The Administrator - May 2020

The

Administrator

May 2020 Volume 45, No. 10

Our State of Education:

Post COVID-19

VIEWPOINT, PAGE 1 3

3

7

9 9

9

SPOTLIGHT

ASKED

RESOURCES

RETIRING?

The

Voice

for School Administrators

AAEA Administrator is a monthly 29 The publication of the Arkansas Association

Educational Administrators (AAEA) for ngs ofmembers of the AAEA. Center

In this Issue

EDITORIAL Managing Editor: Amy Manning-McNabb Editor In Chief: Michelle Briggs Address: 219 South Victory Little Rock, AR 72201

Executive Viewpoint - Dr. Richard Abernathy

1

Phone: 501.372.1691

Administrator Spotlight - Rhonda Daniel

3

Benefits Corner

5

Facebook: Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators

Asked and Answered

5

Twitter: @The_AAEA

Doing Something Cool in Your School?

6

Superintendent of the Year Nominations

6

AACIA Administrator of the Year Nominations

6

Board Election Results

7

C.B. Garrison Scholarship Winner

7

COVID-19 Resources

8

Are You Retiring?

9

Professional Development Opportunities

10

Administrator Job Openings

13

Web Site: www.theaaea.org Follow us on:

Instagram: @aaea_littlerock Please contact us if we may provide assistance to you in any way.

STAFF Dr. Richard Abernathy, Executive Director r.abernathy@theaaea.org Mike Mertens, Assistant Executive Director m.mertens@theaaea.org Michelle Briggs, Director of Events & Operations m.briggs@theaaea.org Robyn Keene, Director of Finance r.keene@theaaea.org Marty Smith, Member Relations Manager m.smith@theaaea.org Karen Dean, Business Manager k.dean@theaaea.org Amy Manning-McNabb, Communications Manager a.mcnabb@theaaea.org Christy Dodds, Business Development Manager c.dodds@theaaea.org Madison Greene, Administrative Specialist m.greene@theaaea.org

National School Principals’ Day Friday, May 1 Your Association Staff i

Administrator May 2020

2019-2020 AAEA CORPORATE SPONSORS PRESTIGIOUS

2019-2020 AAEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

American Fidelity Assurance Co. Educational Benefits, Inc. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Lifetouch National School Studios, Inc. Pro Benefits Group, Inc. Renaissance Learning, Inc. Scholastic Education

Scott Spainhour AAEA President

Debbie Atkinson AAEA Secretary/Treasurer

Superintendent, Greenbrier

Principal, Bergman

Roger Ried AAEA President-Elect

Shawn Higginbotham AAEA Past President

DISTINGUISHED

Principal, Southside

Superintendent, Lake Hamilton

Benny Weston AASA President Superintendent, Mena

Pharis Smith AAESP President Jackson County

Robert Poole AASA President-Elect

Stacey DeFoor AAESP President-Elect

Imagine Learning

DIAMOND Apple Apptegy Arkansas PBS ClassWallet Edgenuity Energy Systems Group ESS Excel Energy Group, Inc. First Security Beardsley Forecast5 Analytics PowerSchool Smart Data Dashboard Stephens, Inc. Strategos Winsor Learning

Principal, Conway

Superintendent, Prescott Jon Collins AASA Secretary

Lori Griffin AAESP Past President

Superintendent, West Memphis

Principal, Fort Smith

Chad Jordan AASSP President

David Maxwell AASSP President-Elect

Assistant Principal, Green County Tech

Principal, Mena

Brad Ray, AASSP Past President

Barbara Garner ArkASPA President

Assistant Principal, Fort Smith

Assistant Superintendent, Crossett

Dr. Joe Rollins AACTEA President

Paul Jenkins AAFC President

Principal, Springdale

District Test Coordinator & ASCIP Coordinator, Blytheville

Charles Warren AASBO President

Dr. Sherrie Bayles AASEA President

Chief Financial Officer, Fort Smith

Special Education Supervisor, Springdale

Classworks Cognia Crow Construction Generation Ready, Inc. Kinco Constructors, LLC Middleton, Inc. Red Comet TIPS

Aaron Randolph AAGEA President

Dr. Stephanie Nehus AACIA President

Director of Gifted Programs/ Federal Programs, Cabot

Superintendent, Hot Springs

Jeff Wasem AAMLA President

Bill Tietz ASPMA President

SILVER

Principal, Bentonville

Assistant Superintendent Watson Chapel

ACE Sports Architecture Plus, Inc. French Architects, PA Got Zoom Hight-Jackson Associates, PA SEAS Virco, Inc.

Dr. Richard Abernathy

PLATINUM AAMSCO Baldwin & Shell Construction Caddell Construction Co. (DE), LLC C.R. Crawford Construction, LLC Entegrity Energy Partners, LLC Legacy Construction Management Nabholz Northwest Evaluation Association - NWEA Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects TRANE US, Inc. University of Arkansas: Department of Curriculum & Instruction

GOLD

Executive Director, AAEA

ii

Administrator May 2020

EXECUTIVE

Viewpoint

Our State of Education: Post COVID-19 My how the world has changed in two months! We are certainly in uncharted waters and a new “normal” is being defined as we speak. I know all of us are wanting to get back to the old normal, but that is not likely to happen for some time to come.

Dr. Richard Abernathy AAEA Executive Director

The Governor’s Taskforce on reopening Arkansas for business is working hard. There are so many things to consider and public safety is number one. However, getting the public back to work is a strong second. I will say the Taskforce is taking their role very seriously, and I continue to be impressed with the Governor’s thoughtfulness as he makes his decisions.

CDC issued some guidance on reopening schools in the fall such as desks being six feet apart, students eating in their classroom, etc. I am not sure if that guidance is something that will still be “official” in the fall, but it gives administrators something to think about. How will our schools look different when we reopen?

I have been on multiple Zoom meetings in Arkansas and around the nation. Everyone is discussing the same thing: What will the fall look like for schools and families?

Obviously, it is too early to know for sure, but at the minimum administrators should plan on extensive training for employees and students. We need to train on how to protect staff and students as well as the best way to thoroughly clean facilities including school buses.

1 Administrator May 2020

Continued on next page

President’s Perspective continued

“How will our schools look different when we reopen?”

Let me just throw out a few thoughts for your consideration:

• What if the CDC guidance of desk being six feet apart continues through next fall? How will that impact

the look of your school program? Some of you may actually be able to spread your desk out to meet the requirements, others may have to rotate days when students will actually be present on campus.

• What would the cleaning program need to be in order to disinfect every space before the next day?

• Do we have fall sports, cancel all sports that require close physical contact and let others play without fans?

There are certainly more questions than answers at this point in time.

The AAEA Annual Summer Conference is still planned for August 3-5, and we will be meeting at the State House Convention Center unless it is prohibited. If we are still under restrictions from large group gatherings, not only will that have an impact on Summer Conference but also on any face-to-face opening of schools. So at this time, we are planning on having our conference as usual, but we will also have a virtual component of the conference as well. Just like schools have changed due to COVID-19, so have our traditional professional development trainings.

I am certainly proud that you are working hard and have not stopped trying to provide the best educational programs for your kids. And with all the virtual meetings and planning for the unknown, I know that you are working harder than ever! Hang in there and keep doing good work. AAEA is here to support you. Please reach out to us at any time that we may be of assistance.

2 Administrator May 2020

SP

T

Light

R

honda Daniel, Special Education Supervisor for the Warren School District, always knew what she wanted to be when she grew up.

I always wanted to teach special education,” she said. “I always felt this was a population of students that could do more than I was seeing them do in the community, and I wanted to teach them at an early level to help them get caught up so that they could have a better future and find success after graduation.”

“Someone

has to be

the first; it might as well be me.”

Rhonda Daniel, Special Education Supervisor for the Warren School District, says she hopes that when her friends and colleagues think about her, they remember her as one to never shy away from chances.

Rhonda began her career in education in a K-3 resource classroom in Warren 28 years ago. She remembers, “I taught for 15.5 years in the district, and, during that time, I was considered the floater teacher, so I moved wherever there was a need.”

She went on to teach part-time as a K-6 resource teacher, 7-13 contained teacher, a speech therapy assistant K-12, and as a general education teacher for kindergarten. “There is definitely a new challenge every day,” Rhonda explains regarding obstacles in her job. “For the most part, though, I would say it is providing the services we need for students in rural Arkansas with very limited budgets.”

Inevitably, challenges bring changes. “The most major change I have seen is in parent involvement,” she states.

“During my early years, I could always find a parent when we needed them. Most parents are great and are still very involved, but there seem to be more and more that don’t attend meetings and don't answer calls when we try to make them.”

What would Rhonda tell someone who was considering a career in special education? Expect a professional life full of awards, but not necessarily the trophy or plaque kind. “The rewards make it worthwhile, but there is nothing part-time about it,” she said. “Becoming a supervisor is a full-time job year round. You must commit to your teachers, students, and parents fully in order to be successful.”

3

Administrator May 2020

In 2018, Rhonda received the AR-CEC Donna Reed Award for Administrators: “Donna was an exceptional special education educator and teacher, and I was so proud to be a part of her legacy.”

Continued on next page

Q A &

With Rhonda Daniel

What are the goals you are still working toward?

“Becoming organized and having a neat and orderly desk. Mine is always stacked sky high and looks horrible. On the other hand, I pretty much know what is in each stack and where to look in that stack to find something.”

How would your co-workers describe you?

“Dedicated to the task at hand. Someone who could lay a plan out for anything for you, but at the same time, always has a plan B just in case something goes wrong., someone who is not afraid to make a decision and stand behind it.”

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

"I went to the Assistant Superintendent and told her I seemed to be making everyone around me unhappy and was not sure what to do about it it. She smiled and said, ‘If everyone is happy with you all of the time, then are not really doing your job.’ I take that to heart often and have never forgotten those words.”

What might other administrators be surprised to know about you?

“I am pretty much an open book.”

What is the most daring thing you've done?

"Walked the streets of New Orleans at 2:00 a.m. I still had things to see, and on one I was traveling with wanted to keep going, so I went alone. After a couple of hours, though, I realized that was probably not the smartest decision I have ever made."

What’s something that amazes you?

"People who are still not practicing social distancing, not washing their hands or wearing masks, etc. in public places. We had our first death in Warren from COVID-19 this week, and I still see those who are at high risk not practicing universal precautions.”

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

"I would be working for Hospice. That is my ultimate goal after retirement. There is just such an amazing opportunity to help out others there, and when they are receiving those services, it is the time in their lives when they need and want help the most.”

Where do you see yourself in five years?

"Still at my computer, attending conferences, working with parents, intervening with students, and doing the best I can for my same school district.”

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

“As someone who took a chance. Just because it's never be done before, does not mean that it can’t be done. Someone has to be the first, so might as well be me.”

4 Administrator May 2020

CORNER

Cyber-Security Part III: Education Employees

B E It cost one Texas School District $2.3 million. We will N get to that later. month we shared the first of a three-part CyberE Last Security program that is being offered through the F AAEA/EBi partnership. We discussed the I identity-theft and social media monitoring platform underwritten by Info-Armor.

T This month we will focus on an area that S may be most important as it relates to reducing the risk of malicious content entering your system via Phishing emails. That area is employee education. It may be your last line of defense.

The AAEA and EBi have partnered with Lucy Security to offer a robust employee education platform that can be fully administered by your school district’s IT Department. So, why is employee education so important? “Having a firewall and antivirus software is important, but employees dealing with e-mail, the internet, portable data devices, mobile devices, etc.

Phishing emails were sent to the school district last November and it led to three separate transactions that cost the school district $2.3 million out of pocket.

How could this have been stopped? On the front end by educating employees on what to look for when opening email. Without the necessary training to help employees identify these messages, it can be very easy for these bad actors to succeed.

Here are 7 Benefits of providing employee education: 1) Training reduces errors, 2) Training enhances Security, 3) An educated staff increases compliance, 4) Security training can help protect a school district’s reputation, 5) Education helps morale, 6) The school district will save time and money, and 7) You will have peace of mind.

If your school district is interested in learning more about Lucy Security and taking advantage of reduced pricing via the AAEA/EBi Partnership, please contact Kylie.joseph@ebiteam.com.

also contribute to security and can be considered the last line of defense.” But wait a minute…Are school districts really at risk? Don’t ask the Manor Independent School District in Texas.

Asked

&

Answered

Mike Mertens AAEA Assistant Executive Director

If you have questions for Mike, email them to a.mcnabb@theaaea.org.

5 Administrator May 2020

This call came recently and was p ro m p t e d b y t h e p u b l i c h e a l t h emergency we find ourselves in, "Are we still required to have a monthly regular board meeting and provide space for the public to attend?'

The answer to the first part of the question is "no," school boards are not required to meet monthly as long as the waiver requested by ADE of this particular law is in effect. The answer to the second part of the question regarding providing for the public to attend is, "not necessarily." The current

Column Provided by: Shane Pennington, Regional Sales Executive, Educational Benefits, Inc.

public health emergency along with the directives from the Arkansas Department of Health are factors that should be included when determining what has to be provided in regards to access.

Public participation can be provided remotely.

Notice can be accomplished through multiple notification methods (i.e. email, phone call, website posting). Information on how a recording of the meeting will be provided to interested individuals upon request should also be included in the public notice of the meeting.

AAEA is looking for innovative, unique, and inspiring projects you and your students are doing in your school district. At our summer conference, August 3-5, 2020 we’ll showcase some cool schools and the creative ways they’re helping students learn!

Before the opening session on August 3, we’ll feature a slideshow with photos and short descriptions of great things happening in Arkansas schools. If you’d like to participate, please send your high resolution photos (up to 8) and information about your cool projects to Amy McNabb, Communications Manager, at a.mcnabb@theaaea.org by Friday, May 15.

2021 Superintendent of the Year Nominations

It is time to nominate a superintendent who you feel is an outstanding candidate to represent Arkansas as the 2021 Superintendent of the Year.

Anyone can nominate a superintendent who they feel is an exemplary leader with the qualities to lead schools as we continue to move Arkansas forward.

Click HERE for additional information.

AACIA Administrator of the Year Nominations are now being accepted.

The deadline to nominate an outstanding curriculum administrator is May 15, 2020. Take time to help us recognize our hard working curriculum administrators. The nomination form is located HERE.

6

Administrator May 2020

Board Election Results

Congratulations!

Brian Kirkendoll, Principal, Alma High School AASSP Thank you to everyone who voted in the AAEA Board election. The election was close which tells us that all candidates in the running are highly respected and would do a great job of representing our members. We appreciate all of the candidates’ willingness to serve!

The newest AAEA board member, effective July 1, is Brian Kirkendoll.

Congratulations, Brian! We are proud to have you serve on our board and look forward to working with you!

Congratulations 2020 Garrison Scholarship Winner!

Alli Beth King has been selected as the 2020 C.B. Garrison 2020 Scholarship winner!

Alli Beth is a 2020 Honor Graduate of Rison High School. She is ranked 5th in her class with a 4.12 GPA as of the end of the Fall Semester. She has been a six year member of student council where she has served as both Secretary and Vice President. Alli Beth has been a cheerleader for six years and earned 2019-20 3A Arkansas All State Honors and has been selected as a UCA All American and a NCA All American Nominee.Alli Beth will be attending Arkansas Tech University in the Fall where she will be a member of the ATU Golden Girls Dance Team and majoring in biomedicine with an emphasis in biology. She is the 17 year old daughter of Davy & Kim Kaye King of Rison.

Mass Group Marketing (American Public Life) of Plano, TX and the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators annually award a $1,000 scholarship to a son or daughter of an AAEA member. John Beesley, Chief Executive Officer of Mass Group Marketing, established the scholarship in memory of Dr. C. B. Garrison, former Superintendent of the Fort Smith School District.

Selection is based on academic excellence, leadership in school activities, work experiences and community service.

7 Administrator May 2020

Alli Beth King 2020 Garrison Scholarship Winner

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) For news and resources regarding COVID-19, here is a list of educational resources for schools, districts, and parent/families regarding continued learning for students while schools are closed. Check the link regularly, as we update it frequently. You can also click the menu bar on the AAEA website and find this information listed under “Resources."

NEW WEBSITE. NEW APP. STILL THE

Voice

FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS. Click here to take a tour of the AAEA App!

8

Administrator May 2020

Retirement’s Going to Be…

Out of This World.

Retiree Luncheon August 4, 2020

45th Annual AAEA Summer Conference

Members of the AAEA who will retire at the end of the current school year will be honored at the annual awards luncheon at the 2020 AAEA Summer Conference, August 4. The AAEA appreciates all Arkansas administrators’ dedication and hard work for the students; however, this recognition applies to current AAEA members only. Please help us identify those retiring school administrators in your district by completing a retiree notification form and returning it ASAP to the AAEA. A letter and additional form will then be sent to the retirees. The retiree personal information form must be received by May 29, 2020 to be included in the retiree booklet at the summer conference.

Click here for the downloadable Retiree Recognition form on the AAEA website where further details will be provided.

Congratulations!

9 Administrator May 2020

Professional Development

2020 C A L E N D A R 05/2020

08/2020

AAFC Spring Conference — May 6-8, 2020, Hot Springs Convention Center (CANCELLED)

A Summer Conference — August 3-5, 2020, Marriott Hotel and Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock

ASBA/AAEA Joint Conference — May 5, 2020, Embassy Suites, Little Rock (CANCELLED)

06/2020 Bill Daggett Cohort Conference — June 1, 2020, DoubleTree Hotel, Little Rock (CANCELLED) School Law VIRTUAL Conference — June 2, 2020, DoubleTree Hotel, Little Rock AASEA VIRTUAL Special Education Conference — June 8-9, 2020 (Registration Open Soon!)

07/2020 CASBO Classes — July 7-9, 2020, Arkansas PBS, Conway ASPMA Classes — July 15-16, Arkansas PBS, Conway

09/2020 ArkASPA HR Bootcamp — September 8, 2020, Wyndham Riverfront, North Little Rock AAFC Fall Conference — September 23-25, 2020, Hot Springs Convention Center

10/2020 ASPMA Conference & Certification Classes — October 5-7, 2020, Hot Springs Convention Center AAGEA Conference — October 22-23, 2020, Benton Event Center AAEA Fall Conference — October 29, 2020, DoubleTree Hotel, Little Rock.

To see a schedule of more AAEA events, go to theaaea.org and click on “Calendar.”

10 Administrator May 2020

This year's conference will have an emphasis on mental health. With the current COVID-19 crisis, there is an even bigger need to focus on mental health for our students. See the full agenda below.

Join us online without leaving your home/ office to gain valuable information to assist your students. Details on connecting will be sent at a later time. Click here to register now!

AGENDA •

Welcome - Dr. Richard Abernathy, AAEA Executive Director

•

“An Overview of HIPAA, FERPA, and Confidentially as it Relates to School Mental Heath Services" - Presenter: J. Craig Wilson, Director of Health Policy, AR Center for Health Improvement

•

"Legal Implications of Dealing with Health Issues in Public Schools" - Presenter: Marshall Ney, Attorney-at-Law

•

"Child Trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Mental Health First Aid" - Presenter: Dr. Betsy Kindell, ADE Mental Health Specialist

•

Mental Health Panel of Practitioners “Trust Based Behavioral Interventions and The Connected Child,” Concord Public Schools“ Keeping Bryant Kids Healthy” Including Mental Health Needs” - Bryant Public Schools

•

“A Comprehensive, Integrated School-Based Mental Health Program Using School Counselors and Health Clinicians” - Sheridan Public School

•

“Public/Private Collaboration to Meet the Mental Health Needs to Students in Rural Communities” - Fouke Public Schools

•

“The Future of Mental Health Services in Schools" - Presenter: ADE Staff Leadership

Registration $90 for AAEA members and AAEA non-members.

May 29, 2020 is the last day to register online.

11

Administrator May 2020

KEYNOTE SPEAKER DR. ADOLPH BROWN is an American urban and rural school educator, author, research-scientist, businessman, and keynote speaker. He is a servant-leader at heart, a life-long social justice advocate and a career teacher educator.

He is admired around the world for his simple and direct “Real Talk,” and powerful, universal and timeless teachings.

Click here to read more about Dr. Brown!

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

2020 Summer Conference August 3-5 Marriott Hotel and State House Convention Center CLICK HERE TO SEE AN AGENDA & TO REGISTER!

HOUSTON NUTT served as a head coach in the SEC for 14 seasons from 1998-2011 with the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Ole Miss Rebels.

N u tt c o a c h e d a t A r k a n s a s fro m 1998-2007, leading the Razorbacks to three SEC West titles and three New Years Day bowl games in that time.

Nutt was a three-time SEC Coach of the Year and an Arkansas Hall of Fame Inductee.

12

Administrator May 2020

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 out-of-state, seeking employment in Arkansas’ schools.

Tools to Help You Hire the

Best

Approximately, 165 school districts are participating in the program in 2020, 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. Subscription renewals will be sent to superintendents this fall regarding 2020 renewal.

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 Pea Ridge School District

Athletic Director

More Information

DeWitt School District

Gillett Elementary Principal/Secondary Dyslexia Coordinator

More Information

Smackover-Norphlet School District

High School Assistant Principal

More Information

Mena School District

Assistant Superintendent

More Information

Jacksonville North Pulaski School District

Special Education Coordinator

More Information

Jacksonville North Pulaski School District

Secondary Assistant Principal

More Information

Siloam Springs School District

Assistant Principal – Middle School (Grades 7-8)

More Information

Jasper School District

Oark K-12 Principal

More Information

Dumas School District

LEA Supervisor

More Information

Fort Smith School District

Special Education Coordinator

More Information

Greenbrier School District

Elementary Principal

More Information

Friendship Aspire Academy

High School Principal

More Information continued

13

Administrator May 2020

MORE OPENINGS

Sheridan School District

Director of Special Services

More Information

Eureka Springs School District

Child Nutrition Director

More Information

Bryant School District

Elementary Principal

More Information

Trumann School District

TES Student Services Coordinator

More Information

Magazine School District

High School Principal

More Information

Siloam Springs School District

Principal – Northside Elementary (Grades Pre-K & K)

More Information

Siloam Springs School District

Director of Academic Support & ESOL Programs

More Information

Ashdown School District

Junior High School Principal

More Information

Cossatot River School District

Principal

More Information

VISIT OUR JOB SITE FOR MORE

https://arkansas.schoolspring.com/

14

Administrator May 2020

Be a Part of Something…

The

Training

Voice Networking

Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators

Bigger for School Administrators

Mentoring

Legal Services

Advocacy

theaaea.org