ADE Summit 2026: Full Schedule

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10:20am CDT

eSchool What You Need to Know for School Year 2027

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT

During this session we will delve into the additions to state reporting requirements and changes to some eSchoolPLUS processes for 2026-2027. This session would benefit all eSchool data entry users.

Speakers

MicKail Thrasher

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT
TBA

Operations, Data

10:20am CDT

Growing vs. growth - what's the difference

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT

TBA

This session will focus on the important difference between doing better on a test and meeting individual student growth targets. Participants will explore the distinction between proficiency gains and value-added growth, including how the value-added growth score is calculated and what it truly measures. By unpacking common misconceptions, this session will help educators better understand how students can grow academically—even if test scores do not move as expected—and how growth measures provide a more complete picture of student progress.

Speakers

Hope Worsham

Asst. Commissioner of Public School Accountability, DESE

Hope Worsham serves as the Assistant Commissioner of Public School Accountability at the Arkansas Department of Education, where she leads statewide efforts to support school performance and ensure meaningful use of data in decision-making. With a career spanning multiple leadership... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT
TBA

Operations, Accountability

10:20am CDT

Web Content and Mobile Apps: Updated Federal Requirements for Arkansas Public Schools

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT

TBA

Join a discussion on new standards for web content and mobile apps recently established by the Department of Justice under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This session will provide an overview of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines as well as federal compliance deadlines (April 2026/2027). Explore how these requirements impact district implementation of social media, website design, vendor agreements, and document sharing. The session will conclude with a demonstration of free evaluation tools and resources designed to help monitor compliance and document progress.

Speakers

Jeff Killingsworth

Coordinator of K12 Cyber Policy and Strategy, Arkansas Department of Education

Jeff Killingsworth was privileged to be in the classroom for 12 years, teaching a variety of math and science classes from kindergarten through eighth grade, before joining the Arkansas Department of Education. He is currently the Coordinator of K12 Cyber Policy and Strategy, and... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT
TBA

Operations, Legal

10:20am CDT

What Districts Miss in Attracting Talent: Stealing Recuritment & Rentention Ideas from the Private Sector

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT

TBA

Attracting and retaining talent is a crucial challenge for many districts. Based on the SchoolCEO multigenerational study of teachers, you will learn key misconceptions about recruiting teachers, what your prospective staff is actually looking for, and private sector best practices on how to stand out.

Speakers

Caitlyn Carroll

Business Development Representative, Apptegy

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT
TBA

Operations

11:40am CDT

Child Care Licensing Updates and Q&A

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT

TBA

This session will offer an open discussion on all things child care licensing. Attendees will have an opportunity to receive answers to their licensing questions.

Speakers

Ashelyn Abney

Kelli Hilburn

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT
TBA

Operations, Early Childhood

11:40am CDT

From Eligibility to Enrollment: Navigating Arkansas Course Choice with Confidence

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT

TBA

The Arkansas Course Choice Program offers districts and schools a powerful tool to expand student access and personalize learning pathways—but successful implementation requires clear understanding and coordination across roles. This session is designed for district administrators, school leaders, and high school counselors who are responsible for advising students, supporting implementation, and navigating operational requirements.
Participants will receive practical guidance on Course Choice logistics, including eligibility, enrollment processes, funding considerations, scheduling and credit alignment, and key timelines. The session will also address common misconceptions and highlight the distinct roles district leaders, principals, and counselors play in ensuring Course Choice is implemented effectively and equitably. Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of how Course Choice functions in practice and how to support students, families, and school staff through informed decision‑making and consistent processes.

Speakers

Daniel Collier

Arkansas Department of Education

Carmen Jordan

Director APSCN Student Applications, ADE

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT
TBA

Operations, Data

11:40am CDT

On-Site & In-Coding: What to expect for accreditation in 2026-27

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT

TBA

Accreditation is getting a refresh. Come learn what DESE will be looking for on‑site and how next year’s process and timeline will work differently. Walk away with clarity, direction, and a head start on preparing your district.

Speakers

Matt Douglas

State Monitoring Support Specialist, Arkansas Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

Kristina Eisenhower

Arkansas Department of Education

Dr. Jeanie Johnson

PSA Coordinator of Monitoring & Accreditation, ADE DESE

As Coordinator of Special Projects within the Office of Public School Accountability, I work alongside my team to support school districts across Arkansas in understanding and fulfilling their responsibilities under state and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Our unit provides... Read More →

Brooke McCain

Director of Monitoring and Accreditation, Arkansas Department of Education

Brooke McCain is a leading expert in accreditation and monitoring, with a passion for district improvement, recognized for equipping school leaders with the practical tools needed to manage compliance and drive real results. Heading Arkansas’s on-site monitoring and accreditation... Read More →

Christi Parrish

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT
TBA

Operations, Accountability

1:00pm CDT

A Panel Discussion: District Communication During State Reporting

Thursday July 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

TBA

In this session, district SIS coordinators will share their district’s best practices and strategies for effective communication during the state reporting cycle processing. Attendees will gain insights into how collaboration is used to validate data, ensuring accuracy throughout the process.

Moderators

Patty Ellis

APSCN SMS Computer Support Coordinator, AR Department of Education

Speakers

Renee Curtis

Director of Administrative Services, Bryant Public Schools

Renee Curtis received her latest degree, Educational Specialist, from Henderson State University and has recently been named as the Director of Administrative Services for Bryant Public Schools. Renee obtained her degree of Bachelor of Science in Education from University of Central... Read More →

Amy Brewer

Federal Programs Coordinator, eSchool Administrator, Alma School District

Jamie Dickerman

Thursday July 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
TBA

Operations, Data

1:00pm CDT

Arkansas Cyber Laws: Updates on Acts 504 and 846

Thursday July 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

TBA

Join a discussion on Arkansas laws that aim to increase cybersecurity and data privacy for school districts. Topics will include the latest information on requirements, timelines, and resources for the K12 Cybersecurity Policy (Act 504) and the Arkansas Self-Funded Cyber Response Program (Act 846).

Speakers

Jeff Killingsworth

Coordinator of K12 Cyber Policy and Strategy, Arkansas Department of Education

Thursday July 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
TBA

Operations, Legal

1:00pm CDT

Collaborative Leadership for CLASS Implementation: Lessons from Bald Knob Early Childhood

Thursday July 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

TBA

This session showcases the collaborative work of Local Lead Amy Pinkston and Preschool Director Abby Baker as they share how a strong Local Lead–program partnership can support effective CLASS implementation. Over the past year, Bald Knob Early Childhood Center has integrated CLASS through shared goal‑setting, aligned professional development, targeted coaching, and clear communication structures. Amy and Abby will outline how building leadership capacity, using observation data intentionally, and establishing manageable SMART goals have strengthened classroom practices and staff confidence. Attendees will gain practical strategies for partnering with their own Local Lead to implement CLASS with fidelity and support continuous improvement.

Speakers

Abby Baker

Amy Pinkston

Local Lead Captain, WRPDD Local Lead

Thursday July 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
TBA

Operations, Early Childhood

1:00pm CDT

Enrollment Strategy: Enrollment Is Not Marketing—It’s Leadership

Thursday July 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

TBA

How clarity, coherence, and trust drive sustainable enrollment over time.
Enrollment health reflects trust, clarity, and coherence. This session reframes student recruitment, retention, and enrollment management as a leadership and governance responsibility, not a marketing task.
Participants will explore how families make enrollment decisions, why schools lose students over time, and how mission clarity, program quality, staff alignment, and family experience drive demand. The session emphasizes enrollment as an early indicator of organizational health and long term sustainability.

Speakers

Caitlyn Carroll

Business Development Representative, Apptegy

Sarper Turker

Director of Charter Schools, Arkansas Department of Education

Thursday July 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
TBA

Operations

1:00pm CDT

From Compliance to Inclusion: Making Documents and Digital Content WCAG 2.1 AA Ready

Thursday July 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

TBA

Creating accessible content is about more than meeting standards—it’s about ensuring access for everyone. This session provides a comprehensive, practical guide to producing WCAG 2.1 AA–compliant PDFs, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and social media posts.

Participants will explore document structure, accessible data tables, meaningful hyperlinking, alternative text strategies, reading order, tagged PDFs, captioning practices, and accessibility features across major social platforms. The session also highlights tools for testing and remediation, helping attendees build sustainable workflows that prioritize accessibility from draft to publication.

Leave with actionable checklists, best practices, and confidence in your ability to create content that is both compliant and inclusive.

Speakers

David Hampton

Technology Coordinator, Southwest Arkansas ESC

👋 I’m David Hampton — a former social studies teacher turned tech champion for schools. As the Technology Coordinator at SWAEC, I secure networks, support rural districts, and help educators harness the power of AI in meaningful ways. I also serve as a member of the Arkansas... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
TBA

Operations

1:00pm CDT

Maximizing Time & Meeting Standards: Smart Strategies for New Administrators

Thursday July 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

TBA

New to administration? Learn what must be happening in your building to meet accreditation standards while maximizing student success. This session will cover essential requirements, creative RTI implementation, and strategies to make the most of your available time. How do you create a coherent system with the time available in your schedule? Lead your school with confidence and creativity.

Speakers

Dr. Jeanie Johnson

PSA Coordinator of Monitoring & Accreditation, ADE DESE

Brooke McCain

Director of Monitoring and Accreditation, Arkansas Department of Education

Amber Pirnique

DIrector of Special Projects, Arkansas Department of Education

Amber Pirnique serves as Director of Special Projects for the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), leading priority, cross‑agency initiatives that advance statewide goals in literacy, coaching, and system support. Her portfolio includes The Writing Revolution... Read More →

Andy Sullivan

Director of Educator Effectiveness, DESE

Thursday July 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
TBA

Operations, Accountability

10:20am CDT

10:20am CDT

10:20am CDT

10:20am CDT

11:40am CDT

11:40am CDT

11:40am CDT

1:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

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