ADE Summit 2026: Full Schedule

10:20am CDT

Street Smart: How the Arkansas Department of Transportation is Bringing Road Safety Education to Classrooms Statewide

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT

Street Smart is a free, children’s road safety education program available to all Arkansas educators. In this session, learn how the Arkansas Department of Transportation and the Arkansas Department of Education worked together to fill a gap in road safety education. This ADE-approved, comprehensive curriculum includes lessons, activities, and professionally-produced videos – ready-made for the classroom.

Speakers

Travis Brooks

Division Engineer for Planning & Research, Arkansas Department of Transportation

ADE Summit Street Smart Brooks ARDOT pptx

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT
Room 104 Hot Springs Convention Center

Instruction

11:40am CDT

Staffing with Intention: Understanding Long‑Term Budget Impacts

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT

Room 104

Staffing decisions are among the most consequential choices district leaders make. With salaries and benefits comprising the majority of a district’s operating budget, even small staffing changes can have long‑term fiscal implications that extend well beyond a single budget year.
This session is designed for superintendents, school business managers, and principals who play a role in staffing decisions and resource allocation. Participants will explore how Arkansas funding structures interact with staffing choices over time. The session highlights the true cost of adding positions, implementing salary schedule increases, and maintaining staffing levels during periods of enrollment change.
Attendees will examine the distinction between positions and programs, learn when restricted funds may appropriately be used for salaries, and discuss strategies for avoiding unsustainable staffing growth. The session will also introduce practical fiscal tools available to district leaders, such as enrollment projections and staffing models, to support proactive, data‑driven planning.

Speakers

Jason Miller

Office of Coordinated Support and Service/ Leadership Development & Fiscal Services, Arkansas Department of Education

Jason Miller currently serves as a State Leadership Development Coach at the Arkansas Department of Education, where he provides statewide guidance on district operations, school finance, effective use of personnel, and resource management. He also oversees the Fiscal Services and... Read More →

Staffing with Intention ADE Summit pptx

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT
Room 104 Hot Springs Convention Center

Operations, Finance

1:00pm CDT

Coordinated School Safety: Incident Communication Protocols and Building Design Considerations

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Room 104

This session will provide an overview of DESE’s School Safety Incident and Communication Protocol, explaining how Arkansas school districts, educational cooperatives, the Safe Schools Unit, and DESE leadership collaborate during school safety incidents and other significant events. Participants will learn how the tiered, bidirectional communication structure supports the clear, timely exchange of critical information and enables coordinated responses at the local, regional, and state levels.
In addition, the session will address key school safety building considerations, highlighting how facility design, access control, and emergency response features support incident prevention and mitigation. This portion of the presentation underscores how thoughtful planning and building design can strengthen physical security and enhance overall safety for students and staff.

Speakers

Jason Weatherly, PhD

Public Safety Supervisor / Expert, Arkansas Department of Education

An Arkansas native, Dr. Weatherly brings extensive expertise in school safety, emergency management, and facilities oversight to the Safe Schools Unit. His comprehensive training spans Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), CERT, school site assessments, emergency... Read More →

Summit 2026 SSU Incident Communication Protocols and Buidling Designs pdf

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 104 Hot Springs Convention Center

Operations, School Safety

2:20pm CDT

From High School to College: Introducing the AR Direct Application Portal (DAP)

Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:20pm - 3:30pm CDT

Room 104

In response to the recently enacted ACCESS legislation, the Arkansas Division of Higher Education is launching the AR Direct Application Portal (DAP), a new statewide application platform designed to simplify the college application process for Arkansas students. Through a secure portal, high school seniors will be able to submit a single application and apply to multiple participating Arkansas institutions, reducing barriers and streamlining access to postsecondary education.

This session will introduce the AR DAP and explain how it supports the Eligibility component of the ACCESS framework by making it easier for students to take the first step toward college enrollment.

In addition to the introduction of AR DAP, participants will learn how the system works, which institutions participate, and how counselors and educators can support students in using the platform effectively. Attendees will also receive an overview of the implementation timeline, student eligibility considerations, and how the AR DAP integrates with other state initiatives designed to expand college access and opportunity for Arkansas students.

Speakers

Alisha Lewis

Assistant Commissioner, Arkansas Division of Higher Education

Alisha Lewis began service to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education in March 2017 where she serves as the Associate Director of Communications. Through Arkansas State Transformation, her role transitioned to Chief Communication Director for the new encompassing Department... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:20pm - 3:30pm CDT
Room 104 Hot Springs Convention Center

Operations, Finance

3:40pm CDT

AR App: How to Read/Use/Collaborate Between General Education and Special Education

Tuesday July 14, 2026 3:40pm - 4:40pm CDT

Room 104

Discover the essential special education data points districts should analyze when building their strategic plan using the AR App. This session highlights how targeted data review can help LEAs pinpoint critical focus areas and drive improved outcomes for all students.

Speakers

Josh Hart

Office of Special Education - Finance, Arkansas Dept of Education

Heather O'Shields

Office of Special Education - Finance, Arkansas Department of Education

Summit Results Driven Accountability Exhibit pdf

Summit Annual Performance Report Exhibit pdf

Arkansas Statewide SPED Peer Review FY25 FY26 xlsx

Summit CCEIS Exhibit pdf

AR App pptx

Tuesday July 14, 2026 3:40pm - 4:40pm CDT
Room 104 Hot Springs Convention Center

Operations, Data

10:20am CDT

Arkansas Outdoor Education Initiative: Leveraging State Partners for Outdoor Learning Success

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT

Room 104

The Arkansas Outdoor Education Initiative is more than just a set of lessons—it is a statewide movement supported by a network of agencies. This session provides an overview of the many agencies and organizations ready to support your classroom. We will explore how to bridge the gap between school walls and our rich natural and civic resources. Whether you need a geologist to explain the Ozark plateau, a park ranger to host a field trip, or resources to teach bicycle safety on campus, this workshop will show you the landscape of outdoor learning in Arkansas.

Speakers

Michele Snyder

State STEM Integration Specialist, Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education

AR STEM Model Program, AR Ready for STEM Initiative, STEM Integration, Arts Integration, K-8 STEM career competencies

Leveraging State Partners for Outdoor Learning Success pdf

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT
Room 104 Hot Springs Convention Center

Instruction, Science

11:40am CDT

What's on the Menu? Interactions

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT

Room 104

Arkansas is currently in a CLASS pilot year. As Local Leads, part of our job is to go into all publicly funded classrooms, provide a CLASS assessment, and support programs in building positive, meaningful interactions. The four presenters for this season have collectively completed more than 150 CLASS observations in the last year and a half across infant, toddler, and pre-K settings.

We started noticing the same pattern over and over: teachers are working hard during large group, centers, and small group time to build relationships, model language, and support problem-solving. But mealtimes and snack times — which easily take 30 to 45 minutes of a child’s day — are often treated as “get through it” moments instead of intentional interaction time. That is a huge missed opportunity for building connections, positive interactions, concept development, scaffolding, and language modeling. “What’s on the Menu? Interactions!” is designed to change that.

Speakers

Wendy Green

Local Lead, Crowley's Ridge Educational Service Cooperative

Chrissy Sain

Local Leads, Northeast Arkansas Education Cooperative

Jodi Whitman

Senior Director, Partnerships, LENA

Jodi Whiteman, M.Ed., CEIM, IMH-E® is the Senior Director of Partnerships at LENA. In this position she supports early childhood programs, organizations and states to transform children’s future through early talk technology and data-driven programs. She has over 25 years of experience in the early childhood field... Read More →

Katlin Niemeyer

Local Leads Captain, SWAEC

Shasta Pentecost

Local Lead, Dawson Education Cooperative

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT
Room 104 Hot Springs Convention Center

Operations, Early Childhood

1:00pm CDT

AGFC’s School of Conservation Leadership: Building a Culture of Conservation

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Room 104

Join AGFC staff as we discuss the Arkansas Outdoor Education Initiative and the role that the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission plays in bringing conservation education to schools across the state. We will share success stories through our first two years, discuss the requirements to earn a School of Conservation Leadership designation, and how we can help build a culture of outdoor education on your campus through professional development, free equipment, curriculum resources, and more.

Speakers

Mary Beth Hatch

Chief of Education, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Derek Ratchford

Arkansas Outdoor Education Initiative Manager, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Derek Ratchford is the Manager of the Arkansas Outdoor Education Initiative with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Through this position, he empowers teachers as they introduce STEM and conservation statewide. He transitioned to AGFC after spending ten years in public education... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 104 Hot Springs Convention Center

Instruction, Science

Tag New

2:20pm CDT

Charting the Course: From Pre-K Play to ATLAS Success

Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:20pm - 3:20pm CDT

Room 104

Set your students up for success on the ATLAS screener by bridging the gap between preschool and kindergarten. This session breaks down how to use CDELS standards and HQIM curricula to target essential readiness skills. We’ll also show how CLASS interactions turn everyday moments into powerful learning opportunities that ensure every child walks into kindergarten confident and prepared. - Wendy Green

Speakers

Wendy Green

Local Lead, Crowley's Ridge Educational Service Cooperative

Jennifer Douglas

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

Charting the Course From Pre K Play to ATLAS Success.pptx pdf

Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:20pm - 3:20pm CDT
Room 104 Hot Springs Convention Center

Instruction, Assessment, Early Learning

3:40pm CDT

Arkansas STEM Model Program

Wednesday July 15, 2026 3:40pm - 4:40pm CDT

Room 104

Learn about the benefits of being a STEM school and how schools are designated as model STEM schools in Arkansas. Meet the school leaders who are doing this well in designated model schools from rural, urban and suburban PreK - 12 schools across the state.

Speakers

Michele Snyder

State STEM Integration Specialist, Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education

AR STEM Model Program, AR Ready for STEM Initiative, STEM Integration, Arts Integration, K-8 STEM career competencies

Wednesday July 15, 2026 3:40pm - 4:40pm CDT
Room 104 Hot Springs Convention Center

Instruction, Math, Science

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

Room 104

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
Room 104 Hot Springs Convention Center

Operations

11:40am CDT

Supporting Accelerated Learning: Concurrent Credit

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

Room 104

Join the Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE) and the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as they share about implementation of concurrent credit to support accelerated learning opportunities for students and ensure graduates are success ready. This session will also include suggestions of topics that are critical to communicate to students and families to support them in making appropriate course selections aligned to their goals.

Presentation materials are available at https://bit.ly/4pgUl8W.

Speakers

Alisha Lewis

Assistant Commissioner, Arkansas Division of Higher Education

Krystal Nail

Director, Office of Accelerated Learning and Gifted Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education

Krystal Nail currently serves as the program director for the Office of Accelerated Learning and Gifted Education at the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. With 20 years of experience in education in Arkansas, Krystal previously served... Read More →

Mason Campbell

Assistant Director for Policy and Student Success, Arkansas Division of Higher Education

Kimberly Long

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT
Room 104 Hot Springs Convention Center

Instruction, Accelerated Learning

1:00pm CDT

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

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

Room 104

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
Room 104 Hot Springs Convention Center

Operations

10:20am CDT

11:40am CDT

1:00pm CDT

2:20pm CDT

3:40pm CDT

10:20am CDT

11:40am CDT

1:00pm CDT

2:20pm CDT

3:40pm CDT

10:20am CDT

11:40am CDT

1:00pm CDT

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