2026 AAEA Summer Conference

The Arkansas LEARNS Act has placed clear expectations on districts to establish Behavioral Threat Assessment teams and procedures. While many schools have taken the necessary steps toward compliance, questions remain about consistency, documentation, communication and, most importantly, liability. This session is designed for school administrators who want to ensure their district is not only compliant on paper, but also operating in a way that strengthens student and staff safety while reducing institutional risk. Participants will gain practical guidance on aligning policies and procedures with LEARNS Act requirements, building defensible documentation systems, and creating clear internal protocols. Participants will examine how gaps in process, inconsistent documentation, or unclear roles can increase vulnerability, and how to proactively close those gaps. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to move from minimal compliance to confident implementation, creating systems that protect students, support staff, and demonstrate due diligence.

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.

This session will focus on how empowering teacher leaders and elevating teacher voice can strengthen school culture and drive meaningful, sustainable change. Participants will explore practical structures for incorporating teacher leadership into goal setting, decision-making, and the implementation of new initiatives. The presentation will highlight real-world strategies for building trust, increasing staff ownership, and aligning campus goals with classroom realities. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to create a collaborative leadership model that supports innovation while maintaining a strong, positive school culture.

Artificial intelligence, social media, and rapidly evolving digital platforms are reshaping the online environments where students learn, communicate, and socialize. This session equips school administrators with the knowledge and tools needed to help protect students and staff in today’s complex digital landscape. Participants will explore how child and adolescent brain development influences online behavior and risk-taking, while examining emerging threats, including dangerous apps, AI deepfakes, AI companion bots, gaming risks, cell phone misuse, and sextortion.

What are the unique features of several of the popular AI platforms? This session reviews practical AI tools that support lesson planning, curriculum design, grading, and student engagement. Participants will explore platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, MagicSchool, Eduaide, Knowt, Brisk, Curipod, and more, if time allows. Participants will consider AI policies and Arkansas ACT 754 regarding student use and data privacy requirements.

This session outlines processes for school safety and how SROs are involved. Participants will work through safety, discipline, and search and seizure.

This session covers how to build an interactive HUB to communicate with staff that building principals can use to save time and their sanity!