The Administrator Newsletter - December 2024

VOLUME 50 • ISSUE 6 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2024/2025

THE

ADMINISTRATOR

TABLE OF CONTENTS WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?

HIT THE GROUND RUNNING

Dr. Mike Hernandez takes a trip down memory lane to see what has changed in education.

Stacy DeFoor shares some suggestions to help plan your return in January.

Safety & Wellness Segment • P. 6

Executive Viewpoint

President’s Perspective

Administrator Spotlight • P. 7

Page 3

Page 5

Executive Viewpoint • P. 3 President’s Perspective • P. 5 Asked & Answered • P. 6

Upcoming Events • P. 9

ADMINISTRATOR SPOTLIGHT: BRYCE BENNETT In the Spotlight this month is Bryce Bennett, Director of Academic Assessment Services for Conway Public Schools.

Page 7

CoSN • P. 11 Awards • P. 12 Salary Survey • P. 13 Character Connection • P. 15 Building Block • P. 15 Publication Sneak Peek • P. 16 Job Openings • P. 17

AAEA Staff Dr. Mike Hernandez Executive Director m.hernandez@theaaea.org

2025 Calendar of Events January

Superintendent Symposium, January 8-9, 2025 Doubletree Little Rock

Dr. Karla Neathery Assistant Executive Director k.neathery@theaaea.org

Certified Facilities Director (CFD) Classes, January 21, 2025 Southwest Arkansas Education Service Center, Hope

Lenett Thrasher Assistant Executive Director l.thrasher@theaaea.org

February

Sharon Chuculate Fiscal Services Coordinator s.chuculate@theaaea.org Sarah Shamburger Business Manager s.shamburger@theaaea.org Alyse Mattox Communications & Technology Specialist a.mattox@theaaea.org Melanie Thrasher Business Analyst m.thrasher@theaaea.org Lana Webb Administrative Specialist l.webb@theaaea.org Rachel Blocker Administrative Assistant r.blocker@theaaea.org

TEL-AR Conference, January 29-30, 2025 Wyndham Riverfront Hotel, North Little Rock

AASBO Conference, February 12-14, 2025 Hot Springs Convention Center ArkASPA Spring Conference, February 25, 2025 Wyndham Riverfront Hotel, North Little Rock

March

AACIA Conference, March 13, 2025 Benton Event Center

April

CASBO Classes, April 23-24, 2025 Location TBD CFD Classes, Date TBD Location TBD

May

ASBA/AAEA Joint Conference, May 6, 2025 Wyndham Riverfront Hotel, North Little Rock AAFC Spring Conference, May 7-9, 2025 Hot Springs Convention Center

June

AASEA Conference, June 9-10, 2025 Benton Event Center AAEA School Law and Finance Conference, Date TBD Location TBD

July

AAEA Summer Conference, July 28-30, 2025 Marriott Hotel & Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock Mike Mertens Consultant m.mertens@theaaea.org 1

For more information, visit theaaea.org/events.

2024-2025 AAEA Board of Directors Stacy DeFoor AAEA President Assistant Superintendent, Benton

Charles Warren AAEA President-Elect Business Manager/District Treasurer, Fort Smith

Dr. Jason Reeves AAEA Secretary and AASSP President Assistant Principal, Alma

Brian Kirkendoll AAEA Past President Principal, Alma

Kelvin Gragg AASA President Assistant Superintendent, Pine Bluff

Dr. Debbie Bruick-Jones AASA President-Elect Superintendent, Bentonville

Dr. Jeremy Owoh AASA Secretary Superintendent, Jacksonville/ North Pulaski

Steven Helmick AAESP President Principal, Little Rock

Dr. Jeff Wasem AAESP President-Elect Principal, Bentonville

Shawn Rose AAESP Past President Principal, Hillcrest

Jason Selig AASSP President-Elect Principal, Lake Hamilton

Amy Marek AASSP Past President Principal, Hazen

Brandie Williams ArkASPA President Superintendent, Trumann

Kelli Cypert AACTEA President Career & Technical Administrator, ARESC

Christine Harrell AAFC President Federal Programs Coordinator, Searcy

Justin Robertson AASBO President Chief Financial Officer, Russellville

Kelsey Bailey AASBO Past President Chief Financial Officer, Little Rock

Haley Hatch AASEA President Director of Special Services, Lake Hamilton

Dr. Marcia Smith AACIA President Deputy Superintendent, Springdale

Valerie King AAGEA President Director of Gifted Programs, Siloam Springs

Bryce Bennett AAMLA President Director of Academic Assessment Services, Conway

Greg Collins ASPMA President (until Oct) Maintenance/Facilities Supervisor, Dover

Randall Bolinger ASPMA President (begin Oct) Maintenance/Facilities Supervisor, Siloam Springs

B.J. Burgess TEL-AR President Director of Technology, Greenbrier

Dr. Mike Hernandez AAEA Executive Director

2024 AAEA Corporate Sponsors Presidential

American Fidelity Assurance Co. Coryell Roofing and Construction, Inc. Curriculum Associates Educational Benefits, Inc. Lifetouch National School Studios, Inc. NIET - National Institute for Excellence in Teaching Solution Tree, Inc.

Diamond (Continued)

Bailey Education Group Cognia Just Right Reader Performance Services Renaissance Learning, Inc. School Responder

ClearGov Edmentum Education Elements Energy Systems Group ESS First Security Beardsley Goalbook Imagine Learning Imagine Learning Sonday System Middleton, Inc. OnToCollege SmartData Dashboard Stephens, Inc. Stride Tutoring Tanium White River Services and Solutions

Distinguished

Platinum

Prestigious

Capturing Kids’ Hearts Energy Systems Group Lexia Learning

Diamond

Apptegy Arkansas Public Safety Solutions Baldwin & Shell ClassWallet

AAMSCO Architecture Plus, Inc. C.R. Crawford Construction, LLC Entegrity Energy Partners, LLC Hight Jackson Associates Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / NWEA Legacy Construction Management Nabholz Construction Corp.

Phoenix Contractors

Platinum (Continued)

Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects Powers of Arkansas Pro Benefits Group, Inc. Progressive Technologies TRANE US, Inc.

Gold

CDI Contractors Cromwell Architects Engineers Cynergy Rehab Group IXL Learning Kinco Constructors, LLC Paragon Architecture Pearson Virtual Schools Red Comet TIPS - The Interlocal Purchasing System

Silver

Adleta American Bus Sales, Inc. Correll, Inc. French Architects, PA My Benefits Channel SEAS Strategos Group Varsity Tutors for Schools 2

Executive Viewpoint Dr. Mike Hernandez, AAEA Executive Director

WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE? Ready to feel old? I was listening to the radio this morning and they were talking about how we are getting ready to start the year 2025. 2025?!? What?!? It seems like we should have artificial intelligence, self-driving cars, and Snoop Dogg should be the ambassador of all things America. Oh, wait…Ok now to the old part. I thought in this article we would take a look back to 25 years ago to remember what was going on in education both in Arkansas and nationally.

In June 2000, the Arkansas State Board Members were Luke Gordy, Chairman; Richard Smith; ViceChairman; JoNell Caldwell; Claiborne Deming; William Fisher; Robert Hackler; Shelby Hillman; Betty Pickett, Lewis Thompson, Jr, and Anita Yates. The board and Commissioner Ray Simon discussed a program called Smart Start. In December of 2000, the SBE approved an extension of the contract to administer the Stanford 9 test due to the Stanford 10 not being available. Legislation at the time allowed districts to vote on whether to participate in school choice. About 50% participated in school choice at the time. The SBE was the approval mechanism for charter applications due to the Charter Authorizing Panel not being in place.

Numerous awards were given across our state. Here are a few of those winners. The 2000 Milken Award winners were: Marla Sutton, an art teacher in the Alma School District; Toni Lockhart, an elementary teacher in the Van Buren School District; Tracy Streeter, an elementary teacher from Hamburg; and Johnettee Walker, an elementary principal at Wilmot Elementary (Hamburg School District). The 2000 Superintendent of the Year was Dan Shepherd of the Marion School District. The AASBO School Business of the Year was Anita Murphee. The principals of the year were Dr. Bert Stark and Jerry Valentine. AACIA Administrator of the Year was Dr. Marsha Jones. The Arkansas Teacher of the Year was Patti Meeks from Hamburg.

On the legislative side, the members of the House Education Committee included: Pat Bond, Paul Bookout, Herschel Cleveland, Olin Cook, Mary Beth Green, Phillip T. Jacobs, Gene Jeffress, Calvin Johnson, Jim Magnus, Thomas Moore, Steve Oglesby, Mary Anne Salmon, Harmon R. Seawel, Wilma Walker, Paul Weaver, Robert J. White, and Arnell Willis. The Senate Education Committee included David Malone, Jim Argue, John E. Brown, Jodie Mahoney, and John A. Riggs. The Speaker of the House was Bob Johnson and the President of the Senate was Jay Bradford. There were two Extraordinary Sessions in 2000 as part of the 82nd General Assembly. The first dealt with tobacco settlement funds and the second consisted of property tax credits.

AAEA had around 2100 members with activity in the various constituent groups. Monty Betts was the AAEA President, Ed Sellers was president-elect, Johnny Thaxton was secretary/treasurer, and Linder Childers was past president. The staff members included: Dr. Kellar Noggle, Charles Knox, Ed Love, Truett Goatcher, Cecil Boothe, Dorthy Arendt, Lenore Monkus, and Paula Williams. The 25th Annual Conference was planned for July 31-August 2, 2000 at the Excelsior Hotel in Little Rock. The general session speakers were Dan Miller, author of Living and Loving Life; Michale Kneale, motivational speaker; and Tamara Hall, author of When Life Kicks, Kick Back.

Continued on next page 3

It would not be a trip down Memory Lane without checking the sports record book. The football state champions were Rison, Boonville, Greenwood, and Cabot. (I attended this game and #44 for Cabot was a load!) In boys basketball it was Little Rock Fair, HS Lakeside, Lonoke, Earle, and Turrell. Girls basketball champions were FS Northside, Harrison, Ozark, Greenland, and Bradley. Baseball champions were Texarkana, Watson Chapel, Central Arkansas Christian, Horatio, and Ouachita. Softball champions were Rogers, Lake Hamilton, and Farmington. There was also a policy update given by NASBE at the time that gave the following statistics about students who did not participate in extra-curricular activities.

• • • • • • •

57% more likely to drop out 49% more likely to have used drugs 37% more likely to become teen parents 35% more likely to smoke 27% more likely to have been arrested Lower attendance rates More likely to carry weapons

Many things were going on nationally. In 2001, we had the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Enacted in 2001 under President George W. Bush, NCLB was a major overhaul of federal education policy. It emphasized accountability, requiring states to administer standardized tests in reading and math to students in grades 3–8 and once in high school. Schools were evaluated based on Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), with penalties for underperforming schools. While intended to close achievement gaps, critics argued it led to "teaching to the test" and neglect of non-tested subjects like the arts and social studies.

The Y2K bug, a potential problem with digital systems related to the transition to the year 2000, prompted schools to upgrade technology and infrastructure. While the feared disruptions did not materialize, the preparations spurred investment in more modern computer systems for administrative and educational purposes. The federal E-Rate program (established in 1996) provided discounted internet access to schools and libraries, resulting in more classrooms becoming connected to the internet by 2000.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, USDOE, and Children’s Defense Fund in 2000, approximately 45 million students were attending 89,500 schools in 15,358 districts. 4.6 million handicapped students were educated for $9,000 each. There were 6.2 million limited-English students with two million unable to speak any English. One million abused and neglected children and one million had lead poisoning.

500,000 students were from foster or other institutions. 500,000 students were considered homeless.

Education has come a long way in 25 years. It does not seem that long ago, but when you stop to think about it you look at the people named above and probably recognize a few names. It goes to show that we have a small window to make our mark in education. Don’t squander your gift of educating our youth.

I hope you enjoy your break and come back ready to work in January. The legislative session and second semester are loading…

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President’s Perspective Stacy DeFoor, AAEA Board President

HIT THE GROUND RUNNING Greetings AAEA Members, I hope that you enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday with your family and friends. In just a few days you’ll be leaving once again for the Christmas holiday. While this time of the year is often exciting for many of us, we must not forget that some of our students and families are struggling. This time of the year is a time that we are not only focusing on our students’ academic needs, but also ensuring our families have the necessary resources and food during the time we are out of school. Once we return in January, we will hit the ground running. I would encourage you to have a plan and areas of focus to maximize your impact on student learning as we prepare our students for the spring semester. In no particular order below, I’ve listed a few suggestions that might help you plan for your return from the holiday season.

1. Enhance Teacher Professional Development: Do you have any PD days built into your calendar for the spring semester? If so, consider some of the options below: • Ongoing Training: Provide continuous professional development opportunities to help educators stay current on best practices, technology tools, and differentiated instruction strategies.

• Collaborative Learning: Encourage teacher collaboration and sharing of resources within and across departments to strengthen collective knowledge and teaching practices.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Support teachers in using student data effectively to inform their teaching and to identify students who need extra attention.

2. Assess and Adjust Instructional Strategies: • Mid-year Data Review: Review student performance data (assessments, attendance, behavior, etc.) to identify trends and areas of need. This will guide adjustments to teaching practices.

• Targeted Interventions: Implement or refine intervention strategies for students who may be falling behind or need additional support, such as tutoring or differentiated instruction.

• Instructional Alignment: Ensure that instructional goals are aligned with state standards and learning objectives, and adjust pacing guides if necessary.

3. Strengthen Family and Community Partnerships: • Engage Families: Develop strategies to increase family engagement, such as regular communication, parent-teacher conferences, and involving parents in school activities.

• Community Resources: Leverage community partnerships to provide additional support for students, such as mentorship programs, after-school tutoring, or extracurricular opportunities.

4. Review and Adjust Assessment Practices: • Formative Assessments: Ensure ongoing formative assessments to gauge student progress and adjust instruction as needed.

• Summative Assessments: Prepare students for end-of-year assessments and ensure that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform well.

I hope that you have a memorable and relaxing time away from your daily duties of school leadership.

Take time to recharge your batteries so that you can be your best for your staff and students for the spring semester. Have a blessed holiday season!

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4

Asked & Answered Dr. Karla Neathery, AAEA Assistant Executive Director

When should we plan to reorganize our school board?

The Board shall elect a president, vice president, secretary, and legislative liaison at the first regular meeting following the later of: the certification of the results of the annual school election; or if there is a runoff election, at the first regular meeting following the certification of the results of a run-off election.

Officers shall serve until the Board’s reorganization following the District's next annual school election and perform those duties as prescribed by policy of the Board. The Board shall also elect through a resolution passed by a majority vote on one of its members to be the primary board disbursing officer and may designate one or more additional board members as alternate board disbursing officers. A copy of the resolution will be sent to the county treasurer and to the director of the Department of Finance and Administration.

If you have questions for Dr. Neathery, email her at k.neathery@theaaea.org.

Safety & Wellness Segment Annual Review of Response Protocols for Budget Planning Submitted by Barbara Grimm, Founder and President of School Responder, and C.J. Huff, Ed.D. An annual evaluation of your school’s response protocols not only helps ensure you are prepared for emergencies but also allows you to plan effectively for the next year’s budget. By timing the evaluation in alignment with your budget cycle, you ensure that any necessary updates or investments—whether in training, technology, or materials—can be included in the upcoming fiscal plan. The following are key areas for review: 1. Crisis and Communication Protocols: Are all staff trained in the latest protocols for emergencies and mental health crises? Consider whether refresher courses or new training sessions might be needed, especially with staff turnover.

2. Mental Health and Wellness Support: Evaluate tools and resources available for mental health support, both for students and staff. Updating software or adding new wellness check-in systems can be budgeted to enhance the overall school climate.

3. Technology and Tools: For schools using response tools, it is important to assess the effectiveness of these systems.

Are they providing real-time insights? If new features or updates are available, factor in potential costs for upgrading.

4. Budget Request Processes: Do you have a system in place that encourages, supports, and prioritizes budget requests related to safety and security concerns? Consider making safety and security a priority in the budget process by weighting those requests more heavily than other budget requests.

Keeping detailed notes from your evaluation process is crucial. Document any unmet needs or challenges encountered, as these insights will guide decisions in allocating resources and planning professional development. This documentation can also support grant applications or other funding opportunities for specific needs, such as mental health initiatives or technology upgrades.

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Administrator Spotlight:

Bryce Bennett

Director of Academic Assessment Services, Conway Public Schools

Bryce Bennett, Director of Academic Assessment Services for Conway Public Schools, says that while his entire family is made up of educators, it wasn't until college that he realized he wanted to be in the classroom himself. He began his career in education teaching U.S. History, U.S. Government, Psychology, and Sociology at Jonesboro High School and spent six years there before joining the Douglas MacArthur Junior High School administration team as an assistant principal. He says, "I had a blast teaching, but I quickly realized I was interested in school leadership and the impact I could have." From there, he then became principal at Greenbrier Middle School for four years before taking on the role of Director of Teaching and Learning for the Greenbrier School District. Now, he is in his 16th year in education, and is serving as the Director of Academic Assessment Services for Conway Public Schools. "Every step of the way, I’ve had phenomenal people in my corner, encouraging and mentoring me toward better outcomes," he says.

Bryce's current role encompasses Advanced Placement, ESOL and Migrant services, district testing coordination, and data analysis. His favorite part of the job is the support he's able to provide for students, families, and school teams. "I enjoy taking on challenges and finding solutions. Although everything we handle in education on a day-to-day basis is important, it’s particularly exciting when someone seeks help and I have the capacity to deliver a solution quickly." The biggest challenge is in ensuring he has critical knowledge in advance of any potential issues. "In my current role, there are many unique situations that arise with testing and English Learners, requiring both background knowledge and experience." He says anyone interested in the job should know that "the work will be hard, and you won’t always know what to do, but as long as you keep the focus on students, everything else will fall into place."

Bryce says the best advice he's ever received is to always lead with integrity and empathy. "A mentor once told me that decisions made with honesty and compassion will earn trust, even when the outcomes are difficult. That guidance has shaped how I approach leadership and relationships throughout my career." The biggest change he's noticed in education over his career is in how educators approach preparing students for the world as well as how they teach students behaviors.

"At the beginning of my career, educators were ramping up efforts to create pathways to success for all students, from four-year universities to vocational schools and internships. In the last 5–6 years, we have seen students entering our systems with a variety of significant issues related to selfregulation and executive functioning skills." Bryce says while school leaders and teachers navigate this shift, for him the bottom line remains the same: "our work is to be the brightest spot in a student’s day—in some cases that means providing the safest, most well-fed, most attended to, and most invested eight consecutive hours they may experience. That is a big responsibility, and no matter how education changes, people will always answer that call."

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!

Q&A ?

with Bryce Bennett

What is the most daring thing you’ve done?

Traveling through Scotland for two weeks with three kids was quite an adventure. From navigating unfamiliar roads to packing in as much of the country as possible, every day was an experience. We explored castles, hiked in the Highlands, and embraced the unpredictable weather. It was definitely challenging, but I know it’s a trip the kids will remember forever.

What do you enjoy doing during your time off?

I love eating and traveling. We just went to Scotland this summer for two weeks, and Autumn and I have a list of countries that we want to visit. I love coaching soccer, and Bellamy, Jameson, and Sullivan all play, so we spend a lot of weekends at the soccer fields.

What is one of the things on your “Bucket List?”

I’d love to attend a Formula 1 race in Europe someday, or even the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. I’d also like to live abroad at some point, even if just for a few months.

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

I think making food for people would be a great experience. The best setting would be cooking something warm and greasy to serve from a food truck on a cold day—maybe grilled cheese and soup, or barbacoa.

What are the goals you are still working toward?

Eventually, I would like to serve as a superintendent for a school district. For now, though, I love my team and the work I get to do every day!

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In five years, I see myself continuing to grow as a leader in education, making a meaningful impact on both students and staff. I hope to take on greater responsibilities, influencing policies or initiatives that drive lasting improvements in our schools. At the same time, I want to stay deeply connected to the dayto-day challenges and successes of our educators, ensuring my leadership consistently reflects the needs of those I serve.

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

AAEA offers too many benefits to count, but for me, the easiest way to sum it up is this: AAEA exponentially increases my capacity to serve students by connecting me with a network of experienced professionals who know what works for students and how to help them reach their potential. Every year, I’ve expanded my network and made lifelong friends through AAEA. I know I always have people I can call if I hit a roadblock or need advice.

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UPCOMING EVENTS | JAN

Superintendents!

Register Now! Facilities Directors!

Register Now! 9

Register Now! School Business Officials!

UPCOMING EVENTS | JAN - FEB

Technology Directors!

Register Now! 10

EVENTS | FEB

Personnel Administrators!

Register Now!

CoSN: Support for Technology Administrators CoSN is a great resource for school technology administrators. Check this page monthly for links to articles to assist technology leaders as they navigate through digital learning transformations.

Click Here to Read About This Month’s Topics • Financing Technology Innovations - Strategies and Tools • Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) • Value of Investment (VOI) • CoSN/AASA EmpowerED Superintendents edLeader Panel Series • CoSN 2025 Conference • CoSN Membership 11

Awards Joel Dean

2025 TEL-AR Technology Director of the Year Joel Dean, Technology Coordinator for the Conway Public School District, was recently named the 2025 Technology Education Leaders of Arkansas (TEL-AR) Technology Director of the Year. This award is sponsored by American Fidelity.

Mike Mertens, AAEA Assistant Executive Director; B.J. Burgess, TEL-AR President; and Kim Wilson, American Fidelity, presented Mr. Dean with the award at his school district on December 10, 2024.

Crystal Carranco

2025 AAESP Assistant Principal of the Year Crystal Carranco, Assistant Principal at Stagecoach Elementary School in the Cabot School District, was recently named the 2025 Arkansas Association of Elementary School Principals (AAESP) Assistant Principal of the Year. This award is sponsored

by Curriculum Associates. Lenett Thrasher, AAEA Assistant Executive Director; Dr. Tony Thurman, Superintendent, Cabot School District; Mr. Michael Byrd, Deputy Superintendent, Cabot School District; Carol Skiba, Principal, Stagecoach Elementary; and Alice Shirey, Curriculum Associates, presented Mrs. Carranco with the award at her school on December 12, 2024.

Scholarships Available!

AAEA and our Constituent Groups are proud every year to offer a number of scholarships to students in Arkansas. Applications are available online at theaaea.org/page/scholarships.

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$$$$$$$$$$$$$ SALARY SURVEY

13

School Year

Superintendent

High School Principal

Elementary Principal

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

2023-24

132,482

92,294

89,862

2024-25

135,370

93,530

91,815

2024

A total of 213 school districts and charter schools participated in the annual AAEA survey of salaries for school administrators and classroom teachers for the 2024-25 school year. The survey was conducted September through December. Data from 2023-24 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 12. 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.

Continued on next page

$$$$$$$$$$$$$ 2024

SALARY SURVEY Enrollment

Superintendent

Deputy/Asst.

Superintendent

Business Manager

High School Principal

Asst. HS Principal

Above 4,000

228,657

142,911

129,636

119,125

95,021

3,000-3,999

184,954

127,571

84,184

105,188

89,342

2,000-2,999

161,233

111,668

81,808

95,678

80,994

1,000-1,999

133,185

95,469

63,189

89,488

75,097

500-999

115,523

84,426

56,272

86,904

74,665

Below 500

102,631

-

50,379

82,390

66,597

State Average

135,370

119,516

66,762

93,530

87,470

Enrollment

Jr. High/Middle Principal

Elementary Principal

Asst. Elem.

Principal

Special Ed. Supervisor

Classroom Teacher

Above 4,000

107,338

101,672

86,151

107,025

62,703

3,000-3,999

95,975

91,802

78,676

97,829

57,374

2,000-2,999

89,805

90,805

73,829

89,968

57,529

1,000-1,999

85,845

85,232

71,980

77,235

54,493

500-999

85,179

82,684

70,740

74,413

53,972

Below 500

80,000

79,720

69,078

65,533

51,862

State Average

95,292

91,815

80,878

84,662

58,330

State Salaries compiled by AAEA Research - December 2024 Superintendents • National median for districts less than 1,000 ADM - $132,723 • Districts 1,000-3,000 ADM - $160,000 • Districts 3,000-5,000 ADM $192,000 • Districts 5,000-10,000 ADM $203,500 • Districts 10,000-25,000 ADM $226,885 Source: AASA Partial Survey of Districts Nationwide

Classroom Teachers Average salary in Arkansas increased from $57,590 in 2023-24 to $58,330 this year.

• National average for 2022-23 was $69,597 • Estimated national average for 2023-24 is $71,824 Source: NEA

Additional Information for 2022-2023 • Average beginning hourly rate of pay for bus drivers: $21.21 • Average salary for technology coordinators: $65,556 • Average salary for federal coordinators: $88,949 • Average beginning daily rate of pay for substitute teachers: $91.18 • 83% of districts responding to the survey reported they outsourced substitute teacher services.

• 32% of districts responding to the survey reported they outsourced cafeteria services.

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

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Character Connection Better Together: Team Success Starts Here Submitted by Capturing Kids’ Hearts One of the most important things we can do as school leaders is to lower stress in our schools so that teachers and staff feel comfortable, connected, and capable. As we head into the busy holiday season, it’s a great time to recognize success, focus on collaboration, and uplift your team through practical actions.

Start With the Positive: Try starting each meeting by sharing good news with your team! Spend three to five minutes spotlighting staff members, asking questions to show authentic interest, and applauding each response. It’s a simple but effective way to build a sense of community.

Strategize Team Affirmations: Celebrate what is going well on your campus by intentionally planning ways to affirm your team. This could look like grabbing a staff member's favorite snack or drink and giving it to them with personal recognition in front of their class or team. Set aside time weekly to write or deliver genuine, specific affirmations. Everyone needs to feel seen and valued!

Ask for Feedback: Empower your staff by asking for their feedback. Incorporating activities that allow your team to express their thoughts helps you identify what’s working and what should grow. Here is a great question to start the conversation: “In what ways would you like to be empowered or grown over the rest of this school year?”

These ideas can help you fine-tune your leadership and build a more collaborative campus plan.

Leadership thrives when we work together and recognize the wins along the way. Let’s finish 2024 by building each other up well!

To learn more about how your team can use the Capturing Kids’ Hearts® Process to build stronger connections, visit ckh.org.

Building Block Construction Manager At-Risk VS Design-Build Submitted by Will Black, Business Development Manager, Performance Services Arkansas schools have design and construction procurement options. These delivery methods range from low bid (Design-Bid-Build or Plan/Spec) to best value (Design-Build) or fall somewhere in between (Construction Manager At-Risk).

Evaluate these three important considerations before selecting a method for your next building project: • Budget Constraints • Fixed Move-in Schedules • Owner Risk Tolerance Click here to learn more.

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Publication Sneak Peek: School Law Review This segment features content from other AAEA publications. School Law Review is a quarterly publication available to subscribing districts. The following excerpt comes from the December 2024 issue.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s upcoming term is likely to include decisions on a number of issues that may have significant implications for school districts. The Court has already agreed to hear a major case out of Tennessee about whether states may prohibit medical treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy if they are meant to help transgender minors transition to a gender identity that is inconsistent with their sex assigned at birth. Some 24 other states have similar laws. The Tennessee case was filed by three transgender teenagers who have to travel to other states for gender-affirming care. The students claim the Tennessee law violates the 14th Amendment’s equal-protection clause. The Biden administration intervened in the case in order to support the teenagers’ arguments.

A federal district court enjoined enforcement of the law but the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed, rejecting the teenagers’ argument that transgender status was a “suspect classification” which entitled them to claim that any laws passed by the state which harmed them would be subject to strict scrutiny, which is a markedly higher level of constitutional scrutiny used by federal courts in the decisional process. The Sixth Circuit instead upheld the Tennessee ban on certain transgender care under a “rational basis” test and concluded that the state law was rationally related to the state’s interest in taking a cautious approach to irreversible medical treatments of minors.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear the teenagers’ appeal on the equal-protection question on whether the Tennessee law should be decided on strict constitutional scrutiny, which would likely lead to a ruling in favor of the teenagers. The Court’s resolution of this question could have an important impact -- far beyond the health-care context -- on school transgender

issues, such as controversies over restrooms, locker rooms, and athletic participation.

The Supreme Court has also agreed to hear a Wisconsin telecom provider’s appeal in a case that could create uncertainty about the future of E-rate subsidies for schools. This case involves a telecom provider facing a civil trial under a federal fraud statute for allegedly overcharging schools under the subsidy program. The legal question in this appeal is whether the E-rate program is sufficiently tied to the federal government to come under the False Claims Act, a more than century-old statute designed to root out fraud in federal contracting. The company argued that the False Claims Act does not apply to the private money that telecom providers contribute to the Universal Service Fund (USF). A related case involves a decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which held that the USF’s funding mechanism was unconstitutional, which has caused substantial alarm in the school tech community and uncertainty about schools’ receipt of E-rate subsidies.

Another case the Court will hear this term involves a Texas law requiring age verification for anyone accessing certain websites offering sexual material harmful to minors. Opponents of the law argued that it infringes on the free-speech rights of adults, but the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the law. The Court’s decision may have an adverse impact on efforts in Texas and other states to restrict school and library books deemed sexually explicit or otherwise harmful to minors.

Interested in more from School Law Review?

Contact our office at 501-372-1691.

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Visit 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 Lana Webb, Administrative Specialist, at l.webb@theaaea.org or at 501-372-1691.

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