C.R. Crawford

ASBA is seeking breakout session proposals from school personnel, school board members and organizations who have a focus on topics of critical interest to board members and administrators.

The goal is for all participants to leave the event motivated and empowered with new ideas, information, and skills that will help improve outcomes for students.

Anyone with a great story to tell or information that would help board members succeed is invited to submit a presentation proposal. Presentations will be scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 7, and Thursday, Dec. 8. Sessions will be 60 minutes in length.

Proposals may be submitted at https:// www.surveymonkey.com/r/studentfocused2022. The deadline to submit is Oct. 14. Final selections will be made Oct. 28.

Presentations should meet the following criteria: • Targets board members as the primary audience • Engages the audience in meaningful ways

ASBA seeking presenters at Annual Conference

Nabholz...................Back Cover WER Architects/Planners. ........2 Johnson Controls....................3 Chartwells...........................5 Baldwin & Shell. ....................7 Modus Studio.........................8 C.R. Crawford........................9 Musco Lighting.....................11 French Architects.................13 Southern Tire Mart.................15 Entegrity............................17 TIPS..................................19 Stephens Inc....................20-21 Architecture Plus..................23 Hight Jackson......................25 Homeland Safety Systems........27 BXS Insurance......................29 SchoolEats..........................31 American Fidelity..................33 All-Clean ............................37 ARBUY...............................39

• Demonstrates innovative ideas and solutions • Enhances the knowledge, skills, and abilities of board members with an emphasis on leadership practices and/or improving student outcomes • Shares information about promising strategies and practices that can be replicated by other districts of all sizes • Provides solid, practical, how-to information, and tips that board members can take back and apply at the board table • Preference will be given to those that include a school board member as a participant in the presentation

Session proposals must be submitted under one of the following categories: • Student Achievement. Presentations will center around the implementation of unique practices that have a positive impact on student achievement. This track offers an opportunity for districts to celebrate their successes with a “We did it and so can you” approach. • Governance and Leadership. This category includes facets of board leadership and governance principles including topics such as advocating, leading, governing, planning, evaluating, communicating, and acting ethically. • Advocacy. This category focuses on how advocacy makes a difference in the community and in the legislative process. Attendees will learn to become more effective advocates for public education as well as how to organize at the grassroots and legislative levels. • Technology. This category includes information that demonstrates how a district can best utilize technology in learning and administration/leadership. • Finance. Sessions in this category will show how districts allocate resources to support their mission and goals. This track can include solutions for better budgeting, financial issues affecting

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ASBA News and notes

McFatridge a ‘one-of-a-kind individual’

Longtime Turrell superintendent, ASBA TIPS representative passes at age 80. Son says he ‘knew everybody.’

Mickey McFatridge spent the first half of his career working as an educator and the last half supporting educators.

The retired Turrell and Parkin superintendent and Arkansas School Boards Association TIPS representative died June 24 at the age of 80.

He was a fixture at ASBA events, usually with wife Carolyn at his side.

“Mickey McFatridge was a one-ofa-kind individual,” said ASBA Executive Director Dr. Tony Prothro. “His work and life’s focus was to better the educational experience. He was able to accomplish this goal through his tireless efforts and exceptional character traits.”

Prothro continued, “Mickey was one of those individuals who spoke the truth and always treated others in the way he wanted to be treated. His morals and character were admired by all. Mickey and his wife, Carolyn, were an insepa- versity of Central Arkansas. He played rable team. They were an inspiration to a semi-pro basketball after graduating whole generation of educators, vendors, from UCA. and anyone who came in contact with After graduating with his bachelor’s them.” of science in education degree in August

The two were married on March 27, 1964, Mickey started his educational ca1964, and stayed together 58 years. reer at Marion as a social studies teacher Their son, Mark McFatridge, said and junior high coach of all sports. He Carolyn had been spending time with became a senior high coach for all sports a newly born grandson and was doing and a P.E. teacher in 1966. In 1971, he well. took on an additional role as dean of

Mickey, whose given name was students. Mahlon Maxie McFatridge, was born in He then moved to Turrell, where he Bassett on May 9, 1942. It was a cold served as high school principal from day, so he was placed in an oven to keep 1973 to 1975 and then superintendent warm. He grew up on a farm with his from 1975 to 1998. Carolyn was the parents, sisters and paternal grandpar- high school secretary. After Mickey ents. retired from Turrell, he worked from

He graduated from Shawnee High July 1998 until August 1999 with the School in Joiner, which is now part of Great Rivers Educational Co-operative. the South Mississippi County School He then served as superintendent of the District, where he played basketball and Parkin School District from September football and participated on the track 1999 until June 2002. team. The six-foot-eight-inch center “That’s kind of where his heart was, earned a scholarship to play basketball in education, and all of the kids were for Arkansas State Junior College, now his,” Mark said. Arkansas State University Beebe, and Mickey began working with ASBA then after two years played for Arkansas as a legislative liaison in October 2002. State Teachers College, now the Uni- He worked with the TIPS program from 2004 until the fall of 2021, eventually becoming the program director for Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. Carolyn often accompanied him on his trips. The two enjoyed visiting antique shops in their travels. “There was nobody that he didn’t know,” Mark said. “He knew everybody, it seemed like. … No matter where we went, we ran into somebody that he knew or that knew him.” The two had three children. Daughter Beth Marter, a retired advanced practice nurse, was followed by sons Michael and Mark, a nurse anesthetist. Mickey and Carolyn raised the family attending church on Sunday mornings and evenings and Wednesday nights. He served as an ordained deacon, Sunday school teacher and choir member. Michael died in an automobile accident after graduating high school in 1987. Despite their grief, Mark said his parents “never faltered.” “The way he and my mom both handled that situation, I think that is a huge testimony to their faith,” he said. The two had four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Mickey was known as “Grandpa Mickey” by one set of grandchildren and “Gaga” by the other, while Carolyn is “Grandma Carolyn” and “Nanes.” In his spare time, Mickey enjoyed lake activities at their home on Lake Thunderbird in Cherokee Village, hunting and fishing. He was a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Arkansas Razorbacks and the Arkansas State Red Wolves. While living in Paragould, he and Carolyn had season tickets for ASU football and basketball games. Mark said his dad was “Very genuine, and what you saw was what you got. There was nothing hidden about him. ... Pretty much everybody knew what he stood for.”