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Tuesday, July 14
 

10:20am CDT

Stronger Together: Partnering with Business to Expand Child Care Access
Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT
Room 103
Alison Williams, Business Coalition Director, Excel by 8, and Jennifer Douglas, Early Childhood Program Administrator, DESE, OEC, will hold an interactive discussion about early childhood education as a critical driver of both current workforce stability and future economic growth. Participants will explore how cross-sector partnerships move beyond traditional philanthropy to impact systemic issues of workforce and economic development.
Speakers
avatar for Jennifer Douglas

Jennifer Douglas

Early Childhood Program Administrator, ADE: DESE Office of Early Childhood
avatar for Alison Williams

Alison Williams

Business Coalition Director, Excel by 8
ADE Summit one pager 2026 pdf
Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT
Room 103 Hot Springs Convention Center
  Operations, Early Childhood

11:40am CDT

Closing the Gap V2: How Pre‑K Outcomes Shape Long‑Term Success
Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT
Room 103
Closing the Gap Before It Begins 2.0: The Power of Pre‑K Outcomes” This session explores how the Early Development Instrument (EDI) serves as a powerful population-level tool to identify and address developmental inequities before children enter the classroom. Participants will learn how to analyze EDI data across five key domains to pinpoint community vulnerabilities, strategically allocate resources, and foster cross-sector collaborations. By moving from individual assessment to community-wide snapshots, we will demonstrate how to create targeted interventions that ensure every child, regardless of zip code, starts school ready to succeed.
Speakers
avatar for Ellie Hill

Ellie Hill

EDI Project Director, Arkansas Research Center
avatar for Jennifer Douglas

Jennifer Douglas

Early Childhood Program Administrator, ADE: DESE Office of Early Childhood
SA

Sarah Argue, PhD

Managing Director, Arkansas Research Center
ES
Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT
Room 103 Hot Springs Convention Center
  Operations, Early Childhood

1:00pm CDT

Becoming the First Choice: Designing schools that students love, families choose, and communities trust
Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 103
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
DK

Dr. Kelly Hankins

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 →
avatar for Crystal Beshears Duncan

Crystal Beshears Duncan

Associate Director of Innovation, Office of Innovation for Education
Combining 25 years of experience in a variety of educational settings, Crystal Beshears Duncan serves as the Assistant Director of Innovation for the Office of Innovation for Education at the University of Arkansas. Her diverse work includes: teaching social sciences to secondary... Read More →
avatar for Darrell Smith

Darrell Smith

Assistant Commissioner of School Choice & Parent Empowerment, Arkansas Department of Education
Darrell Smith has been involved in education for over 30 years. He spent almost 20 years in Arkansas serving as a teacher, principal, and administrator, helping to lead one of the largest private schools in the country to National Blue Ribbon status. He has recently led a number of... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 103 Hot Springs Convention Center
  Operations

2:20pm CDT

Finance Cycles and Troubleshooting Tips
Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:20pm - 4:20pm CDT
Room 103
This session will cover data fields within the FinancePLUS software that are reported in the state reporting cycles and will troubleshoot cycle errors and corrections. This session is for any users who enter data into the eFinance software, especially for the SIS Coordinator for cycles 1,8,9.
Speakers
JW

Jessica Wiley

APSCN Financial Support, Arkansas Dept of Education
FinanceCyclesTroubleshooting (FY26 27) FINAL pdf
Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:20pm - 4:20pm CDT
Room 103 Hot Springs Convention Center
  Operations, Finance
 
Wednesday, July 15
 

10:20am CDT

Federal Programs: You Don't Know What You Don't Know
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT
Room 103
Informational session for newcomers on basics of Title I, Title II, Title III, Title IV A & B, Title V, Homeless & Foster Students, Migrant Program, Equitable Services, & Paraprofessionals
Speakers
TB
JG
avatar for Scott Walsh
Federal Program ADE Summit Slideshow 2026 Session 1 Google Slides Google Slides pdf
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT
Room 103 Hot Springs Convention Center
  Operations, Federal Programs

11:40am CDT

The More You Ask, the More You Know (lingering questions on Federal Programs)
Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT
Room 103
Give audience opportunity to ask questions they have from attending You Don't Know What You Don't Know session
Speakers
TB
JG
avatar for Scott Walsh
Federal Program ADE Summit Slideshow 2026 Session 2 Google Slides Google Slides pdf
Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT
Room 103 Hot Springs Convention Center
  Operations, Federal Programs

1:00pm CDT

AI to Support Student Learning
Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 103
This session explores how district leaders can evaluate the instructional impact of emerging AI tools in K–12 education. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of how AI systems work and examine a practical framework for determining whether an AI implementation is likely to meaningfully support student learning—rather than simply automate existing practices.
Speakers
AM

Adam Musto

Director of Computer Science Education, DCTE
AI to Support Student Learning Summit Presentation pptx
Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 103 Hot Springs Convention Center
  Instruction, AI

2:20pm CDT

Securing the FIRST “E”: Enlistment Pathway Development
Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:20pm - 3:20pm CDT
Room 103
This session introduces the official framework for partnership between the Arkansas National Guard and public schools, detailing a year-round campaign to support the "Enlistment" pathway. LTC Scarbrough will explain how this structured collaboration helps administrators turn military service into a supported, post-secondary option for students.
Speakers
avatar for Lieutenant Colonel Eric Scarbrough

Lieutenant Colonel Eric Scarbrough

Arkansas National Gurad

Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:20pm - 3:20pm CDT
Room 103 Hot Springs Convention Center
  Instruction, CTE
 
Thursday, July 16
 

10:20am CDT

Transforming CTE: From Pathways to Durable Skills That Drive Arkansas Forward
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT
Room 103
CTE in Arkansas is evolving—from simply offering pathways to intentionally developing durable skills that prepare students for long-term success. In this session, participants will explore how Success-Ready Pathways and durable skills align with workforce needs and the LEARNS Act. Walk away with practical strategies to strengthen programs, elevate messaging, and ensure students are truly prepared for what’s next.
Speakers
avatar for Ross White

Ross White

State Career and Technical Education Director, Arkansas Department of Education
Ross White, director of Career and Technical Education (CTE), has served as the state CTE director since May 2021, bringing extensive experience in secondary and statewide CTE leadership. He has led the update of the state Perkins V plan, the implementation of Success Ready Gradu... Read More →
7 16 26 Transforming CTE From Pathways to Durable Skills That Drive Arkansas Forward pdf
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT
Room 103 Hot Springs Convention Center
  Instruction, CTE

11:40am CDT

On-Site & In-Coding: What to expect for accreditation in 2026-27
Thursday July 16, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT
Room 103
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
avatar for Brooke McCain

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 →
avatar for Dr. Jeanie Johnson

Dr. Jeanie Johnson

PSA Coordinator of Monitoring & Accreditation, ADE DESE
As Coordinator of Monitoring & Accreditation 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... Read More →
avatar for Kristina Eisenhower

Kristina Eisenhower

Arkansas Department of Education
avatar for Matt Douglas

Matt Douglas

State Monitoring Support Specialist, Arkansas Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
CP
ADE Summit 2026 On Site & In Coding What's New in Accreditation pdf
Thursday July 16, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT
Room 103 Hot Springs Convention Center
  Operations, Accountability

1:00pm CDT

Emerging Threats in Domestic Terrorism: Nihilistic Violent Extremism
Thursday July 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 103
Join the FBI for a presentation focused on understanding nihilistic violent extremism and the cycle of manipulation used to identify, target, and exploit primarily underage victims in furtherance of an ideological goal.

Thursday July 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 103 Hot Springs Convention Center
  Operations, School Safety
 

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