Instructional Insights

Arkansas' New Teacher Leader Role Elevates Classroom Coaching in Reading and Math

Submitted by the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching

Arkansas is expanding teacher leadership with the new Master Professional Educator Designation, a role focused on high-impact classroom coaching in reading and math. This designation builds on the success of more than 1,000 lead teachers already trained and certified to mentor teacher candidates and new educators. Together, Lead and Master designations are part of the state’s strategy to accelerate student learning and ensure new teachers are supported by accomplished classroom leaders.

Both designations are recognized by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as pathways to meet licensure requirements for educators who mentor new teachers. They are also supported through the state’s merit pay system, enabling Lead and Master teachers to earn additional compensation.

NIET is a leading pathway provider in the state, having trained more than 800 lead teachers, and is proud to continue to build educators as a provider of the new Master Teacher designation this fall. NIET’s Master Professional Educator Designation Pathway equips experienced teachers with advanced coaching and development skills. Participants will analyze student work and data, strengthen content-specific strategies in ELA and math, and build reflective coaching and support systems to bolster new educator practices. This pathway includes synchronous virtual sessions for interactive instruction, reflection, and discussion, asynchronous components for individualized, flexible learning schedules, on-site individualized coaching to support implementation and deepen leadership skills, and jobembedded field experiences.

NIET has more than 25 years of experience working in districts across the country, including supporting hundreds of educators in achieving their designations in Arkansas. The Master Designation Pathway is yet another opportunity to continue to elevate educators statewide using NIET’s proven approach in building capacity and instructional excellence, with nearly 250 educators already enrolled this school year.

Interested in learning more information on how to identify and support teachers in your district to earn the Master designation? Please contact NIET’s Central Region Director Amy Gayle at agayle@niet.org.