in! #StudentFocusedLeadership

🔔 ASBA App Update - New Download Needed! 🔔 We’ve just released an updated version of the ASBA app! To continue receiving important notifications, please 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 the current app, then 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 it from your app store (Search "Arkansas School Boards Association"). *Don't forget - you will also need to enable notifications on your phone and subscribe to the ASBA notifications group in the app's Settings. Not an app user yet? Now is the perfect time to download. The app is the easiest way to receive notifications right to your phone about upcoming ASBA events and deadlines! 📲 Don’t miss out—get the latest version today! #StudentFocusedLeadership

Scenes from a great evening in Crossett! 📸 On Monday, October 7th, ASBA members gathered for the Region 14 meeting to connect, learn, and share insights on supporting our schools. Thanks to everyone who made the meeting a success! #StudentFocusedLeadership

📣 Arkansas school groups, here's your chance to shine! 🌟 Do you have a student band, choir, dance group, or theatre ensemble? We want YOU to take the stage at the COSSBA 2025 National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia! 🎤🎶🎭 Perform live in front of national leaders and showcase your school's incredible talent. Apply today for this amazing opportunity! ✨ 📅 When: March 20-23, 2025 📍 Where: Hilton Atlanta, Georgia 🔗 Apply now: https://www.cossba.org/student-entertainment-application

🎉 From the Boardroom of Lake Hamilton School District 🎉 At their August Board Meeting, LHSD School Board President, Dr. Tiffany McCain, presented certificates of achievement to many of Lake Hamilton's Advanced Placement scholars. Among this year's achievements were: • One AP Scholar with Distinction (scoring at least 3.5 on all AP exams with at least 5 exams taken) • Three AP Scholars with Honor (scoring at least 3.25 on all AP exams with at least 4 exams taken) • Twenty-one AP Scholars (scoring 3 or higher on 3 or more AP exams) Congratulations to these students on their impressive accomplishments! We know the future is bright! 💡 #StudentFocusedLeadership

🎉 Registration is NOW OPEN for ASBA’s 71st Annual Conference! 🎉 Join us December 11-13, 2024, for an event you won’t want to miss! This year’s theme, “𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 - 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬'𝙨 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨 𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮,” will guide inspiring conversations about the future of education. Featuring keynote speakers Willow Sweeney, expert in social-emotional learning, and Chris Chism, AI thought leader, it’s going to be an unforgettable experience! 💡✨ 📅 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧: December 11-13, 2024 📍 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: Marriott Hotel & Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock ➡️ Register now at bit.ly/arboardconnect under the "Registrations/Publications" tab! Hotel information will be sent in your registration confirmation email. Full agenda coming soon! #StudentFocusedLeadership #ResilientandReady

Please help us spread the word about our annual Student Essay and Speaking Contest! Remember, one submission per member district is allowed. Deadline to submit is Thursday, October 24th, at 4 pm. Full contest information available at bit.ly/24sscontest. #StudentFocusedLeadership

Each month, the Perryville School District Board of Education recognizes a "Mustang Lighthouse of the Month!" 💡 The September award went to August! August, a 3rd grade student, is a true light to all who meet him. He has been working diligently in Mrs. Gentry and Mrs. Hill’s class, and his hard work paid off with an A on his science test! All of his efforts are supported by the amazing team at Perryville Elementary School. The Board and district administration expressed their appreciation to everyone working together for student success! #StudentFocusedLeadership #FromtheBoardroom

This week’s regional meetings took us to Paris Schools, Crossett School District, and Bearden School District for Regions 4, 14, and 13. Thank you to our host districts for providing excellent facilities, delicious meals, and warm hospitality! Facilitated by incoming Executive Director Shannon Moore and Board Development Director Tammie Reitenger, attendees shared valuable insights and experiences that led to meaningful discussions on board service 🤝. Thank you to all who participated, and we look forward to continuing next week in Jonesboro, Clinton, and Mayflower! #StudentFocusedLeadership

Time is quickly running out to make your nominations for this year's Dr. Dan Award! Nominate by Tuesday, October 15th at bit.ly/3yHi2la. Remember, school board members, administrators, teachers, or any public servant are eligible for this award! #StudentFocusedLeadership