A dedicated session for newly appointed Arkansas superintendents with no prior superintendent experience. Read Commissioner's Memo LIC-26-009 for additional details.
Monday July 13, 2026 9:00am - 4:00pm CDT Room 207Hot Springs Convention Center
Join administrators and teachers for a collaborative discussion on supporting teacher growth through observation and coaching. This session will highlight administrators’ use of the TESS rubric and how coaching practices are adapted to meet the needs of educators serving in diverse classroom roles.
Across the country, districts are reimagining how they recruit, select, and support educators. Join Nimble, for a forward-looking discussion on transforming hiring practices to better serve schools, candidates, and communities. This session will explore how technology and strategic workforce planning can help districts: Expand access to high-quality candidates Increase efficiency in screening and selection Reduce time-to-hire Strengthen long-term retention through better matching Participants will gain insight into how hiring systems can function as a lever for broader educator pipeline improvement and student success.
As the educator landscape evolves, staying informed on certification requirements is essential for maintaining a stable and qualified workforce. This session provides a comprehensive look at recent licensure updates and the diverse pathways available for educators to achieve full certification. We will analyze current unlicensed teacher data to identify critical gaps and introduce a strategic framework focused on preservice teacher completion. Attendees will explore specific progress points from initial entry and testing milestones to clinical experiences, including the year-long residency,designed to ensure candidates move successfully through the pipeline. Whether you are a district leader or a preparation provider, you will leave with actionable strategies to support educators in reaching full licensure.
Director of Educator Preparation and Licensure, Educator Effectiveness and Licensure
Matthew Sutherlin brings over twenty-two years of experience in education, having served in both K–12 and higher education across four states. His career includes classroom teaching as well as leadership roles in higher education, where he has held positions such as Director, Department... Read More →
Each year, thousands of Arkansas teachers receive merit pay. In 2025-26, two dozen of those teachers were selected as fellows for the inaugural cohort. In this session, severeal of the fellows will share about their experience, which gave them a front-row seat to policymakers and connected them with other high-performing teachers across the state.
TESS and LEADS support a continuous cycle of learning for educators and leaders throughout the observation and feedback process. This session will share updates of the Educator Effectiveness System regarding pre/post observations questions and a refined feedback protocol developed during the Calibration pilot and summer learning series
As the educator landscape evolves, staying informed on certification requirements is essential for maintaining a stable and qualified workforce. This session provides a comprehensive look at recent licensure updates and the diverse pathways available for educators to achieve full certification. We will analyze current unlicensed teacher data to identify critical gaps and introduce a strategic framework focused on preservice teacher completion. Attendees will explore specific progress points from initial entry and testing milestones to clinical experiences, including the year-long residency,designed to ensure candidates move successfully through the pipeline. Whether you are a district leader or a preparation provider, you will leave with actionable strategies to support educators in reaching full licensure.
Director of Educator Preparation and Licensure, Educator Effectiveness and Licensure
Matthew Sutherlin brings over twenty-two years of experience in education, having served in both K–12 and higher education across four states. His career includes classroom teaching as well as leadership roles in higher education, where he has held positions such as Director, Department... Read More →
This session will explore the power of observation and walkthrough tools in providing actionable feedback to promote system coherence and instructional alignment. Participants will discuss how to effectively utilize the Key Levers for Instructional Leaders Tool and the TESS Framework to support school leaders in delivering high-quality, targeted feedback. Through interactive activities and real-world examples, attendees will gain practical strategies for using these tools to drive continuous improvement and strengthen instructional practices across their schools.
Assistant Commissioner, Arkansas Department of Education
Kiffany Pride currently serves as the Assistant Commissioner of Learning Services for Arkansas’ Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). With 27 years of experience, Dr. Pride has recently served as the Director of Curriculum and Assessment and RISE Assessor for the... Read More →
This session will discuss Code of Ethics training and coursework as a part of educator preparation as well as other ways to prepare educators for success by preventing ethics complaints. Additionally, Capri Bell-Salaam, the 2023 Arkansas Teacher of the Year, will present her research regarding the role educator preparation programs play in prevention.
Join principals leading high growth schools for a panel discussion of the strategies behind their success. Facilitation will review school-wide discipline, instructional practices, and student attendance plus a question and answer segment with the audience.
In this session, you will explore the Arkansas Teacher Registered Apprenticeship, an innovative, evidence-based approach to educator development aimed at tackling teacher shortages across the state. This program offers a work-based learning opportunity, where approved apprentices receive high-quality instruction through accredited educator programs while simultaneously working within a participating school district. Designed to foster educational excellence in K-12 schools statewide, the apprenticeship ensures teachers acquire valuable on-the-job experience and become fully integrated into their school’s culture, equipping them to be classroom-ready from day one.
In this session, PLSB managing attorney, Whitney James, and PLSB Chief Investigator, Laura Shelton, will provide updated data from the Professional Licensure Standards Board, review processes, specifically for submitting allegations and 24-Hour Standard 1 forms, and discuss how these processes can prevent future violations of the Code of Ethics.
How we lead adult learning often mirrors what happens in classrooms. This session invites participants to examine the connection between engaging meetings and engaging instruction. Using facilitation strategies grounded in collaboration and inquiry, participants will explore how to design learning experiences that foster ownership, reflection, and active participation—for both educators and students. Leave with practical tools and a renewed lens for leading learning in any setting.
Learning Design & Innovation Lead, Office of Innovation for Education
I am passionate about helping adults do the work that ultimately changes outcomes for students. My career has spanned classrooms, school leadership, and statewide support, giving me a deep understanding of the complexities educators face every day.I partner with schools and districts... Read More →
Project Manager - CCFAL, Office of Innovation for Education
After seven years in the classroom, Chrissy joined the Office of Innovation for Education to have a greater impact on education. She is passionate about students being the focus of learning and creating a learning environment that supports students. She now leads the charge in the... Read More →
Three Arkansas teachers who achieved high student growth scores will share the strategies that drive their success. All three teachers received merit pay for the 2024-25 school year and were selected as Arkansas Excellence in Teaching fellows for the 2025-26 school year.
Algebra Teacher - Woodland Jr High, Fayetteville School District
Algebra just makes sense... After 10 years of banking in New York, Dallas, Sydney and Hong Kong, my wife and I migrated to Fayetteville. I love teaching Algebra and believe we underestimate how much our students can achieve. My lessons are problem based with challenges that... Read More →
TESS and LEADS support a continuous cycle of learning for educators and leaders throughout the observation and feedback process. This session will share updates of the Educator Effectiveness System regarding pre/post observations questions and a refined feedback protocol developed during the Calibration pilot and summer learning series
Failure is not inevitable. This high-impact, one-hour session provides school and district leaders with research-backed actions for sustainable transformation. This presentation focuses on the "radical improvement" required to shift school environment, instruction, and results. By the end of this session, attendees will be able to view their school or district through the following lenses: *Establish Urgent Leadership: Signal the need for immediate, dramatic change while building a team dedicated to turnaround goals. *Leverage Data for Action: Utilize real-time, student-level data to adjust instructional strategies and reduce absenteeism. *Rebuild Environment and Trust: Implement transparent communication strategies to unite staff, parents, and the community. *Optimize Resources: Align budgetary and human resources with "mission-critical" interventions rather than widespread, superficial reforms.
Experience the 'teacher life' before the first day of school. This session explores the impact of year-long residencies on candidate confidence and classroom effectiveness. A discussion of implementing successful residency programs that benefit both the aspiring educator and the students they serve, ensuring a smoother transition from pre-service candidate to professional practitioner. Early results from the implementation of the year-long residency will be presented.
Director of Educator Preparation and Licensure, Educator Effectiveness and Licensure
Matthew Sutherlin brings over twenty-two years of experience in education, having served in both K–12 and higher education across four states. His career includes classroom teaching as well as leadership roles in higher education, where he has held positions such as Director, Department... Read More →
