The Administrator Newsletter - May 2022

VOLUME 47 • ISSUE 10 M AY 2 0 2 2

AAEA ADEQUACY TESTIMONY

WORDS HAVE POWER

Dr. Hernandez shares testimony provided to the Joint Education Committee regarding future education funding in Arkansas.

Dr. Nehus encourages administrators to be thoughtful in their language as the school year comes to a close.

Executive Viewpoint

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President’s Perspective

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Viewpoint • P. 3 President’s Perspective • P. 5 Benefits Corner • P. 6 Asked and Answered • P. 7 A Breath of Fresh Air • P. 7 Compliance Connection • P. 8

ADMINISTRATOR SPOTLIGHT: DR. TARYN ECHOLS In the Spotlight this month is Dr. Ta r y n E c h o l s , A s s i s t a n t Superintendent at Hot Springs School District.

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CoSN Update • P. 8 Administrator Spotlight • P. 9 Over the Top • P. 12 Awards • P. 13 Publication Sneak Peek • P. 16 Job Openings • P. 18

AAEA Staff

2022 Calendar of Events

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

May

Mike Mertens Assistant Executive Director m.mertens@theaaea.org

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

Robyn Keene Director of Financial Services r.keene@theaaea.org

Kelli Golden Chief Financial Officer k.golden@theaaea.org

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

AAFC Spring Conference May 4-6, 2022, Hot Springs Convention Center AACTEA Spring CTC Tour May 11, 2022, Saline County Career and Technical Campus, Benton

June AAEA School Law Conference June 1, 2022, Hot Springs Junior Academy, Hot Springs AASEA Summer Conference June 6-7, 2022, DoubleTree Little Rock

July CASBO Classes July 6-7, 2022, Benton Event Center, Benton ASPMA CFD Classes July 19, 2022, Conway School District Professional Development Annex, Conway

Karen Dean Certification Program Manager k.dean@theaaea.org

AAEA Summer Conference July 25-26, 2022, Statehouse Convention Center and Marriott Hotel, Little Rock

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

October

Melanie Thrasher Business Analyst m.thrasher@theaaea.org

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ASBA/AAEA Joint Leadership Conference May 3, 2022, Wyndham Riverfront, Little Rock

ASPMA Conference October 3-5, 2022, Hot Springs Convention Center For more information, visit theaaea.org/events or see Page 9.

2021-2022 AAEA Board of Directors Dr. Karla Neathery AAEA Board Secretary/ Treasurer Superintendent, Arkadelphia

Debbie Atkinson AAEA Past President Principal, Bergman

Dr. Andrea Martin AASA Secretary Superintendent, Greenland

Mark Lewis AAESP President Principal, Conway

Stacy DeFoor AAESP Past President Principal, Conway

Scott Smith AASSP President Principal, Western Yell County

Matt Ziegler AASSP President-Elect Principal, Riverside

David Maxwell AASSP Past President Principal, Mena

Brandie Williams ArkASPA President Superintendent, Trumann

Dr. Lee Smith AACTEA President Superintendent, Mena

Susan Gilley AAFC President Executive Dir Fed Prog & Instructional Tech, Harrison

Kevin Luck AASBO President Business Manager, Vilonia

Charles Warren AASBO Past President Chief Financial Officer, Fort Smith

Carla Curtis AASEA President Director of Special Services, Fayetteville

Kim Fowler AACIA President Assistant Director/ Teacher Center Coordinator, Ozark Unlimited Resource ESC

Eric Hipp AAMLA President Principal, Bentonville

Aliza Jones ASPMA President Facilities Consortium Coordinator, Lavaca

Dr. Mike Hernandez AAEA Executive Director

Dr. Stephanie Nehus AAEA President Superintendent, Hot Springs

Brian Kirkendoll AAEA President-Elect Principal, Alma

Jon Collins AASA President Superintendent, West Memphis

Skipper Ward AASA President-Elect Superintendent, Magnolia

Carol Skiba AAESP President-Elect Principal, Cabot

Monica Springfield AAGEA President Ozark Unlimited Resource ESC

2021-2022 AAEA Corporate Sponsors Prestigious

Diamond (Continued)

Platinum (Continued)

American Fidelity Assurance Co. Coryell Roofing and Construction, Inc. Curriculum Associates Educational Benefits, Inc. Imagine Learning Lifetouch National School Studios, Inc. NIET - National Institute for Excellence in Teaching Pearson Online and Blended Learning Pro Benefits Group, Inc. ProtectEd Renaissance Learning, Inc. Solution Tree, Inc.

Energy Systems Group ESS First Security Beardsley Middleton, Inc. OnToCollege PowerSchool Rave Mobile Safety Smart Data Dashboard Stephens, Inc. Tanium Winsor Learning - Sonday Systems

Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects Progressive Technologies TRANE US, Inc.

Diamond Apptegy ClassLink ClassWallet Cognia Edmentum

Platinum AAMSCO Architecture Plus, Inc. C.R. Crawford Construction, LLC Entegrity Energy Partners, LLC Legacy Construction Management Lexia Learning Nabholz Construction Corp.

Gold Cynergy Rehab Group FIS Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Kinco Constructors, LLC Phoenix Contractors, LLC Red Comet TIPS - The Interlocal Purchasing System

Silver Correll, Inc. French Architects, PA Hight-Jackson Associates, PA SEAS

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Executive Viewpoint Dr. Mike Hernandez, AAEA Executive Director

AAEA Adequacy Testimony The Joint Education Committee submits a report to the entire Legislature in November every two years.

This report studies how districts are receiving and spending education dollars across the state. This data, along with future needs, helps determine the future funding allotments and continuation or termination of current programs. We are in the middle of that process in which we assist the state in answering the question, “What does an adequate education in 2022 and beyond look like?” The AAEA Legislative Committee, along with AAEA staff, worked diligently to construct testimony that was provided to the Joint Education Committee. This testimony and recommendations are items that AAEA believes cover the needs of districts in Arkansas, but we acknowledge that this is not an exhaustive list. Some highlights of the testimony are below, and might be helpful in your conversations with your local legislators. It is also an opportunity for you to give local context and identify needs that the AAEA information may not cover. The Adequacy Testimony in its entirety can be found here.

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In the final Lakeview mandate released by the Supreme Court in 2007, the Court concluded, “constitutional compliance in the field of education is an ongoing task requiring constant study, review, and adjustment.” AAEA supports additional study on education issues facing public schools that were not part of the discussion in the original development of the funding Matrix, such as school safety, including mental health services in schools, and learning loss recovery resulting from the extended pandemic.

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It is crucial that funding be added to the Matrix components that currently are funded considerably less than actual school expenditures. For example, the most recent BLR report on K-12 expenditures shows districts spending $915 per student on Maintenance & Operations. The Matrix provides only $706. By fully funding this line item, districts will not have to divert money from other Matrix items for Maintenance & Operations. This need is even more critical due to the increase in the state minimum hourly wage, the need to raise classified salaries to meet the labor shortage facing schools in many parts of the state, and the ever-rising inflation we are experiencing. Quite a number of hourly essential school employees are paid from the Maintenance and Operations budget. In addition, labor demands have caused an increase in the cost of substitutes when comparing actual costs to what the Matrix provides.

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Teaching talent matters when it comes to improving student achievement. Teacher salaries need to be raised to address the current teacher shortage by attracting the best and brightest to the profession. AAEA applauds Governor Hutchinson’s initiatives in this area and the Legislature’s passage of the Educator Compensation Reform Program (Act 877 of 2019) and the Teacher Salary Equalization Fund (Act 679 of 2021). These initiatives help recruit and retain quality classroom teachers. Funds need to be added to the Matrix funding model and to the additional salary funds to provide an ongoing funding source to sustain these teacher salary initiatives.

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The Facilities Partnership Program should be adequately funded. State partnership dollars are capped at $200 per sq. ft. This is way too low and does not accurately reflect today’s construction costs. Investing in school facilities meets the needs of students and schools and is Continued on Next Page

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an economic investment that supports Arkansas construction trades. Maintaining a stable level of support from general state revenue would provide for facility funding as well as for other investments in education, such as teacher salaries.

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Continue funding high cost transportation with yearly increases to reflect all student transportation expenditures.

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AAEA supports adding funding to the Matrix earmarked for health insurance with a corresponding increase in the required minimum district contribution to employee premiums.

Health insurance is a crucial benefit in attracting and retaining quality educators.

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As additional funds are allocated for teacher salary increases and health insurance benefits, categorical program funding for FY24 and FY25 should be increased accordingly since salaries/benefits are a significant portion of categorical fund expenditures.

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AAEA supports current initiatives to expand bandwidth to all areas of the state. Providing adequate bandwidth in all communities through the Arkansas Rural Connect program is essential so students are not limited in their learning to the school building or the school day.

“Learning anywhere, anytime.”

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AAEA applauds and supports the state’s initiative in computer science education. Act 414 of 2021 requires public schools, by 2022, to have a computer science teacher at each high school.

This position is not currently reflected in the Matrix. Funding for a computer science teacher salary needs to be added to the Matrix.

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It is essential that Arkansas expand and adequately fund CTE programs in schools and area career centers to ensure all students in all areas of the state have an opportunity to explore alternative educational/career pathways; an economic investment that will help fill current high-paying job openings in the state.

The primary election is fast approaching on May 24th. Early voting starts on May 9th, and the general election is on November 8th. These elections are crucial, especially after a national census. Every legislative seat, along with statewide offices, is up for election. As you probably know, education policy is an issue that candidates and voters consider when they go to the ballot box. Many of you have reached out to the candidates to build relationships and even hosted informational sessions in your community. Please keep up these efforts because they will pay dividends down the road. Your influence will be needed as we welcome the 94th General Assembly and new state officers, including a new Arkansas Governor. I do not doubt that you will be able to share all the wonderful things that are going on in your districts and work to remove barriers to learning.

This school year has certainly been a doozy, but we are almost to the end. I hope you have a great last month of your school year and get an opportunity to rest and plan for next year. We have some outstanding professional development planned, and I look forward to seeing you.

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President’s Perspective Dr. Stephanie Nehus, AAEA Board President

Words Have Power The power of words has really been on my mind recently. The old adage, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” is in no way true. Words do have incredible power to empower and lift up others or hurt, tear down, and destroy others.

As educational leaders, I want to encourage each of us to reflect on this simple phrase. The school year is quickly coming to an end and for many of our students that is a scary reality. What words will we select to celebrate all of the accomplishments of this school year? What words will we use to encourage our students to be the best version of themselves? What words will we use to comfort our students as they leave our doors for the summer months?

With our educators, we have created an intentional focus on common academic language. I had the privilege to attend a site visit to White River School District in Buckley, Washington, to visit Dr. Janel Keating’s district and see the Professional Learning Community process in action. Another perfect example of a need for a laser focus on our words that lead to collaboration.

What words are we using with our colleagues to grow as lifelong learners? What words will we select to celebrate our staff as we end this school year? What words will we use to guide and encourage our staff to grow professionally and build their own self efficacy? How will we send our staff off for the summer months for them to refresh themselves so they rejoin us in August with a renewed passion for the role they play in the life of a child?

I wish each and every one of you a wonderful month of May! There is so much excitement in the air.

My heart is full as our seniors are nearing graduation…we have prepared them for their next steps and their futures. Pick your words…may you empower, encourage, support, and love ALL!!!

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Benefits Corner Educational Targets Hit by Cyber Rising Attacks Submitted by Kylie Freyaldenhoven, Sales Operations Analyst, Educational Benefits, Inc. Written by Louis Columbus, VentureBeat Educational institutions are on pace for a record year of ransomware attacks, with K-12 schools the primary targets. While contributing to better educational outcomes, successful one-device-per-student and learn-from-anywhere programs have expanded the attack surface for cyber threats of various kinds.

Bad actors prioritize elementary schools because they’re underfunded when it comes to cybersecurity staff and systems, and administrators are often impatient to put attacks behind them and resume classes.

According to Sophos’ “The State of Ransomware in Education 2021,” the typical educational institution pays an average $112,435 ransom payment to get data back and networks running again. In addition, bad actors encrypt the personal identities and financial data of students, parents, and administrators as part of ransomware attacks, at times threatening to publicly release such data to further pressure victims into paying the ransom.

Crucial information on the cyber threats to education also comes via an Absolute Software “21/22 Endpoint Risk Report: Education Edition” that found the total number of devices deployed across K-12 environments increased 74% from 2019 to 2020.Absolute’s research is noteworthy because it quantifies how the disruption caused by digital learning, including new technology adoption, opened new attack vectors for bad actors and cybercriminals.

Another fascinating aspect of the study is how school districts’ IT and cybersecurity teams are being pulled in multiple directions as they strive to secure the identities of their students, teachers, and administrators. Digital learning needs self-healing endpoints to scale globally, and protecting edge-based endpoints is just the first step.

Secure Endpoints Save School Networks The Absolute study makes it clear that one-device-perstudent strategies are a challenge for IT teams.

Federal, state, and local government funding of learnfrom-anywhere programs has worked, according to school district CIOs VentureBeat spoke with. Funds were immediately allocated to at-risk children who didn’t have internet access or devices at home to stay connected with their schools.

In many cases, Google Chromebooks have dominated new device adoption. CIOs told VentureBeat the ability to lock down selective Chromebooks that are at-risk endpoints is a must-have feature as their online student populations grow.

Meanwhile, devices of all kinds can challenge administrators, especially if the devices are overloaded with applications. Overloading endpoints with too much software makes them less secure….

Visit the VentureBeat website to read further

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.

AACIA GRADUATING SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP AACIA GRADUATE PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP AAGEA SCHOLARSHIP AASBO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AAFC SCHOLARSHIP AASSP SCHOLARSHIP AAMLA SCHOLARSHIP AASEA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AASEA LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP AACTEA SCHOLARSHIP ASPMA SCHOLARSHIP C.B. GARRISON SCHOLARSHIP DR. KELLAR F. NOGGLE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP GARY L. KEES MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP 6

Asked & Answered Mike Mertens, AAEA Assistant Executive Director During the spring and early summer "hiring season" for school districts, we get questions from administrators such as, "The best-qualified applicant for a teaching position vacancy, and the one I want to recommend, is a relative of a current board member. Is this allowable under the ethics laws?"

The answer to this specific question is a cautious "yes" since certain steps have to be taken for approval. The board member in question would have to disclose the relationship, the school board in an open board meeting would have to adopt by majority vote a resolution stating that unusual and limited circumstances exist and it would be in the best interest of the district to hire this applicant.

Since this is a teaching position, the salary/contract would be above $5000 a year and approval from the Education Commissioner, or his designee, would be required. The ADE rules outline the information to be forwarded to the ADE to assist the Commissioner in making a decision. Upon review of the submi ed data, the Commissioner shall, within twenty (20) days of receipt of the resolu on and other relevant data, approve or disapprove in wri ng the district's request.

Even though the laws on ethical guidelines and prohibitions for administrators, employees, and board members have been around for over a decade, they still generate questions on a regular basis.

The requirements for disclosure, board approval, and DESE approval are different depending on the details of the contract or transaction.

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

A Breath of Fresh Air Excerpt from EdWeek: “The New Academic Frontier: Indoor Air” Submitted by Ashley Creviston, Protect Ed The U.S. K-12 education system has been plagued with poor air quality for decades and the rise of COVID-19 has only compounded the issue. While the pandemic may wane, the need for better air quality in our schools remains. From highly contagious germs to dangerous mold spores, schools have a responsibility to address these pervasive health issues and protect the wellbeing of students and teachers.

Scientists are predicting that COVID-19 will never fully disappear and that it will become an ongoing virus that continues to evolve. The scientific community is urging schools to provide safer indoor environments to protect students and keep new variants from emerging.

In addition, mold, dust, soot, pollen, and chemical contaminants are known to exacerbate asthma and allergies, which is a significant issue for many school-aged children. In fact, one in 13 schoolaged children suffer from asthma. Before

COVID-19, asthma alone accounted for 13.8 million missed school days annually. Unless schools rectify their air-quality issues, students with asthma and allergies will see their symptoms worsened simply by being at school.

Over the course of a K-12 education, a child will spend more than 15,000 hours at school.

Classrooms, cafeterias, libraries, and gymnasiums, even when cleaned to high standards, are reservoirs for biological and chemical contaminants.

Children have lungs that are still developing and narrow airways, so it is critically important to ensure the air they breathe is clean. By improving air quality, schools are better able to keep kids learning in the classroom, reducing absenteeism while having a positive impact an academic performance.

For the full article, click here.

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Compliance Connection Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) vs. Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Submitted by Ginger Huff, Arkansas State Manager, American Fidelity Assurance Co. PFML laws continue to pass throughout the United States. It’s important to understand how this may affect your benefits program and how PFML compares to the FMLA. Review the chart below to understand the similarities and differences between FMLA and PFML: FMLA PFML Does it provide job protection?

Is it paid?

What is the length of leave?

Do health benefits continue?

Does it require the use of accrued time?

Does it allow time to bond with a new child?

Yes No 12 Weeks Yes Employer Determines Yes

Sometimes Yes Varies No Varies Yes

Does it include time for caring for yourself or a family member with a serious health condition?

Yes

Yes

Does it include caring for military family members?

Does it include leave for domestic and/or sexual violence?

Yes No

Yes Varies

This chart is intended to provide a broad overview of these two programs. Local and state government PFML websites will include more information specific to each locality.

For more information on how we can help, visit americanfidelity.com/leave.

This blog is up to date as of March 2022 and has not been updated for changes in the law, administration or current events.

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 • CoSN Annual Report: “Onward - CoSN from 2020 to Now” • The EmpowerED Superintendent edWebinar Series Leading for Digital Equity: Award Winning Community Engagement Strategies • CoSN Resources: • Defining Digital Equity 2022 • CoSN Student Home Internet Connectivity Study • CoSN Membership 8

Administrator Spotlight:

Dr. Taryn Echols

Assistant Superintendent, Hot Springs School District Dr. Taryn Echols, Assistant Superintendent at Hot Springs School District, says she absolutely did NOT want to become an educator.

"My major in college was Biology and my original plan was to be a pharmaceutical sales representative," she says. "One sales job in the copier business and three months of door-to-door sales made me change my mind quickly and travel the pathway of alternative certification." From there, teaching became her passion, and she is now completing her fifteenth year in education, with ten of those as an educational leader. She states, "I have served in just about every role you can think of! I started off as a 7th-grade science teacher in Carrollton, Texas, then moved to Watson Chapel to teach alongside my husband who coached there. I have served as an assistant principal for grades 5-6 and 7-9, principal for grades K-4 and 9-12, and currently serve as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. I have done some adjunct teaching for Harding University in their Educational Leadership Department as well."

Dr. Echols says her favorite thing about her job is the ability to impact students’ lives at a high level and getting to watch their progression over the years. She says, "I get the most joy from watching emerging readers become confident readers. The power we have as educators is truly unmatched. We are given the gift of shaping students into the best versions of themselves and that is a sparkle you can’t find anywhere else." One of the most challenging parts of her job is seeing the struggle some students and families face. "It motivates me to have the courage to stand up for all students, provide opportunities for families to build confident children, and look for innovative ways to support educating our students." The biggest change she's seen over her career is the focus on collaboration through the professional learning community process. "I have championed this work well before I knew it had a name. Beyond test scores, schools have to build a solid foundation of collaboration in order to make informed decisions to best support students. Schools should be filled with laughter, fun, and a desire to provide outstanding experiences for our students."

In the future she sees herself continuing to serve the educational needs of families and supporting the needs of teachers and leaders, saying "I am a true believer in walking in faith. A title, location, or position won’t dictate who I am or what I do. Leadership is action and I believe in five years, I will still be leading and loving what I do.” She advises those embarking on a similar career path: "All roses don’t bloom the same way... If you truly believe in your leadership capacity, bloom where you are planted, whether that is classroom teacher, interventionist, or coach. Leadership doesn’t require a title, it requires a service."

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!

Q&A ?

with

I have two! “Do not let your worry be louder than your worship.” “If we do the little things like they are big things, then God will do the big things like they are little things.”

What is the most daring thing you’ve done?

The most daring thing I have done is get a puppy this year for my family. I am not an animal person at all! My children have begged for a puppy for the last three years and I finally found the perfect addition. He is a 4month-old cockapoo named Ace. Surprisingly, I really do love him and he prefers me most because I give the best belly rubs!

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

I would love to write a book. Experiences, in my opinion, outweigh years of experience. I have so many varied experiences to share and I think that doing that through writing would serve more who might share those same experiences.

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

I would be a photographer or an educational consultant. I love meeting new people, sharing ideas, and coaching them into the best versions of themselves. I’m actually working on both of these as backup plans :-)

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

I want to be remembered as someone who served, led with compassion, and loved what she did. People are replaceable, but legacies are not. I want to leave a legacy of transformation, “Mediocre leaders maintain, intentional leaders improve, but TOP leaders transform.”

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

Personally, I think that it provides relationship building and networking. I have met some of my best friends through AAEA. There are so many individuals that I highly respect and I would have never in my wildest dreams believed that I would serve on committees with them or even be asked to sit at the table with them. My goal is to encourage other leaders, especially those in underrepresented areas to join AAEA to share their talents and learn from others. If I am only impacting those around me, I am not truly living my purpose.

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2022 AAEA/ASBA Joint Leadership Conference May 3, 2022 North Little Rock, AR & Virtual

UPC OMING EVENTS

Join us for the 26th Annual Joint Leadership Conference on May 3, 2022, at the Wyndham Riverfront in North Little Rock, or via live-stream. Several topics will be presented including a legislative panel, information on summer programs, best practices in communication, and more. Register here!

2022 AAFC Spring Conference May 4-6, 2022 Hot Springs, AR

The Arkansas Association of Federal Coordinators (AAFC) Spring Conference will be held May 4-6, 2022, at the Hot Springs Convention Center. There will be educational break-out sessions, group collaboration, DESE updates, and much more. Register here!

2022 AACTEA Spring CTC Tour May 11, 2022 Benton, AR Join us for a tour of the Saline County Career and Technical Campus in Benton on May 11, 2022, from 9am to 12pm. The center offers Programs of Study in Automotive Technology, Construction, Cybersecurity, Health Sciences, HVAC-R, Industrial Technology, Manufacturing, Medical ProfessionsCNA, Networking, and Welding. There is no charge for the tour. Register here!

2022 School Law Conference June 1, 2022

Hot Springs, AR & Virtual Registration is now open for the 2022 AAEA School Law Conference, held on June 1, 2022, at the Hot Springs Junior Academy in Hot Springs, AR, or via live-stream. Register here!

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2022 AASEA Summer Conference June 6-7, 2022 Little Rock, AR

Registration is now open for the 2022 Arkansas Association of Special Education Administrators (AASEA) Summer Conference, held on June 6-7, 2022, at the DoubleTree hotel in Little Rock, AR. Register here!

CASBO Certification Classes July 6-7, 2022 Benton, AR & Virtual The Arkansas Association of School Business Officials (AASBO) has scheduled six sessions of certification classes for July 6-7 at the Benton Events Center in Benton. Plan on attending the classes and learn valuable information and updates in public school finance as well as meeting and networking with other school business officials from across the state. Registration will be open soon!

Over the Top A Coryell “Hats Off” To Arkansas Educators Submitted by Janelle Nightingale, Communications Manager, Coryell Roofing & Construction Happy end-of-another-schoolyear, Arkansas educators!

We at Coryell Roofing salute you for the time and energy you dedicate to educating our nation’s children.

Furthermore, we hope you are planning a summer full of fun and relaxation before you dig in again next fall!

And now, in this month of final testing for your students, we would like to challenge you to a short, true/false test about Arkansas weather. So, grab a pen, and let’s see what you know. Answers are at the end of the article.

1. The average rainfall in Arkansas per year is 51 inches.

2. Arkansas averages 23 tornadoes per year.

3. The average wind speed in Arkansas is 16.44 mph.

4. Arkansas sees an average of 87-degree heat in the month of July.

5. Arkansas is classified as a humid, subtropical climate and averages 217 sunny days a year.

6. The average snowfall in Arkansas is 8 inches per year.

7.

Minor ice storms occur somewhere in the state every year while major ice events occur every 5 to 10 years.

8. There are typically 150 to 200 hail reports in Arkansas during March, April, and May. Well, how did you do? Regardless, we hope it was fun testing your knowledge of Arkansas weather facts.

What is not fun is dealing with the destructive forces Arkansas weather perpetuates on a roof, whether that roof is on your home or your school!

These weather elements--rain, tornados, wind, heat, humidity, snow, ice, and hail--have cumulative, damaging effects on a roof. And, as Kelly Coryell of Coryell Roofing reminds clients, undetected weatherrelated damage can turn minor issues into major issues.

Protect the roof that protects you. Schedule a free inspection by a certified roofing technician today. Then, relax and enjoy your summer!

Quiz Answers 1. T 2. F - 33 tornados 3. T 4. F - 93 degrees 5. T 6. F - 4 inches 7. T 8. F - 200 to 300 12

Awards Above & Beyond Award: Dondre Harris

The Above & Beyond Award was given to Dondre Harris, Principal of Davis Elementary School in the Bryant School District. This award is sponsored by the AAESP.

AAESP Principal of the Year: Donaven Sims

The AAESP Principal of the Year is Donaven Sims, Principal of Salem Elementary School in the Bryant School District.

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Congratulations!

AAMLA Principal of the Year: Steven Quinn

The AAMLA Principal of the Year is Steven Quinn, Principal of Benton Middle School.

AASBO Administrator of the Year: Kevin Luck

The AASBO Administrator of the Year is Kevin Luck, Business Manager of the Vilonia School District.

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Congratulations!

ASPMA School Plant Manager of the Year: Maurice Henry

The ASPMA School Plant Manager of the Year is Maurice Henry with the Hope School District.

The 2022 AAEA Summer Conference, Love Public Education: Changing the Narrative, will be held on July 25-26, 2022, at the Statehouse Convention Center and Marriott Hotel in Little Rock, AR. The event will feature keynote speakers, over 100 breakout sessions from inspiring educational leaders, an exhibit hall, and hospitality events. Join administrators from across the state to learn, network, and celebrate your love for public education!

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CL IC K HE RE T O RE GI STE R!

Publication Sneak Peek: Instructional Leader This segment features content from other AAEA publications. Instructional Leader is a quarterly publication available to subscribing districts. The following excerpt comes from the March 2022 issue.

Clearer Than Ever: Extra-Curricular Involvement to Build Social Circles and Strengthen Self-Esteem Contributors: Brian Kirkendoll, Alma High School Principal, Alma School District Kevin Taylor, Alma School District Senior Chief Troy Peel, Alma High School, NJROTC Extra-curricular participation in sports, clubs, and school organizations has been an important part of education in the U.S. for decades. Being a part of activities has saved many students from leaving school and has also helped others shine when they would not have otherwise. This school year has shown us more than ever how important it is for students to have an opportunity to find their niche and get plugged in.

One Alma High School organization in particular attracts students from all socioeconomic levels.

The Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) offers unique opportunities for students.

On average, around 100 AHS students participate in NJROTC. Not only does this organization offer numerous leadership opportunities, but it also has several specialized areas of training and competition.

Drones One area in NJROTC that has proven to be extremely popular and successful is the drone pilot program. The drone program has drawn and attracted students that traditionally have not been interested in any other school activity involvement.

Alma NJROTC Chief Troy Peel promotes the drone program speaking to students of professions using drones with a starting salary of $45,000 a year.

The only requirement for these positions is a Drones license. As part of a STEM-based program to promote NJROTC, Alma schools received a portion of a grant from Congress last year for $1M. The money was divided into two categories: academic and competition drones, according to

Peel. Alma was the only school in Arkansas selected to purchase the academic drones.

“This allows us to prepare cadets for the FAA part 107 small UAV pilot test, bringing a valuable industry certification to the program,” Peel said.

“Once licensed, students are able to fly drones commercially. After the initial approval of the academic drone, we were informed of additional money available to purchase competition drones.

These drones do not require an FAA license and are flown indoors. There are applicable jobs for drone pilots. If you’re 16, and you have your commercial license, you can work part time for private companies.

Drone competitions require each team to communicate and navigate five courses. The Continued on Next Page 16

contest where you are working against a clock or other players. During an event, contestants are given a topographical map of the area, which they will use to locate and navigate to designated points. It is through the successful and speedy navigation and the locating of these points that one can win an orienteering competition.

Alma NJROTC cadets participating in their Annual Military Inspection (AMI) on February 9, 2022

events are a relay race, slalom course, lap race, Visual Flight Rules (VFR) obstacle course, and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) obstacle course. The most challenging will be the IFR obstacle course because the pilot is blindfolded and must fly their aircraft with verbal cues from the rest of the team. Alma recently fielded two teams at a competition in Mt. Home.

Commercially, drones have become big business for a number of industries, including police and fire departments. “The drone industry is growing exponentially,” Peel said. “You see evidence of their existence every day without even knowing it.

Movie scenes, TV commercials, and social media are the most common evidence of their usage.

Drones are used to monitor construction projects, inspect infrastructure, and by law enforcement.

Russellville Police Department has a drone force.”

Big businesses like Walmart are also using drones. “Walmart is testing a fleet of drones that are currently making deliveries in Northwest Arkansas,” Peel said. “Drones have the capability to map farmland, show the farmer exactly where chemicals are needed, and then allow the application of chemicals to those specific spots. There are even drone prototypes that will carry a passenger - your flying car is coming soon!”

Orienteering Another opportunity within NJROTC is orienteering. This provides an additional area of participation and includes students who traditionally have not participated actively in other extra-curricular areas of school. The modern sport of orienteering has roots in Europe, dating back over 120 years. Generally, the word orienteering means any type of map navigation

Orienteering is an exciting event in which to participate. You must use your wits, intelligence, fitness level and cunningness to overtake your opponents and get the fastest time.

For a beginner, you should have a few key items of equipment before you undertake orienteering.

They include a compass, whistle, proper clothing, small flashlight, and a decent water bottle. Keep in mind that orienteering matches often take place in state or national parks, forests, hills, and areas of awesome natural beauty. The terrain is often undulating and uneven, and you may be required to cross streams, rocky outcroppings, ravines, etc.

Training prior to undertaking any new challenge is highly recommended and is especially recommended for orienteering. One should train and be familiar with how to read a topographic map, navigation techniques (with and without a compass), and establishing a baseline level of physical fitness does not hurt either when making the decision to participate in orienteering.

Participation The 21/22 school year has been unusual for NJROTC in terms of student participation. Alma NJROTC has seen student participation skyrocket this year by fielding competitive teams in military drill, orienteering, academics, physical training and marksmanship. The annual military inspection for Alma demonstrated the student’s commitment to the program when all of the cadets were present and in uniform. Alma NJROTC has never experienced this level of attendance in prior years. Not only did the unit have great participation in this year’s annual inspection, cadets have been very involved in many aspects of NJROTC. In addition to drone and orienteering, NJROTC has marksmanship, armed drill, unarmed drill, color guard, physical fitness, and academic teams. Being able to see students laugh, smile, and enthusiastically participate in extracurricular activities is certainly something we love to see.

Interested in more from Instructional Leader? Contact our office at 501-372-1691.

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Job Site Subscription Service The AAEA Job Board is a calendar-year subscription that assists districts with the ever-increasing challenge of recruiting quality staff. It is a significant resource for educators, both in-state and outof-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.

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