The Administrator Newsletter - December 2022/January 2023

AAEA Staff

Dr. Mike Hernandez

Executive Director m.hernandez@theaaea.org

Mike Mertens

Assistant Executive Director m.mertens@theaaea.org

Lenett Thrasher

Director of Learning Services & Operations l.thrasher@theaaea.org

Sharon Chuculate Fiscal Services Coordinator s.chuculate@theaaea.org

Sarah Shamburger Business Manager s.shamburger@theaaea.org

2022-2023

Calendar of Events

January

AASA Superintendent Symposium, January 10-11, 2023 DoubleTree Hotel, Little Rock

AACIA Conference, January 24, 2023 Benton Event Center, Benton

February

Tel-AR Conference, February 10, 2023 University of Central Arkansas, Conway

AASBO Conference, February 9-10, 2023 Hot Springs Convention Center

ArkASPA Conference, February 23, 2023 Wyndham Riverfront, North Little Rock April

AACTEA Conference, April 10-11, 2023 DoubleTree Hotel, Hot Springs

CASBO Certification Classes, April 11-12, 2023 Benton Event Center, Benton

ASPMA Certification Classes, TBD

Marty Smith Member Relations Manager m.smith@theaaea.org

Karen Dean

Certification Program Manager k.dean@theaaea.org

Alyse Mattox Communications & Technology Specialist a.mattox@theaaea.org

Melanie Thrasher Business Analyst m.thrasher@theaaea.org

May

ASBA/AAEA Joint Conference, May 2, 2023 Wyndham Riverfront, North Little Rock

AAFC Spring Conference, May 3-5, 2023 Hot Springs Convention Center

June

AASEA Summer Conference, June 12-13, 2023

Benton Event Center

AAEA School Law Conference, TBD July

AAEA Summer Conference, July 24-26, 2023

Marriott Hotel and Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock

For more information, visit theaaea.org/events or see Page 9.

Skipper Ward AASA President Superintendent, Magnolia

Shawn Rose AAESP President-Elect Principal, Hillcrest

AASSP Past President Principal, Western Yell County

AASBO President Business Manager/District Treasurer, Hector

Dr. Andrea Martin AASA President-Elect Superintendent, Greenland

Board of Directors

Gifted and Talented Specialist, Ozark Unlimited Resource ESC

Dr. Karen Lasker ArkASPA President Director of Personnel, Conway

Kevin Luck AASBO Past President Business Manager, Vilonia

J.D. AAMLAKeelingPresident Principal, Dardanelle

Prestigious

Kelvin Gragg AASA Secretary AssistantPineSuperintendent, Bluff

Carol Skiba AAESP President Principal, Cabot

Mark Lewis AAESP Past President Principal, Conway

Matt Ziegler AASSP President Principal, Riverside

Dr. Karla Tarkington AASSP President-Elect Principal, Beebe

Scott Smith

Lisa AACTEAHotsenpiller President Career & Technical Administrator/Supervisor, Fayetteville

Julie Adams AAFC President Federal Programs Coordinator, DeWitt

Melody Crane

Carla Curtis AASEA President Director of Special Services, Fayetteville

Dr. Steven Weber AACIA President Assistant Superintendent, Fayetteville

MonicaAAGEASpringfield President

Aliza Jones ASPMA President (until Oct) Facilities Consortium Coordinator, Lavaca

Craig Dupuy ASPMA President (begin Oct) Superintendent, Cleveland County

Jarod Morrison Tel-AR President Director of Maintenance/ Technology, Farmington Dr. Mike Hernandez AAEA Executive Director

Executive Viewpoint

Dr. Mike Hernandez, AAEA Executive Director

Merry Legislative Session!

December has arrived! School calendars are filled with concerts, ballgames, and class parties. Your staff and parents have become super busy with shopping and family gatherings. Pretty soon, it will be Christmas, which comes with excitement and gifts! I know you have done tremendous work trying to keep high expectations of learning at school when everyone is wide-eyed and amped up about all things Christmas. Christmas music has taken over one of my favorite radio stations, B98.5. I will tune back in around January because I'm not too fond of Christmas music, but I like Christmas movies. I watch Die Hard and It's a Wonderful Life every year. We have just completed a semester of learning, and I am grateful we have done this without significant interruptions like we have dealt with in years past. It will be time to rest and enjoy your family and the holidays. Hopefully, Cousin Eddie will not be there to visit as you celebrate the season.

As you know, we will have plenty of work waiting for us when we return in January. The 94th General Assembly will convene on January 9th to take care of the business of Arkansas. We know from various news sources and social media posts that education will be a hot topic during this session. In some ways, it is good that more and more people are interested in improving student outcomes. On the other hand, problematic legislation happens when educators are not part of the conversation. Assumptions, philosophies and theory are easy to articulate and identify as solutions to problems but often fall short in the practical setting. We have several policymakers that want educators at the table when decisions are made. Our school leaders must ensure that relationships are being built now to enable communication and opportunities for feedback as a policy is crafted. We will have some that do not seek feedback and file bills that may have several issues for us as educators. We will have to work together to deal with these types of bills as they arise. Everyone comes from a place of trying to improve education, and that should be our common ground. We might not agree on every idea put out there, but communication and respect are how we work to a resolution.

We will begin our AAEA Legislative Committee meetings at AAA on January 18th. Three committees will review each bill and recommend a position to the AAEA Board for ratification. Dr. Jared Cleveland and Mrs. Jamie Stacks will chair the Finance/Facilities committee. Dr. Stephanie Nehus and Mr. Luke Lovins will chair the Curriculum/ Assessment committee. Dr. Bryan Duffie and Mr. Deric Owens will chair the Governance/Retirement committee. We are very grateful to all the committee members that have agreed to serve.

All members are welcome to attend the general meetings that will be held after committee times. The committees are scheduled to start at 1:30 pm, and the general meetings will be held at 3 pm. These times are subject to change based on when House and Senate committees set their agendas. We will have some options to zoom as we did during the last session in 2021. We have had a few pre-filed bills, and they should begin showing up on our bill tracker. Several other items of information are on our website. You can find out who your local legislative contacts are by clicking on the Menu tab and finding the heading labeled "Advocacy." Weekly reports from each committee can be found by clicking here. Most of the links require your membership login to access. If you need help logging in, contact Marty Smith at m.smith@theaaea.org or call 501-372-1691.

We have much to celebrate this season and much to look forward to in the new year. I am hopeful that the new administration of Governor-Elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders and a lot of new faces in the legislature will put students and education first as they propose policy. If education is a high priority, we all must be willing to listen and engage in the new policy ideas presented. None of us are satisfied with where we are in education and we all want to do whatever it takes to improve. My good friend Jon Laffoon recently shared this on social media. "Stay humble and learn. Don't think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow. Leaders must remain students of their work as learning and improvement go hand-in-hand." As we go into the new year and beyond, we all need this mindset.

Thank you all for a wonderful first semester and for what you do for the kids. Merry Christmas to all, and please bring back my normal B98.5!

Brian Kirkendoll, AAEA Board President

Educating and Leading with Joy

Fall decorations, cooking for Thanksgiving, Christmas decorations, and overspending on Christmas presents are some of the obligatory things we do during the holidays. Some people love decorating and preparing, while others may feel the need to do so, but do not really enjoy the events. Sitting in church recently I made a connection with our daily life in education to what Paul wrote in Thessalonians. The citizens of Thessalonica often grew weary of hard work and went about living as a daily routine causing them to live anxiously.

A connection can be made in our lives as educators as well. The recent release of school report cards has undoubtedly created anxiety and in some cases anger with school leaders. Educators are working hard all across the state of Arkansas and want to be successful academically. However, we can get so blinded by all the requirements and obligatory events that we forget the difference we can make with people. Educators are still a positive force in society and get up every day to faithfully lead our children. Just as Paul led and taught the people of Thessalonica, we can teach our students and teachers. We can still encourage the timid, test everything that is taught, avoid evil, be patient, help the weak, and support one another with joy. I hope you still have joy for what you do and find joy in the holiday season. Thank you for loving our state and its educators.

Asked & Answered

Mike Mertens, AAEA Assistant Executive Director

While "TIPS'' has been in Arkansas since 2005 as an option for public schools to use in the purchasing process, questions have increased dramatically during the "ESSER" era. Essentially, TIPS allows schools to save time and, in some cases, money without the delay and expense of developing bid documents and going through that process which can be quite lengthy.

The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) is a national purchasing cooperative that offers access to competitively procured purchasing contracts. TIPS, established in 2003, is housed at and managed by the Region 8 Education Service Center located in Pittsburg, Texas. However, TIPS has legislative authority to establish contracts for government, non-profit, and education agencies nationwide. Arkansas law allows for public schools to use a purchasing agreement established by another governmental entity (i.e. TIPS). Currently TIPS does business in all 50 states.

To become a member of TIPS, there is an application (called an Interlocal Agreement) found on the TIPS website. Membership applications are typically processed within 24 hours.

Another frequently asked question regarding TIPS is regarding purchasing goods and services using federal funds. Here's a document with information and guidance on this issue.

In closing, just a caution that it's easy for a vendor to say they are a TIPS vendor. Verify this by going to the TIPS website where they have a list of current contracts and TIPS vendors, by state. Trust but verify, right?

If you have questions for Mike, email him at m.mertens@theaaea.org .

Lung Cancer Benefits Corner

Submitted by Anna Roussel, Creative Writer, Educational Benefits

In 2019, the CDC reported that 53 new lung and bronchus cancer cases were reported for every 100,000 people in the United States. In Arkansas, 72.9 cases were reported for every 100,000 people. As the third most common cancer in the United States, it is important to take necessary steps in preventing your chances of lung cancer.

The American Cancer Society lists several possible risk factors of lung cancer, including but not limited to: tobacco smoke, secondhand smoke, and exposure to radon or asbestos. These are factors within our control, and the elimination of them in our daily lives can mean the difference between a diagnosis or healthy lungs. Other causes, such as air pollution or a family history of lung cancer, are out of our control.

When experiencing symptoms such as extreme chest pain, hoarseness, coughing up blood, and shortness of breath, the American Cancer Society encourages practicing caution and speaking with your doctor. While these symptoms can be caused by something else, it’s important to get treated for whatever is causing them right away. Get ahead of the cancer before it gets ahead of you, and start considering adding cancer insurance to your benefits package to ensure peace of mind in every circumstance.

AAEA On a Role!

Melanie Thrasher Business Analyst

Learn more about AAEA Staff and the roles they serve!

Melanie Thrasher started at AAEA during June of 2021. She contributes to the AAEA team through projects like the Beginning Administrator Induction Program and AAEA Corporate Sponsorship, as well as sending out upcoming grant opportunities, helping organize conferences, and various other duties.

Before her time at AAEA, Melanie worked as the office administrator for the North Arkansas District Church of the Nazarene. She graduated with a degree in Business Analytics from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in the spring of 2022.

Melanie says her favorite thing about working at AAEA are the opportunities to serve school administrators across our state. “It feels encouraging to be able to support the work and lives of administrators that greatly impact the education outcomes across the state,” she says. “I really enjoy the opportunities available through AAEA to participate in conferences and classes that trailblaze hot topics and technology in education. As a product of Arkansas public education, I find encouragement in being a small portion of the effort to advance the education and opportunities of Arkansas students.”

their dog, Winston. She also enjoys serving her

Administrator Spotlight: Dr. Jake Long

Superintendent, Mountain Home School District

Dr. Jake Long says he was led to a profession in education due to his own awesome educational experience. Once he started his career, he says his opportunities for leadership happened at an accelerated pace. "I taught industrial arts and coached for three years, served as a building administrator for two years, served as an assistant superintendent for two years, and I am in my eighth year as superintendent at Mountain Home Public Schools."

Dr. Long describes his favorite part about his job as "seeing the fruits of our labor in students, staff, and the community." The most challenging aspect, he says, is "the increasing academic challenges, period...COVID-19 changed everything. I don’t feel like we have any precedence for any of the battles we have faced on so many different levels: academics, student and staff wellness, teacher recruitment and retention, workforce needs, finance, and politics." Those considering a similar career should know that it's tough work, but he also believes there's never been a more critical time for leaders to step into these roles. "It amazes me what the right people in the right positions can accomplish!”

As far as his future plans, Dr. Long isn’t going anywhere, saying in five years he sees himself as the superintendent of Mountain Home Public Schools. One of his goals is to continue to extend CTE opportunities and "weave them into everything [the district does]," and perhaps one day expanding the 8-12 charter school to a K-12 charter with a workforce development focus. He says, “Our district has been on the state and national radar for decades because of our work with career academies, but I still see a lot of opportunity to really deepen our CTE focus across all grade levels. We’ve gone to a districtwide Pathways model, so we’re headed in the right direction."

with Dr. Jake Long ? ! Q&A

If you weren’t in your current position, what would you be doing?

If I wasn't in education, I would be working in healthcare.

How would your co-workers describe you?

I asked some co-workers to answer this, because I really wasn’t sure. They said they would describe me as focused, motivated, and transparent. One co-worker said that I stand up for what I believe in but I’m not closed off to the idea that other perspectives exist.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

Develop and solidify your courage, integrity, and diplomacy skills.

What might other administrators be surprised to know about you?

I became a superintendent at 31 years old. I am also a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed as a teenager.

What have you done that you are most proud of?

My wife and I have two sons, and we were not supposed to be able to have children. There’s nothing I’m more proud of than my family.

What do you enjoy doing during your time off?

Spending time with my family on our family farm.

When people look back at your life, how do you want to be remembered?

I want people to say, “he was a good Christian man.”

What do you see as the biggest benefit of AAEA membership?

Membership in this organization has been a fantastic avenue for forming relationships. Everything we do in this business is about relationships.

EVENTS

Personnel Administrators!

Register Now!

Newly Released: IRS Changed Affordability Rules for Families Compliance Connection

Employee Impacts

Marketplace affordability calculation to change

When family members apply for financial help to purchase Marketplace coverage, the affordability determination will now be based on the total cost the employee pays to cover both the employee and their family. Previously, it was based only on the cost for an employee’s own coverage. This change is effective for 2023 tax years and beyond.

Increased access to affordable family coverage options

This, together with the increased subsidies through 2025 under the Inflation Reduction Act, will increase access to affordable family health insurance on the Marketplace.

More choice brings more complexity

Employees who choose to drop employer-based family coverage in favor of Marketplace options will need to track costs under each policy separately. For example, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums apply on a per-policy basis and will not coordinate. This leads to new deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums at the

time of coverage change. Provider networks may be different, too.

Employer Impacts

ACA reporting stays the same for now

The final regulations promise that employer reporting using Forms 1095-C and 1094-C will not change. In addition, the safe harbors used to report the affordability of the lowest premium single coverage offered to employees remain the same. Employers should continue to diligently plan and prepare for 2022 ACA reporting, due in early 2023. A separate rule also recently adopted clarifies minimum value coverage must include hospital and physician services.

Expect more Marketplace employer notices

The White House estimates that nearly one million Americans may now see their coverage become more affordable. If Marketplace applications increase overall, employers should prepare for the possibility of an increase in the volume of eligibility determination notices and related administrative hassle.

Read the full article on the American Fidelity Blog

Submitted by Ginger Huff, Arkansas State Manager, American Fidelity Assurance Co.

Solar Energy: Could It Be Right For Your School? Over the Top

& Construction

Teacher compensation is critical to learning and is often a deciding factor in a school district's ability to attract and retain exceptional educators. Yet, energy costs, second only to salaries in a district's budget, often prohibit schools from increasing teachers' salaries.

Today, 1 in 10 schools in the U.S. have turned to solar energy for budget relief. This represents a threefold increase since 2015, made possible in large part because of a dramatic drop in the cost of solar energy and attractive financing options that help schools realize immediate savings.

In the last decade, the cost of solar panels has dropped 65%. Improvements in manufacturing techniques have led to lighter, more compact panels that not only require fewer materials to produce but also take less time to install. The internet has also helped reduce soft costs such as marketing and customer acquisition. Savings in manufacturing, installation, and marketing are passed on to customers.

In addition, more attractive financing options are available. Power Purchase Agreements, or PPAs, allow solar companies to finance, install, and maintain solar arrays for school districts and other tax-exempt organizations. School districts can pay the solar company for stable, low-cost electricity for no upfront cost and immediate budget relief. The Arkansas legislature passed Act 494 in 2019, paving the way for Arkansas schools to finance solar energy through PPAs.

The number of solar schools has doubled in Arkansas in the last few years. Next month, we will feature solar schools in Arkansas and across the nation that are reaping the budget benefits of improved solar technology and financing options. Until then, Coryell Roofing is more than ready to answer any additional questions you might have about solar energy for your facility. Give us a call!

A Breath of Fresh Air

Readout of

the White House Summit on Improving Indoor Air Quality

Submitted by Ashley Creviston, Protect Ed

In addition to new, updated COVID-19 vaccines and lifesaving treatments, improving indoor air quality within the buildings we use every day is an essential part of the Biden Administration’s plan to manage COVID-19 this fall and winter. As people spend more time indoors this fall and winter, contagious viruses like COVID-19 can spread more easily. The Administration has called on business and school leaders to take key steps to improve indoor air quality in their buildings as a key way to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

On October 11, the White House hosted a Summit on Improving Indoor Air Quality, bringing together public health and ventilation experts, private sector and education leaders, and other stakeholders to highlight the benefits of improved indoor air quality in mitigating the spread of COVID-19, showcase schools and businesses that are leading the way in making improvements, and underscore the importance of all building operators doing their part.

Administration officials also highlighted some additional steps we are taking to advance indoor air quality in buildings across the nation:

Encouraging businesses and organizations around the country in taking the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge: Earlier this year, the Administration launched the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge with a clear set of recommendations all building owners and operations can follow to improve indoor air quality. This Summit featured a discussion with private sector leaders representing Salesforce, Silverstein Properties, and Capital One Arena/Monumental Sports on the actions outlined within the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge they have taken to improve indoor air quality across their buildings. Additionally, the Administration launched a new website – WhiteHouse.Gov/CleanIndoorAir –where businesses and other organizations can learn more about the Challenge and pledge their commitment to improving indoor air quality in their buildings. In recognition of their commitments, those who sign up will receive a digital “badge” that they can use to share their pledge publicly with their employees, customers, and communities on social media, in their storefronts, and beyond.

Read the full release here

Submitted by Deveny Cay Wells, Editor, Coryell Roofing

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ SALARY SURVEY 2022

School Year Superintendent High School Principal Elementary Principal

1996-97 60,438 48,402 46,654

1997-98 61,444 49,603 47,826

1998-99 63,523 51,136 49,353 1999-00 66,626 53,012 51,172

2000-01 69,827 55,248 53,567

2001-02 72,647 57,808 56,079 2002-03 75,067 59,525 57,817 2003-04 77,529 61,536 59,764 2004-05 87,180 67,869 65,407

2005-06 89,755 69,117 67,147 2006-07 94,514 70,622 65,095

2007-08 96,871 71,601 66,148 2008-09 98,794 74,178 72,187

2009-10 99,734 74,251 72,940 2010-11 102,783 75,120 73,904 2011-12 104,477 75,378 74,704 2012-13 106,502 76,205 75,940 2013-14 107,910 78,049 76,555

2014-15 109,499 78,087 76,370

2015-16 111,984 79,892 78,600

2016-17 113,712 81,303 80,122

2017-18 115,635 82,190 80,570

2018-19 116,668 83,463 81,146

2019-20 119,041 84,238 82542

2020-21 121,888 85,705 83,495 2021-22 124,603 86,924 84,494 2022-23 128,432 89,005 86,258

A total of 219 school districts participated in the annual AAEA survey of salaries for school administrators and classroom teachers for the 2022-23 school year. The survey was conducted September through December. Data from 2021-22 is used for those districts that did not respond to AAEA’s request for current year data.

The average salaries for various categories of state school administrators and classroom teachers, grouped by school district size, are shown in the tables on page 16. National salary data comes from two sources: AASA (the School Superintendents Association) and NEA (National Education Association). AASA’s data on superintendent salaries represent a small sample of school districts nationwide.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ SALARY SURVEY 2022

Enrollment Superintendent Deputy/Asst. Superintendent Business Manager

High School Principal Asst. HS Principal

Above 4,000 216,086 132,766 122,147 114,451 89,895 3,000-3,999 183,031 119,298 86,662 104,604 85,459 2,000-2,999 147,184 101,201 70,641 92,570 75,580 1,000-1,999 123,553 95,495 56,946 84,942 71,403 500-999 108,632 84,070 50,205 82,124 69,100

Below 500 98,997 - 46,262 76,659 65,594

State Average 128,432 115,009 61,653 89,005 82,981

Enrollment Jr. High/ Middle Principal Elementary Principal Asst. Elem. Principal Special Ed. Supervisor Classroom Teacher

Above 4,000 99,209 94,649 80,779 99,436 58,836 3,000-3,999 92,457 87,939 75,559 93,197 53,284 2,000-2,999 87,005 86,236 70,682 83,166 50,806 1,000-1,999 81,521 80,404 68,734 75,866 48,300 500-999 80,868 77,064 67,969 70,425 47,318

Below 500 - 74,261 64,511 65,579 45,335

State Average 89,879 86,258 76,935 81,534 53,275

State Salaries compiled by AAEA Research - December 2022

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ SALARY SURVEY 2022

Superintendents

Average salary increased from $124,603 in

2021-22 to $128,432 this year.

• National median for districts less than 1,000 ADM - $125,000

• Districts 1,000-3,000 ADM - $145,000

• Districts 3,000- 5,000 ADM $172,500

• Districts 5,000- 10,000 ADM $193,757

Source: AASA Partial Survey of Districts Nationwide

Additional Information for 2022-2023

Classroom Teachers

Average salary increased from $52,452 in 2021-22 to $53,275 this year.

• National average for 2020-21 was $65,293

• Estimated national average for 2021-22 is $66,432

Source: NEA

• Average beginning hourly rate of pay for bus drivers: $20.28

• Average salary for technology coordinators: $60,351

• Average salary for federal coordinators: $81,735

• Average beginning daily rate of pay for substitute teachers: $86.47

• 77% of districts responding to the survey reported they outsourced substitute teacher services.

• 28% of districts responding to the survey reported they outsourced cafeteria services.

• 60 districts responding to the survey reported they outsourced at least a portion of custodial services.

• 52 districts responding to the survey reported offering financial incentives for recruitment/ retention of hard-to-fill positions, up from 33 last year.

• Regarding unfilled positions, districts reported the following (state totals):

• Teachers - 229

• Custodians - 152

• Bus Drivers - 210

• Food Service - 161

• Paraprofessionals - 231

Awards

John Sullivan

Certified Educational Technology Leader

TEL-AR attended a Searcy school board meeting in November and presented John Sullivan a certificate for completing the CETL certification program. The Certified Educational Technology Leader credential is the only accredited practice-based certification program available to education technology leaders that bridges technical knowledge and support resources needed to integrate technology across the curriculum. Congratulations to John and the Searcy Schools on this accomplishment!

Patricia Athey

AAESP Assistant Principal of the Year

Patricia Athey, Assistant Principal at JB Hunt Elementary School in the Springdale School District, was recently named the 2022 Arkansas Association of Elementary School Principals (AAESP) Assistant Principal of the Year. Mike Mertens, AAEA Assistant Executive Director, and Dr. Jared Cleveland, Superintendent of Springdale School District, presented Mrs. Athey with the award at her school on December 5. Congratulations, Mrs. Athey!

Jason Reeves

AASSP Assistant Principal of the Year

Jason Reeves, Assistant Principal of Alma High School in the Alma School District, was recently named the Arkansas Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) Assistant Principal of the Year. Dr. Mike Hernandez, AAEA Executive Director, and Dr. Bryan Duffie, Superintendent of Alma School District, presented Mr. Reeves with the award during a school assembly on December 6, 2022. Congratulations, Mr. Reeves!

Publication Sneak Peek: The Cutting Edge

This segment features content from other AAEA publications. The Cutting Edge is a monthly publication available to AACTEA members. The following excerpt comes from the December 2022 issue.

UA-Little Rock Receives NSA Grant for Cybersecurity

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock recently received a $800,000 grant from the National Security Agency (NSA) to expand a national cybersecurity education program for teachers, as well as develop a standardized curriculum to build pathways for cybersecurity education between high schools and colleges. Through the grant UA-Little Rock will help expand the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy (NCTA), create a free cybersecurity education course for teachers, and update guidelines used to accredit college cybersecurity programs.

The Teaching Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate prepares high school teachers to offer advanced placement courses in cybersecurity. Teachers receive instruction in a nationally recognized cybersecurity curriculum and foundational cybersecurity principles. NCTA will also work to have the introductory High School Cybersecurity Curriculum Guidelines officially recognized by state educators, which will create a standardized curriculum and pathway between high school and college cybersecurity education courses.

The grant aims to fill the workforce gap of qualified cybersecurity professionals that are needed to fill hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country. The initial two-year grant comes with an option for a third year with an additional nearly $400,000 in funding, which would bring the total grant amount to nearly $1.2 million.

Fayetteville CTE Students Excel

Congratulations to the Woodland Junior High School Robotics teams for their success at the recent Fayetteville Fall Open. Three teams took home 4 awards, including the VEX Robotics IQ Tournament Champion, Robot Skills Champion, Design Award, and Overall Excellence Award. All three teams have now qualified to compete at Arkansas Tech University in March for the State Championship.

Fayetteville FFA President and Fayetteville HS senior Lily K. was recently presented with her Certified Veterinary Assistant certificate. Lily earned her certification last month through the Texas Veterinary Medical Association. Successful applicants are required to complete the Certified Veterinarian Assistants program, which consists of 200 hours of hands-on laboratory instruction, demonstrations, and other interactive learning activities, as well as a 300-hour apprenticeship in a vet clinic. They are also required to score at least 70% on the certification examination. The Veterinary Science Apprenticeship program at FHS educates veterinary assistant students in the essential skills and knowledge needed to become effective contributors as veterinary assistants to the veterinary medical care team. FHS is one of the few high schools in the state to offer both this rigorous program and certification.

Survey of Business students at Fayetteville High School have been earning their Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) in Microsoft Word industry certification. Microsoft Office certification is considered the #1 desired "hard skill" by employers in Northwest Arkansas. Students in these classes will have the opportunity to earn additional MOS certifications in Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.

Interested in more from The Cutting Edge? Contact our office at 501-372-1691.

The AAEA Job Board can now be found at arjobsined.schoolspring.com

The AAEA Job Board is a calendar-year subscription that assists districts with the everincreasing challenge of recruiting quality staff. It is a significant resource for educators, both in-state and out-of-state, seeking employment in Arkansas schools.

Over 165 school districts are participating in the program, which has been extremely helpful to schools and educators over the years. The site is used year-round and is accessed extensively during the second semester. It is not unusual to see over 400 jobs posted on the Job Board at one time. With an account, school districts may post unlimited job vacancies throughout the year.

To subscribe (by district) or to post job openings, contact Marty Smith, Member Relations Manager, at m.smith@theaaea.org or at 501-372-1691.

Openings

District Name Position

Pocahontas School District Superintendent

Lamar School District Superintendent

Jacksonville North Pulaski School District Human Resources/Student Services Specialist

Atkins Public Schools Transportation Director

Fort Smith School District Director of Adult Education Center

Ozark School District Superintendent

Marion School District Assistant Superintendent of Operations

Blevins School District Elementary Principal

Little Rock School District Assistant Director – Child Nutrition

Bauxite School District Elementary Assistant Principal

Palestine-Wheatley School District Superintendent