2026 AAEA Summer Conference: Full Schedule

10:15am CDT

Crisis Communications when Minutes Matter

Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

Limited Capacity seats available

In this session, Springdale School District's district leadership and communications director will present effective strategies to communicate with all stakeholders when significant events occur in a school or district. Participants will receive tools they can use when crisis events occur so leaders do not have to start from scratch while under significant pressure to act.

Speakers

Dr. Jared Cleveland

Superintendent, Springdale Public Schools

Looking forward to the conference!

Trent Jones

Director of Communications and Community Engagement, Springdale School District

Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Arkansas Ballroom (M)

Transformational Leadership, Breakout Session 1

Company AASA

1:20pm CDT

Merit Pay in Mena: Development of an In-District System

LIMITED

Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:20pm - 2:20pm CDT

Arkansas Ballroom (M)

Limited Capacity seats available

Learn about the development of an in-house merit pay system with connections to instruction, professional growth, and VAM. Mena School District is thinking and working outside the box with educator growth, recruitment, and retention, all while maintaining a focus on student growth and outcomes.

Speakers

Dr. Lee Smith

Superintendent, Mena Public Schools

Dr. Lee Smith is the Superintendent of Mena Public Schools in Arkansas, where he leads with a mission to deinstitutionalize public education and create human-centered systems that empower students and educators alike. With nearly three decades of experience spanning classroom instruction... Read More →