New administrators often face unexpected challenges that can impact accreditation. This session uses real scenarios to unpack common pitfalls and offers clear, practical strategies to address them before they become bigger issues.
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 →
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 →
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 →
Step into the year with clarity and momentum. This session highlights practical strategies for leading school‑wide improvement efforts, building trust quickly, and identifying the right levers for early wins. Perfect for new district administrators ready to make a meaningful impact from day one.
Ashley Harris, Ed.S, is an educational leader currently serving as the Director for Learning and Development in Arkansas, where she is dedicated to transforming education by prioritizing high-quality instructional opportunities for students. She holds an Education Specialist degree... Read More →
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 →
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.
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 →
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 →
State data can feel overwhelming—this session is designed to help administrators make sense of it all. Participants will gain an overview of the key state data collections, including what data is available, when it is released, and where to access it. The session will also highlight resources and tools to support effective use and interpretation of the data, helping school leaders move from simply receiving data to confidently using it to inform decisions and support school improvement.
Director of Assessment, Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
I currently serve as the Director of Assessment and School Performance for the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in Arkansas. In this role, I am committed to ensuring all students have equitable access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. I... Read More →
Step into the year with clarity and momentum. This session highlights practical strategies for leading district‑wide improvement efforts, building trust quickly, and identifying the right levers for early wins. Perfect for new district administrators ready to make a meaningful impact from day one.
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 →
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 →
How leaders and boards use performance evidence to set priorities, monitor progress, and adjust early. High performing schools use performance data to drive focus—not confusion. This session reframes the Annual School Performance Summary and Improvement Priorities as a leadership and governance tool, not a compliance requirement. Participants will explore how effective schools translate reflection into clear priorities, measurable drivers, and leadership response rules that guide decisions throughout the year. Using an ADE model example, the session illustrates how boards and leaders can monitor progress, stay aligned, and adjust early to improve outcomes.
How leadership decisions, adult practice, and systems create—or constrain—student success. Student success depends on the conditions adults create for learning. This session focuses on how leadership decisions, adult practice, and organizational design shape instructional quality, workforce stability, and overall school performance. Participants will examine how clarity of expectations, aligned behaviors, consistent routines, and thoughtful communication influence results across classrooms and schools. Rather than focusing on programs or initiatives, this session centers on how everyday leadership actions strengthen—or undermine—the conditions for learning.
This session will spotlight schools that have demonstrated improvement in their school ratings and highlight the strategies and practices that contributed to their success. Participants will hear directly about what these schools focused on, the changes they implemented, and how they used data, systems, and collaboration to drive improvement—offering practical insights that can be applied in schools across the state.
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.
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 →
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 →
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.
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 →
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.
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 →
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 →
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.
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 →
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 →
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 →
