2026 AAEA Summer Conference has ended

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2026 AAEA Summer Conference

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7:30am CDT

Breakfast Available and Visit Exhibitors Governor's Halls I-IV (SCC) Exhibit Hall Open Governor's Halls I-IV (SCC) Registration Open Caddo & Osage (SCC)

8:30am CDT

General Session: Admin of the Year and DESE Updates Wally Allen Ballroom (SCC)Secretary Jacob Oliva

9:45am CDT

Visit Exhibitors Governor's Halls I-IV (SCC) Table Talk: Beyond Compliance: Creating Truly Engaged Classrooms Governor's Hall III - Table 5Saundra Lamberson • Emily Hemme Table Talk: Chronic Absenteeism: Strategies in Practice that Work Governor's Hall I - Table 1Christie Cremo Table Talk: From Compliance to Clarity: How Success Criteria Transform Instruction and Culture Governor's Hall I - Table 4Chelsey Berry • Katie Camargo Table Talk: Leading for Growth: A Schoolwide PGP that Motivates Teachers Governor's Hall IV - Table 3Dr. Jennifer Crawford • Dr. Susanna Post

10:15am CDT

From Alignment to Impact: Strengthening Instruction for Student Success Ouachita (MCC)Gina Richard • Thea Capps • Heather Gonzalez • Jan Hill • Whitney Dutton • Britnee Wright From Creating Opportunity to Creating Coherence: The Work in Front of Rural Education Yell I-II (SCC)Justin Neel • Dr. Austin D. Eubanks Going Global with Cambridge International: A Practical Guide for Arkansas's Next Chapter in Advanced Education & Accelerated Learning Grampas (MCC)Charles Lee • Dr. Kristy Brown • Dustin Seaton • Tina McClure Leading with Purpose: Teacher Growth & Professional Learning Salon C (M)Dr. Adam Eckard • Mandy Zipfel • Angela Murphy • Harry Dickens • Alice Shirey Reclaiming the Math Classroom: A Framework for Sustainable Differentiation White Oak (MCC)Veronica Hebard • Modern Classrooms Project What Do We Mean by “Growth”? Rethinking Progress in the Arkansas VAM Model Salon A (M)Hope Worsham Building It Right: Legal Requirements, Partnership Funding, and Public Bidding Chicot (MCC)Cedric Hawkins, Ed.D. • Travis Spence From Compliance to Confidence: Implementing Behavioral Threat Assessments with Clarity and Protection Pope (SCC)Bekah Coursey • Becca Sparks Accelerate School Procurement: How TIPS Delivers Faster, Compliant, Cost‑Effective Contracts Salon B (M)The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) - Stacey McPherson Ethics Disclosures Miller (SCC)Charles Warren Federal Updates Izard (SCC)Kimberly Glass • Lea Metcalf-McDonald • Amanda Bittle High Leverage Human Capital Strategies Conway (MCC)Melissa Tucker • Greg Mones Mastering the Maze: Navigating FOIA and Legal Requests, Technical Strategy Meets Legal Compliance Drew (SCC)Paul Miller • Kendra Clay Pet Therapy in Schools? Hoffman (M)Allan Gates A Principal & Counselor’s Journey to School Improvement Manning (M)David Yates • Jessica Ashcraft • Dr. Heather Williams Building a Leadership Pipeline: Growing District Leaders from Within Harris Brake (MCC)Mathew Thornton • Blake Campbell Crisis Communications when Minutes Matter Arkansas Ballroom (M)Dr. Jared Cleveland • Trent Jones Dodging the Docket: Smart Moves Before and After a Due Process Filing Fulton (SCC)Shasta Wagner • Leila Seigrist • Claire Wilkinson From Minor League to Major Leagues: Systems that Will Help You "Go Yard" with Feedback and Growth Caraway I-III (SCC)Kelley Krogman • Josh Lyra • Ashley Hammett Mic Drop Session: Effective Leadership Strategies Riverview (MCC)Jennifer Harper • Justin Swope SHIFTing from Surviving to Thriving Neosho (MCC)Dr. Brandy Howell • Jennifer Spriggs

11:30am CDT

Own It! Accountability in Instruction Caraway I-III (SCC)Dr. Dondre Harris Right-Sizing Assessment: From Scores to Strategy Salon B (M)Chrissy McNabb • Hope Worsham Beyond Compliance: Measuring the Impact of Federal Dollars Izard (SCC)Christine Harrell • Amy Robson Hidden Savings in Sick Leave and PTO Payouts Salon C (M)Bruce Nelson • Jon Collins Transparency vs. Confidentiality: Navigating Executive Sessions and Personnel Records in Arkansas Schools Conway (MCC)Shasta Wagner Be the Change! Offer a K-12 virtual option. Ouachita (MCC)Tammy Manning • Brandi Williams • Krystle Summers Farmland & Forest as an Immersive Learning Environment Grampas (MCC)Sheena Moses • Dr. Julie Williams • Meredith Hendricks From Vision to Impact: How a Rural School Built a Life-Ready Ecosystem Pope (SCC)Justin Neel Generations at Work: Strategies for Recruiting, Retaining, and Uniting Your School Team Arkansas Ballroom (M)Sarah George • Dr. Mark Gotcher Military Career Awareness: Access for Students Hoffman (M)John Ashworth Strength in Schools. Success in Children. Salon A (M)Shane Patrick • Amy Carter • Joe McClung The Kindergarten Readiness Crisis: What School Leaders Can Do Before Children Arrive Riverview (MCC)Mark Lewis • Kristen Weatherall • Dr. Dayna Lewis Tunnel Vision: Changing Education One Child at a Time!! Neosho (MCC)Alex Peterson • Brooklyn Graves Enhancing Communication Through Improv Miller (SCC)Charles Warren From Surviving to Thriving: Reimagining School Culture with the DILTS Nested Levels of Learning White Oak (MCC)Christie Cremo Future-Proofing Your Pipeline: The Paid Residency Blueprint Harris Brake (MCC)Dr Jeremy Owoh • Dr. Jermall Wright • Rachel Eells Operationalizing RTI: Aligning PLCs, Scheduling, and Student Needs Fulton (SCC)Callie Sanchez • Danielle Renfroe • Joe Herrington School Based Intervention Team (SBIT) Come To The Table! Chicot (MCC)Barbara Kirkpatrick • Philip Alderman • Tabitha Turner • Londria King Turning Leadership Vision into Measurable School Impact Manning (M)Dr. Bethanie Hale Lunch Available and Visit Exhibitors Governor's Halls I-IV (SCC)

12:20pm CDT

DESE Educator Effectiveness & Licensure Updates Salon A (M)Brandie Benton Is Your System Making an Impact? Manning (M)Dr. Julie Workman • Jacob Sisson Scaling the Seal of Biliteracy: A Step-by-Step Guide to the State and Global Application Process Neosho (MCC)Chip Greenwell • Adrienne Cooke Building Safer Schools Together Chicot (MCC)Eric King Creating the Digital Ghost Salon C (M)Johnny Ramsey Hiring Is Only the Beginning: Retaining Educators in Arkansas Public Schools Conway (MCC)Amy Manley Raising the Rigor: How Sheridan School District Uses CFAs Salon B (M)Dr. Dave Maddock • Dr. Missy Walley Building Success Beyond the School Day: How Searcy School District Designed and Implemented High-Impact After-School Tutoring White Oak (MCC)Brandi Hardcastle • Bethany Philpot • Heather Franks • Dr. Bobby Hart • Dr. Rich O'Connell Digital Citizenship Playbook: Helping Students Make Tech Work for Them Drew (SCC)Adam Brooks • Matthew Cyr Unlocking Learning: An Introduction to the Science of Learning Ouachita (MCC)Jill Heard • Rebecca Mills • Justin Howell • Brooke Suyal Best Year Yet- Leading Successfully Through Change Riverview (MCC)Dr. Dawn Childress Built of T.H.A.T. Fulton (SCC)Dr. Micheal Stone Energy, Identity, and Change: Leading Adults to Transform Student Outcomes Caraway I-III (SCC)Chrissy McNabb • Dr. Kelly Hankins Every Problem is a Leadership Problem: Own the Solution or Own the Failure Arkansas Ballroom (M)Dr. Doug Adams Fiscal Leadership: Mastering the "Buckets" of School and District Finance Izard (SCC)Dr. Mickey McFetridge From Absent to Present: Building a Collaborative Culture using Technology to Combat Chronic Absenteeism and Increase Student Achievement Harris Brake (MCC)Dr. Roger C. Guevara • Dr. James Gibbens Helena-West Helena: From Failing to Successful Hoffman (M)Dr. Xavier M. Hodo, Sr. • Dr. John M. West, Jr. Teacher-Centered Leadership: Practical Strategies for Culture Building Pope (SCC)Dr. Michelle Miller The Art of the Controlled Meeting Miller (SCC)Charles Warren We Know the Why and What of a PLC, But the Difference Is in the How Grampas (MCC)Justin Rasnick

1:20pm CDT

Durable Skills for CTE Pathways - What Does This Mean For My District? Yell I-II (SCC)Shantele Raper • Ross White Every Great Middle School Has a Story Worth Telling Manning (M)Dr. Lynn Faught • Justin Smith • JD Coursey • Stephanie Anderson Lighting the Way: Renaissance Intelligence for Unified Curriculum, Instruction, and Data Salon B (M)Dr. Dave Maddock Rigor on Demand: Micro-Challenges That Make Kids Think Neosho (MCC)Adam Robison Partnering for Success: State Classroom Inspections & Support Chicot (MCC)Raymond Reynolds • Travis Spence Critical Conversations Conway (MCC)Tanya Sharp Newcomers: A Year in the Life of a Federal Coordinator and Getting the Best ROI of Your Funding Dollars Izard (SCC)Susan Gilley • Christine Harrell • Marcy Dugger The Invisible Decisions: How School Business Choices Quietly Shape Student Outcomes During Declining Enrollment Miller (SCC)Ashten Black • Pam McCammon Keeping Kids Safe in Our AI World Pope (SCC)Dr. Robin Finley Adding It All Up: The Administrator’s Guide to Accelerated Math Grampas (MCC)Charles Lee • Dustin Seaton • Erin McCain Every Arkansas Student Deserves a Military Pathway White Oak (MCC)AR Army National Guard "D4" Ways To Deescalate Conflict Harris Brake (MCC)Mr. Stacy DeFoor • Stephanie DeFoor Merit Pay in Mena: Development of an In-District System Arkansas Ballroom (M)Dr. Lee Smith • Bridget Buckley Own Your Growth. Fuel Student Success: Creating Meaningful Access in High School Hoffman (M)Sarah Merayo • Lisa Overstreet Recharging the Evaluation Process for Growth Salon A (M)Amy Gayle, NIET The Leadership Balancing Act: Where Hard Work Meets Heart Work Riverview (MCC)Mark Lewis • Shavon Jackson • Nancy Madison Thriving in Tough Moments: Tools for Navigating Conflict Salon C (M)Dana Lamb Vision to Impact: Igniting Leadership from Within Caraway I-III (SCC)Dr. Marcia Smith • Christy L. Smith What Every District Leader Should Ask Their Technology Director to Protect Students and District Assets Drew (SCC)Ray Girdler When School Boards Disagree: Arkansas Data and Practical Strategies for District Leaders Ouachita (MCC)Dr. Matthew White • Dr. Rick Gales You Need to Calm Down: Staying Professional When Advocates & Attorneys Enter the Room (Repeat) Fulton (SCC)Natalie Gosdin • Haley Hatch

2:20pm CDT

Visit Exhibitors Governor's Halls I-IV (SCC) Table Talk: Grow Your Own: Building Leaders Who Stay, Lead, and Deliver Governor's Hall I - Table 4Andrew Sills Table Talk: Lead From Any Seat: Creating Impact Without a Title Governor's Hall IV - Table 3Brad Coffman Table Talk: Navigating Today's School Board Dynamics Governor's Hall III - Table 5Dr. Bryan Duffie Table Talk: That's CAP! Building Consistency, Accountability, and Practice Governor's Hall I - Table 1Marcus Jones

2:50pm CDT

Durable Skills for CTE Pathways - What Does This Mean For My District? (Repeat) Yell I-II (SCC)Shantele Raper • Ross White Unlock the Full Potential of Your School Facilities Chicot (MCC)Raymond Reynolds • Mike Mertens HR Basics for Principals & Supervisors Conway (MCC)Chris Davis Mastering the Maze: Navigating FOIA and Legal Requests, Technical Strategy Meets Legal Compliance (Repeat) Drew (SCC)Paul Miller • Kendra Clay Newcomers: A Year in the Life of a Federal Coordinator and Getting the Best ROI of Your Funding Dollars (Repeat) Izard (SCC)Susan Gilley • Christine Harrell • Marcy Dugger The Invisible Decisions: How School Business Choices Quietly Shape Student Outcomes During Declining Enrollment (Repeat) Miller (SCC)Ashten Black • Pam McCammon AI Showcase: Highlighting Different AI Platforms Pope (SCC)Dr. Robin Finley Adding It All Up: The Administrator’s Guide to Accelerated Math (Repeat) Grampas (MCC)Charles Lee • Dustin Seaton • Erin McCain Building Instructional Systems That Drive Student Growth Hoffman (M)DarShauna Shepherd Leading District Improvement Salon B (M)Hope Worsham • Brooke McCain Let 'Em Know: Old School Skills for New School Challenges Manning (M)Dr. Dondre Harris • Preston Echols Merit Pay in Mena: Development of an In-District System (Repeat) Arkansas Ballroom (M)Dr. Lee Smith • Bridget Buckley Read the Room, Lead the Room: Unlocking the Hidden Language of Communication Neosho (MCC)Judy Pennington • Sarah Monfee Recharging the Evaluation Process for Growth Salon A (M)Amy Gayle, NIET Signaling Change: AI and School Communication Salon C (M)Greg Turchetta Teachers to Troops White Oak (MCC)AR Army National Guard The Leadership Balancing Act: Where Hard Work Meets Heart Work (Repeat) Riverview (MCC)Mark Lewis • Shavon Jackson • Nancy Madison Tiers to Distinction: Building Support for All Teachers Ouachita (MCC)Mr. John Unger • Andrea Ward Vision to Impact: Igniting Leadership from Within (Repeat) Caraway I-III (SCC)Dr. Marcia Smith • Christy L. Smith Wired for Success: Building Executive Function Skills to Boost Learning and Belonging Harris Brake (MCC)Megan Strain • Courtney Gunter You Need to Calm Down: Staying Professional When Advocates & Attorneys Enter the Room (Repeat) Fulton (SCC)Natalie Gosdin • Haley Hatch

5:00pm CDT

American Fidelity After-Hours Brewski's Pub & Grub