Arkansas School Boards Association

Happy Presidents' Day! In recognition of the holiday, ASBA offices will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2025.

🎉 𝐖𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤: South Pike County School District Great things are happening every day in our schools! This week, we’re celebrating Murfreesboro High School Agri. students who showcased their skills at the Regional Girl Power event. Competing with laser projects they created in Agri. with Mr. Simmons, these students brought home top honors for the Rattlers: 🏆 Chloie Beck – Overall Champion 🥈 Addison Cox – Reserve Overall 🥉 Lillie Mays – 3rd Overall Congratulations to these talented students! Want to be featured? Send your district’s “Win of the Week” to jprothro@arsba.org! #StudentFocusedLeadership #WinoftheWeek

Today, ASBA Policy Service Director Lucas Harder presented at the 2025 AASBO Conference. His presentation titled "Hard Conversations on Employee Performance" equipped school business officials with the right tools to handle difficult discussions with confidence and clarity. Thank you, Lucas, for sharing your expertise! #StudentFocusedLeadership

The scholarship deadline is quickly approaching! Qualified candidates - submit your applications soon to be considered for this year's awards! Info & Applications: https://arsba.org/article/1958160 #StudentFocusedLeadership

That’s a wrap on the 2025 School Law Seminar! 🎉 Thank you to everyone who attended on Friday, February 7, and contributed to a day of learning and discussion. We covered key legal topics, including the legislative process with real legislators, best practices in employment law from EEOC experts, and important insights on termination, renewal, and school board vacancies. Sessions on free speech and FOIA also provided valuable guidance for school leaders. A special thanks to our speakers for sharing their expertise and making this event a success. We appreciate you all! #StudentFocusedLeadership

2025 School Law Seminar is about to be under way! We have a full buffet breakfast to kick things off. Looking forward to a productive day of learning! #StudentFocusedLeadership

📢 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐲! 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 📢 The 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 is happening 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟕 at the 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤 – or join us virtually from anywhere! 📝 Haven’t registered yet? There’s still time! Sign up through AR Board Connect (https://www.bit.ly/arboardconnect) under the 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 tab. 🔹 𝐈𝐧-𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟔 𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐨𝐧! 📄 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://5il.co/340uq This must-attend event keeps school board members and education leaders informed on key legal updates and legislative changes affecting Arkansas schools. Don’t miss it! #StudentFocusedLeadership

In honor of School Board Recognition Month, we extend our deepest gratitude to the ASBA Board of Directors for the incredible work you do—not only on your local Boards of Education but also in your service to ASBA. Your leadership and dedication truly reflect this year’s theme - 𝙇𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥, 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩! 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: Jeff Lisenbey, President – Sheridan Doris Parham, President-Elect – Bearden Nikki King, Vice President – Pangburn Travis Warren, Secretary-Treasurer – Farmington Randy Hutchinson, Past President – Springdale Jason Jones, Region 2 – Yellville-Summit Joe Sheppard, Region 3 – Jonesboro Beth Ullrich, Region 4 – Paris John Gibson, Region 5 – South Conway County Keith Baker, Region 6 – Riverview Shane Bell, Region 7 – Cross County Graham Peterson, Region 8 – Mt. Vernon - Enola Donna Dunlap, Region 9 – Barton Dino Lenox, Region 10 – Hot Springs Carl (Buddy) Puckett, Region 11 – Poyen Laura Clark, Region 12 – Blevins Renee Skinner, Region 13 – El Dorado Debra Barnes, Region 14 – Crossett Thank you for your #StudentFocusedLeadership and for making a lasting impact on Arkansas schools. You are appreciated more than you know!

🚨 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬! 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫! Join us 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock, or attend virtually, to gain critical legal insights impacting Arkansas schools. 🔗 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐑 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 to lock in your early registration rates! Rates increase after 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘, 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟒𝐭𝐡. - 𝐈𝐧-𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧: $205 today | $225 after - 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥: $170 today | $185 after 📄 Agenda: https://5il.co/340uq 🔔 Details: https://www.arsba.org/article/1942430 Earn training hours or CLE credits and stay ahead on legal issues impacting Arkansas schools! #StudentFocusedLeadership

Today, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., reflecting on his powerful message of justice, service, and equality. “𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓲𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓮.” - 𝓓𝓻. 𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓲𝓷 𝓛𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓙𝓻. ASBA offices will be closed today in observance of this day of remembrance.

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫! Registration is now open for the 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫, scheduled for 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, at the 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤. Virtual attendance is also available! Access the agenda here: https://5il.co/340uq This seminar is your opportunity to gain essential legal insights and updates tailored for Arkansas school board members and education leaders. Stay ahead of the curve on the issues that matter most to your district. Registration is available via the "Registrations" tab in AR Board Connect (bit.ly/arboardconnect). We look forward to seeing you there! 📅 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧: Friday, February 7, 2025 📍 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: Embassy Suites, Little Rock 📋 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚: https://5il.co/340uq ℹ️ 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬: https://www.arsba.org/article/1942430

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫! We’re excited to announce that the 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 is scheduled for 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, at the 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤. This seminar is your opportunity to gain essential legal insights and updates tailored for Arkansas school board members and education leaders. Stay ahead of the curve on the issues that matter most to your district. Registration will open shortly after the New Year—be on the lookout for updates! We look forward to seeing you there!

🎄 𝓜𝓮𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓒𝓱𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓶𝓪𝓼 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓐𝓢𝓑𝓐! 🎄 Thank you for your dedication to Arkansas schools. Your leadership and service truly make a difference! ASBA offices will be closed December 23rd through January 3rd. We’ll see you in the new year! Wishing you a joyful and restful holiday season! 🌟 #StudentFocusedLeadership

ASBA is saying farewell to one of the best—Sherri Fite! Sherri’s leadership in communications and technology has been nothing short of exceptional, but on top of that, she is an all around incredible person! Anyone lucky enough to know Sherri is a better person for it. Wishing you all the best in your retirement, Sherri! Don’t go too far—we may still have a few tech questions!

📢 December 2024 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙙 Out Now! Don’t miss these highlights: 🔹 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞-𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐬 – See how Bentonville West High School boosted engagement and improved behavior. 🔹 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 – Meet Shannon Moore, ASBA's new executive director, and the newest team members. 🔹 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 – Get to know the elected and returning board members for 2025. 🔹 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐀𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 – Learn how Jeanie Wilcoxon is inspiring students with flexible and innovative teaching strategies. 📥 Download the latest issue here: https://5il.co/33eiu 🔗 Access this and past issues at: https://www.arsba.org/page/report-card-magazine Thank you for staying connected with ASBA. We hope you find this issue informative and inspiring! #StudentFocusedLeadership

We hope you are enjoying your conference experience! Please be sure to stop by our Photo Booth, located in the Marriott Ballroom Level Foyer, featuring life size cutouts of students from Arkansas schools! #ResilientandReady #StudentFocusedLeadership

🌟𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 🌟 Help us celebrate the talent of Arkansas students with these special conference moments: • 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 by 𝐘𝐧𝐢 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞, 9th Grade, Parkview Magnet High School – Thursday’s Opening Ceremony will begin on a high note. • 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐬 by 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐥 𝐉𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐂 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝 – A moving tribute to kick off Thursday's sessions. • 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐉𝐚𝐳𝐳 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝 – Friday, 7:30 AM. Start your day with smooth jazz and student talent that’s second to none! 📅 Visit https://www.arsba.org/article/1808676 to learn more about the conference and secure your spot! Don't wait - online registration closes at 4 pm 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬! #ResilientandReady #StudentFocusedLeadership

🎶 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 🎶 At ASBA, we are all about student-focused leadership, and what better way to celebrate this mission than to hear from some of our talented Arkansas students! Enjoy performances from the following student choirs during this year's conference: 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗿 - Wednesday, 12/11, 12:00 pm 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗿 - Thursday, 12/12, 10:00 am 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗿 - Thursday, 12/12, 2:45 pm 📅 Visit https://www.arsba.org/article/1808676 to learn more about the conference and secure your spot! #ResilientAndReady #StudentFocusedLeadership

🌟 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 🌟 Prepare to be inspired on Thursday with two exceptional speakers: 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘆, co-founder of Top 20 Training, will light up the room with her empowering keynote, "Living a Top 20 Life," teaching you how to lead with resilience, positivity, and connection. 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗺, Superintendent of Pearl, MS, will open your eyes to the possibilities of AI in education, sharing how technology can transform the classroom and elevate student success. Don't miss your chance to gain fresh perspectives and actionable ideas to lead with confidence! 📅 Visit https://www.arsba.org/article/1808676 to learn more about the conference and secure your spot!

🎉 It's almost conference time! Stay tuned as we will be highlighting some of our key conference happenings over the next few days. Up first - 🎤 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟳𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗦𝗕𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 🎤 Kick-off this year's conference with two impactful speakers: • 𝗞𝗶𝗿𝗸 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗲, Director of the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership, will share strategies to combat the opioid crisis in Arkansas communities. • 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝗠𝗰𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻, the 2024 Arkansas Teacher of the Year, will inspire us with insights on empowering students and fostering community partnerships. Don't miss these sessions to spark your leadership journey. 📅 Visit https://www.arsba.org/article/1808676 to learn more about the conference and secure your spot! Don't wait - online registration closes this Friday, December 6th! #ResilientAndReady #StudentFocusedLeadership