2026 AAEA Summer Conference: Full Schedule

11:30am CDT

Be the Change! Offer a K-12 virtual option.

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT

Limited Capacity seats available

A virtual campus option that assists districts in retaining students, expands learning opportunities, offers flexible learning pathways, and strengthens public education.

Speakers

Tammy Manning

K-12 Principal, Virtual Academy at the River

I serve as the Administrator of the Virtual Academy, and we are excited to be entering our sixth year of providing high-quality virtual instruction and curriculum. The Virtual Academy partners with school districts across Arkansas to offer flexible learning solutions that meet the... Read More →

Brandi Williams

Instructional Coach, Virtual Academy at the River

Krystle Summers

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT
Ouachita (MCC)

Redesigning Learning, Breakout Session 2

11:30am CDT

Farmland & Forest as an Immersive Learning Environment

LIMITED

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT

Grampas (MCC)

Limited Capacity seats available

The new Woodland Junior High School in Fayetteville is being designed as a next-generation model for sustainable and wellness-focused school construction. Through thoughtful architecture, natural materials, abundant daylight, and strong connections to outdoor learning environments, the campus prioritizes the emotional well-being, health, and academic success of adolescents.

The project is pursuing WELL Building Standard certification, placing student mental and physical wellness at the center of the design, while also incorporating sustainable construction strategies that reduce environmental impact and create healthier learning spaces.

This presentation explores how Woodland Junior High’s integrated approach to sustainability, wellness, and educational design can serve as a replicable model for school districts seeking to build environments that support both student well-being and environmental responsibility.

Speakers

Meredith Hendricks

Vice President - Sustainability, Entegrity

Meredith Hendricks is a leader in the realm of sustainability and buildings and her passion for improving the built environment has shaped clients’ corporate policies and decision making at the highest level. As Vice President of Sustainability for Entegrity, Meredith leads the... Read More →

Dr. Julie Williams

Deputy Superintendent, Fayetteville Public Schools

Dr. Williams has dedicated 36 years to public education, building a career defined by unwavering commitment, compassionate leadership, and a deep belief in the transformative power of schools. Throughout her tenure, she has been a tireless advocate for marginalized students, working... Read More →

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT
Grampas (MCC)

Redesigning Learning, Breakout Session 2

11:30am CDT

From Vision to Impact: How a Rural School Built a Life-Ready Ecosystem

LIMITED

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT

Pope (SCC)

Limited Capacity seats available

Rural schools often have big visions but limited resources. This session will highlight how Caddo Academy transformed its “Warpath to Excellence” vision into real opportunities for students through career pathways, community partnerships, student leadership programs, and innovative culture systems. Participants will learn practical strategies to build a Life-Ready school culture that connects academics, workforce skills, and community engagement while creating measurable impact for students.

Speakers

Justin Neel

Principal, Caddo Academy

Passionate and excited lead learner focused on bringing the real world into the classroom. I believe that strong community engagement fosters opportunities for student-focused learning.

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT
Pope (SCC)

Redesigning Learning, Breakout Session 2

11:30am CDT

Generations at Work: Strategies for Recruiting, Retaining, and Uniting Your School Team

LIMITED

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT

Arkansas Ballroom (M)

Limited Capacity seats available

Recruiting and retaining a multigenerational staff starts with recognizing that each age group defines a “great place to work” differently. School and district teams today include brand‑new teachers, seasoned veterans, and everyone in between—a mix that becomes a real strength when leaders know how to harness it.

In this session, we will examine what attracts and keeps educators from different generations—an essential piece of today’s staffing puzzle. We will help you make sense of generational differences in a way that’s practical and relatable. You’ll explore what motivates each group, why certain communication styles clash, and how to turn those differences into opportunities for stronger teamwork. Finally, we’ll dig into everyday strategies for fostering collaboration so staff can work together more smoothly across PLCs, grade levels, and leadership teams.

Speakers

Dr. Mark Gotcher

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT
Arkansas Ballroom (M)

Redesigning Learning, Breakout Session 2

11:30am CDT

Military Career Awareness: Access for Students

LIMITED

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT

Hoffman (M)

Limited Capacity seats available

Many states, including Arkansas, offer robust career pathways for students, yet military pathways are often underrepresented, leaving large numbers of learners without meaningful exposure to military career options, requirements, awareness, and opportunities. While JROTC is an outstanding program, it reaches a limited share of schools, creating an access gap that disproportionately impacts rural and smaller districts.

In this session, participants will learn how Arkansas created a statewide, online military pathway designed to be accessible to any high school student regardless of whether their local campus offers JROTC.

Participants will leave with a practical blueprint for how to provide access to the Arkansas Military Service and Security Pathway, including using their own local teacher.

Speakers

John Ashworth

Executive Director & Superintendent, Virtual Arkansas

Mr. John Ashworth is the Superintendent and Executive Director of Virtual Arkansas, the Arkansas state virtual program, providing supplemental online course options to Arkansas schools. Mr. Ashworth spent eight years as a secondary science teacher and seven years as a building-level... Read More →

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT
Hoffman (M)

Redesigning Learning, Breakout Session 2

11:30am CDT

Strength in Schools. Success in Children.

LIMITED

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT

Salon A (M)

Limited Capacity seats available

The Siloam Springs School District has spent the better part of the last two years bringing the vision of neighborhood schools to life in order to impact our student's education experience in a positive way. During this session the SSSD administration will discuss the journey in transitioning to a neighborhood school model and the lessons learned through rethinking grade configurations, curriculum alignment, managing facilities, and more.

Speakers

Shane Patrick

Superintendent, Siloam Springs School District

Amy Carter

Assistant Superintendent, Siloam Springs School District

Joe McClung

Assistant Superintendent, Siloam Springs School Distirct

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT
Salon A (M)

Redesigning Learning, Breakout Session 2

11:30am CDT

The Kindergarten Readiness Crisis: What School Leaders Can Do Before Children Arrive

LIMITED

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT

Riverview (MCC)

Limited Capacity seats available

Kindergarten teachers across the country are seeing the same challenge: more children are arriving at school without the language, self-regulation, and early learning foundations needed to succeed. The truth is, the readiness gap begins years before a child ever walks into a kindergarten classroom.

This session will explore how school leaders can strengthen kindergarten readiness by partnering with the early childhood programs already serving their communities. Participants will learn how collaboration with child care providers, preschool programs, and families can support stronger transitions to kindergarten, improve early literacy outcomes, and ultimately impact long-term student success.

If we want to see real impact in kindergarten, our vision must begin in the birth-to-five years.

Presider

Mark Lewis

Conway Public Schools (Retired)

Speakers

Kristen Weatherall

Local Lead Captain, Arch Ford

Kristen Weatherall, MSE, is an Early Childhood Local Lead with Arch Ford Education Service Cooperative, serving as an extension of the Office of Early Childhood. A licensed administrator with a background in educational leadership, Kristen supports schools and early childhood programs... Read More →

Dr. Dayna Lewis

Local Lead, Conway Public Schools

Dr. Dayna Lewis is bringing her extensive experience and dedication to early childhood education in her role as the Faulkner County Local Lead Captain. With over 30 years in education, including leadership positions that earned her school National Blue Ribbon distinctions in 2018... Read More →

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT
Riverview (MCC)

Redesigning Learning, Breakout Session 2

11:30am CDT

Tunnel Vision: Changing Education One Child at a Time!!

LIMITED

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT

Neosho (MCC)

Limited Capacity seats available

Being the change in education to ensure each child is set up for success by getting the education they need and deserve. In the El Dorado School District and with the El Dorado PROMISE, we believe every child deserves a quality education. We will take a look at what we are doing that is working or expected to work in education now and in the future. Will it be enough to sustain growth and achievement for all students?

Speakers

Alex Peterson

School Counselor, Hugh Goodwin

Brooklyn Graves

Instructional Facilitator, Hugh Goodwin

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT
Neosho (MCC)

Redesigning Learning, Breakout Session 2

12:20pm CDT

Building Success Beyond the School Day: How Searcy School District Designed and Implemented High-Impact After-School Tutoring

LIMITED

Tuesday July 28, 2026 12:20pm - 1:05pm CDT

White Oak (MCC)

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will highlight how administrators in the Searcy School District successfully designed, built, and implemented after-school tutoring programs as a Tier III Response to Intervention (RTI) support for students requiring intensive academic assistance. Participants will gain insight into the systems, structures, and leadership decisions that made the program effective and sustainable.

The session will explore both quantitative and qualitative evidence of success, including measurable student growth and stakeholder feedback. Additionally, attendees will learn how district leaders developed strong partnerships with staff, families, and community stakeholders to ensure consistent participation and long-term impact.

Speakers

Heather Franks

Principal, Searcy School District

Dr. Bobby Hart

Superintendent, Searcy SD

Bethany Philpot

Principal, Searcy Public School

Dr. Rich O'Connell

Tuesday July 28, 2026 12:20pm - 1:05pm CDT
White Oak (MCC)

Redesigning Learning, Breakout Session 3

12:20pm CDT

Digital Citizenship Playbook: Helping Students Make Tech Work for Them

LIMITED

Tuesday July 28, 2026 12:20pm - 1:05pm CDT

Drew (SCC)

Limited Capacity seats available

As technology transforms classrooms and childhood at lightning speed, educators face a growing challenge: how do we help students use technology responsibly, creatively, and critically - not just safely? This session explores how schools and families can work together to foster true digital citizenship in a time shaped by AI, social media, and constant connectivity. Drawing from real data and insights from Bark's work with schools nationwide, this session highlights key items to include in any online safety plan to empower students with practical digital skills.

Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for:

- Modeling healthy tech behavior in the classroom
- Balancing conversations around tech as a tool in the classroom
- Building digital resilience and emotional regulation skills
- Engaging families as partners in shaping healthy tech habits

Grounded in both research and lived experiences from today's schools, this session helps educators see digital skills as a key element for postsecondary success.

Speakers

Adam Brooks

Program Coordinator, Bark

Adam Brooks has spent over a decade as a teacher, a special education facilitator, a college professor, and business consultant. Over the past 5 years alone, Adam has spoken to more than 32,000 students and trained over 62 nonprofit organizations, including 15,000 managers and educators... Read More →

Sponsors

Matthew Cyr

Bark

Tuesday July 28, 2026 12:20pm - 1:05pm CDT
Drew (SCC)

Redesigning Learning, Breakout Session 3

12:20pm CDT

Unlocking Learning: An Introduction to the Science of Learning

LIMITED

Tuesday July 28, 2026 12:20pm - 1:05pm CDT

Ouachita (MCC)

Limited Capacity seats available

How can thoughtful instructional design improve student learning outcomes?
This session provides an overview of the Science of Learning and explores how research-
based instructional decisions can strengthen student understanding, retention, and transfer of knowledge. Participants will examine key terms, foundational research, and the cognitive
principles that inform effective teaching practices.

Speakers

Jill Heard

Virtual Arkansas

Rebecca Mills

Curriculum and Instruction Specialist, Virtual Arkansas

Justin Howell

Science Design Specialist, Virtual Arkansas

Brooke Suyal

Implementation Specialist, Virtual Arkansas

Brooke Suyal is an Implementation Specialist at Virtual Arkansas with over nine years of experience in online learning, specializing in instructional design. At Virtual Arkansas, Brooke has designed and developed numerous courses and project-managed the creation of key programs, including... Read More →

Tuesday July 28, 2026 12:20pm - 1:05pm CDT
Ouachita (MCC)

Redesigning Learning, Breakout Session 3

1:20pm CDT

Adding It All Up: The Administrator’s Guide to Accelerated Math

LIMITED

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

Grampas (MCC)

Limited Capacity seats available

Join Rogers Public School District Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Mr. Charles Lee, Director of Advanced Programs Mr. Dustin Seaton, and District Math Specialist Erin McCain as they present their district's plan for middle school math acceleration. Learn how to accelerate students the right way—without skipping essential "power" standards—while ensuring data is at the heart of every decision made.

Speakers

Charles Lee

Assistant Superintendent, Rogers Public Schools

I am an Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education at Rogers Public Schools. We are currently working on accelerated learning opportunities and the Cambridge International program at our secondary schools. I have been in education in Arkansas for 37 years serving at Assistant... Read More →

Dustin Seaton

Director of Advanced Programs, Rogers Public Schools

Dustin Seaton (Ed.S., Arkansas Tech University) is the Director of Advanced Programs at Rogers Public Schools, and previously held the position of Gifted & Talented Specialist at Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative from 2017 to 2023, where he organized program options for 16 public s... Read More →

Erin McCain

Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:20pm - 2:20pm CDT
Grampas (MCC)

Redesigning Learning, Breakout Session 4

Company AAGEA

2:50pm CDT

Adding It All Up: The Administrator’s Guide to Accelerated Math (Repeat)

LIMITED

Tuesday July 28, 2026 2:50pm - 3:50pm CDT

Grampas (MCC)

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Charles Lee

Assistant Superintendent, Rogers Public Schools

Dustin Seaton

Director of Advanced Programs, Rogers Public Schools

Erin McCain

Tuesday July 28, 2026 2:50pm - 3:50pm CDT
Grampas (MCC)

Redesigning Learning, Breakout Session 5

Company AAGEA

8:15am CDT

Navigating the Ship from Middle School to High School

LIMITED

Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am CDT

Manning (M)

Limited Capacity seats available

The waters of young adolescence have grown increasingly turbulent. Between the "Great Rewiring" of childhood and the shifting social dynamics of the digital age, educators and leaders are often left wondering how to steady the ship. This session dives deep into the heart of the modern youth experience, using two of the most influential works of our time as our navigational stars. We will begin by exploring the "why" behind the current mental health crisis using Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation. Haidt's research illuminates how the shift from play-based childhood to phone-based childhood has created a "Great Rewiring," leaving many young adolescents adrift in an epidemic of anxiety and isolation. Understanding this landscape is the first step in helping our students find their way back to solid ground. However, diagnosing the problem is only half the battle. To provide a way forward, we turn to David Yeager's 10 to 25. Yeager offers a groundbreaking, science-backed approach to leadership that moves away from the "nagging" or "compliance" models of the past. Instead, we will learn how to tap into the natural neurobiological drives of the adolescent brain, specifically the need for status and respect, to foster resilience, motivation, and genuine connection.

Presider

David Yates

Elkins School District

Speakers

Dr. Lynn Faught

Stephanie Anderson

Assistant Principal, Fayetteville Public Schools

Hello,

I have been a proud Arkansas Educator for 30 years. I have been involved with Arkansas Schools to Watch since 2008, and currently serve as Arkansas State Co-Director. Becoming an Arkansas School to Watch offers numerous benefits, including national recognition, access to best practices... Read More →

Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am CDT
Manning (M)

Redesigning Learning, Breakout Session 6

Company AAMLA

8:15am CDT

Path to Purpose: Empowering At-Risk Youth through Innovative Education and Whole Child Healing

LIMITED

Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am CDT

Hoffman (M)

Limited Capacity seats available

This session highlights the transformation of DYS education from non-standardized instructional models to a structured, accountability-driven system in which adjudicated youth now meet—and often exceed—academic growth expectations.
Participants will gain an inside look at DYS operations and educational practices, including:
• How youth enter custody and the average duration of placement.
• Integration of Virtual Arkansas and vocational programming within restrictive environments.
• Coordinating academics, behavior intervention, mental health services, and special education simultaneously.
• Breaking misconceptions about DYS students and building collaborative Education, Behavior, and Wellness plans aligned with DESE standards.

Speakers

Cindy L. Willis

Education Superintendent, Division of Youth Services

Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am CDT
Hoffman (M)

Redesigning Learning, Breakout Session 6

8:15am CDT

Updates From DCTE for 2026-2027

LIMITED

Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am CDT

Yell I-II (SCC)

Limited Capacity seats available

A review of the 2026-2027 CTE Pathway Guide and other news from DCTE.

Presider

Jennifer Turner

CTE Coordinator, Guy Fenter Education Service Cooperative

Career and Technical Education is my specialty!

Speakers

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 →

Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am CDT
Yell I-II (SCC)

Redesigning Learning, Breakout Session 6

Company AACTEA

8:15am CDT

What Do Arch Ford's Highest VAM Score Teachers Do Differently?

LIMITED

Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am CDT

Caraway I-III (SCC)

Limited Capacity seats available

What do the teachers with the highest VAM scores across the Arch Ford region have in common? In this session, we’ll share key findings from a regional study conducted in partnership with UCA examining the instructional practices of teachers whose students demonstrate the highest levels of growth in math, ELA, and science. We’ll explore how these teachers are using high-quality instructional materials (HQIM), the instructional routines and supports they prioritize, and the leadership practices that help them succeed. Perhaps most importantly, participants will discuss what these insights mean for their own schools and identify practical strategies administrators can replicate to support teacher effectiveness and accelerate student growth.

Speakers