2025 Calendar of Events AAEA Staff
Dr. Megan Duncan Executive Director m.duncan@theaaea.org
Dr. Karla Neathery Assistant Executive Director k.neathery@theaaea.org
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 Membership & Certification Coordinator l.webb@theaaea.org
Molly Franxman Administrative Assistant m.franxman@theaaea.org
Mike Mertens Consultant m.mertens@theaaea.org
Lenett Thrasher Consultant l.thrasher@theaaea.org
September
AAFC Fall Conference, September 17-19, 2025
Hot Springs Convention Center
ArkASPA Fall Conference, September 23, 2025
Benton Event Center
ASPMA Conference, September 29-October 1, 2025
Hot Springs Convention Center
October
AAGEA Conference, October 1-2, 2025
Benton Event Center
CASBO Classes, October 29-30, 2025
UCA Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center
November
AAEA Fall Conference, November 13, 2025
Benton Event Center
For more information, visit theaaea.org/events.
2025-2026 AAEA Board of Directors
Charles Warren AAEA President Chief Financial Officer, Fort Smith
Dr. Debbie Bruick-Jones AASA President Superintendent, Bentonville
Shavon Jackson AAESP President-Elect Principal, Russellville
Melissa Powell ArkASPA President Assistant Superintendent & Director of HR, El Dorado
Justin Robertson AASBO Past President Chief Financial Officer, Russellville
Molly Davis AAMLA President Principal, Rogers
Dr. Megan Duncan AAEA Executive Director
Dr. Jason Reeves AAEA President-Elect and AASSP Past President Superintendent, Mountainburg
Dr. Jeremy Owoh AASA President-Elect Superintendent, Jacksonville/ North Pulaski
Steven Helmick AAESP Past President Principal, Little Rock
Shantele Raper AACTEA President Assistant Superintendent, Rivercrest
Domonique Alexander AASEA President Special Education Supervisor, Fort Smith
Randall Bolinger ASPMA President (until Oct) Maintenance/Facilities Supervisor, Siloam Springs
Dr. Jared Cleveland AAEA Secretary Superintendent, Springdale
Dr. Karen Walters AASA Secretary Superintendent, Bryant
Jason Selig AASSP President Director of Instruction, Lake Hamilton
Lea Metcalf-McDonald AAFC President Executive Director of Curriculum, Texarkana
Dr. Kelli Martin AACIA President DeputyGreenbrierSuperintendent,
Raymond Reynolds ASPMA President (begin Oct) Maintenance/Facilities Supervisor, Searcy
Stacy DeFoor
AAEA Past President Assistant Superintendent, Sheridan
Betsy Laughter AAESP President Principal, Marion
Charles Nelson AASSP President-Elect Principal, Greene County Tech
Pam McCammon AASBO President BusinessGreenbrierManager,
Valerie King AAGEA President Director of Gifted Programs, Siloam Springs
B.J. TEL-ARBurgessPresident Director of GreenbrierTechnology,
2025 AAEA Corporate Sponsors
Presidential
American Fidelity Assurance Co.
Bailey Education Group
Curriculum Associates
Educational Benefits
Lifetouch National School Studios
NIET - National Institute for Excellence in Teaching Solution Tree
Prestigious Cognia
Renaissance Learning
Stephens
Distinguished Apptegy
Arkansas Army National Guard
Capturing Kids’ Hearts
Coryell Roofing and Construction
Lexia Learning
The Kirkland Group
Diamond
Amazon Business
Baldwin & Shell
Conscious Discipline
First Security Beardsley
Imagine Learning
Modern Classrooms Project
OnToCollege
Phoenix Contractors
Platinum
AAMSCO
Architecture Plus
Arkansas Public Safety Solutions
C.R. Crawford Construction
Energy Systems Group
ESS
Hight Jackson Associates PA
HMH | NWEA
Just Right Reader
Legacy
Construction Management
Nabholz | Entegrity Energy Partners
Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects
Powers of Arkansas
Progressive Technologies
Pro Service Builders
Reach University
TRANE
Gold
CDI Contractors
Cromwell Architects Engineers
Cynergy Rehab Group Goalbook
IXL Learning
Kinco Constructors
Middleton Heat and Air
Paragon Architecture
Red Comet
TIPS The Interlocal Purchasing System
White River Services and Solutions
WIlson Language Training
Silver
American Bus Sales
Correll
French Architects, PA
K12 Tutoring
My Benefits Channel
SEAS
SmartData All-In-One Strategos Group
Executive Viewpoint
Dr. Megan Duncan, AAEA Executive Director
MEETING THE MOMENT
As we welcome our children back to school, we are each reminded of our promise to public education. From our youngest learners in Pre-K classrooms to those returning as adults seeking workforce credentials, each educator is called to do more than ever before. We serve as centers of academic learning and the hub of community support, wellness, innovation, and development.
The challenge we face goes beyond capacity; it is our systems and alignment. How can we better align our resources with our children’s needs, our policies with practices, and our instruction with purpose? Today’s children need flexible and future-focused opportunities that reflect the realities of an advancing economy and society. This shift demands courageous leadership, responsive systems, and a renewed commitment to the moral purpose of education focused on children.
Our learners need:
1. Personalized Instruction
Arkansas children need individualized support and accelerated opportunities. Our children may require advanced support, be English language learners, or need assistance through difficult times in their community or home. In the words of our respected educator, Dr. Jim Rollins, “All means All, we must meet them where they are.” This includes investing in our youngest children and expanding access to dual credit for our older children, providing what it takes to meet their needs.
2. Career-Relevant Pathways
As educators, we play an essential role in developing the next generation of skilled workforce to meet the needs of Arkansas. Leaders must work closely with colleges, employers, and state agencies to ensure alignment between classroom learning and in-demand credentials. Career and technical education, work-based learning, and apprenticeships must be accessible and designed to prepare our students for meaningful careers.
3. Adult and Family Support
Our children’s families may also need support through various options, including family engagement classes, workforce credentialing, and other support experiences. Partnering with the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to advance these practices is a shared vision with the K-12 community. In support of this, the Arkansas Department of Education is actively aligning course content and codes to improve access to higher education and streamlining students’ pathways to success.
4. Supported Educators
All of this focused work requires excellent educators who feel supported by their community and actively collaborate to support children. We need to recruit and retain our top-performing educators across the state to ensure every student has access to high quality teaching and support. That begins with us collaborating as a state team to meet the challenges to best help our children. We must strengthen mentoring programs, elevate teacher leadership, and create positive interactions to support this most important work.
At AAEA, we are committed to supporting educational leaders as they navigate this complexity. Through advocacy, professional development, and shared learning networks, we will continue to champion for our children across all regions of our state and reimagine systems that better serve every child in Arkansas.
Asked & Answered
Dr. Karla Neathery, AAEA Assistant Executive Director
I know the law has changed on public comment for school board meetings. How do we handle this at our next board meeting?
Members of the public are to have the opportunity to present public comment at each meeting of a school district board of directors according to Act 902. Public comment must take place prior to the consideration of any business or executive session. Any member of the public, as defined in the act, will be given at least three minutes to share their comments. Public comment period cannot exceed thirty minutes. If the public comment extends beyond thirty (30) minutes, the board may move public comment to be held after the other agenda items. The board may require those wishing to provide public comment to use a sign-up sheet prior to the start of the board meeting.
If you have questions for Dr. Neathery, email her at k.neathery@theaaea.org .
Instructional Insights
Strengthening Arkansas’ Teacher Leadership Pipeline
NIET Hits Milestone in Coaching Arkansas Educators
Submitted by the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching
Arkansas educators are stepping into stronger leadership roles as the state deepens its commitment to advancing teacher quality and student outcomes under the LEARNS Act. More than 800 teachers have achieved the Lead Professional Educator Designation through training and support from the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), a nationally recognized expert in educator leadership and instructional excellence. The Lead Professional Educator designation is elevating the teaching profession in Arkansas by investing in teachers’ professional skills and giving them opportunities to shape instructional improvement efforts in their school.
With over a quarter century of work in schools and districts, NIET has found that teachers are eager to expand their own skills and support their colleagues to improve through mentoring, coaching, and collaborative learning. In Arkansas, the Lead Professional Educator Designation formally recognizes that expertise and elevates teachers as leaders who drive instructional improvement within their schools.
Arkansas districts work with NIET to integrate teacher leaders into professional learning and coaching systems in their schools. This work demonstrates the benefits of individuals taking on a leadership role, creating a ripple effect of positive outcomes. As educators take on leadership roles, both students and teachers build confidence and foster learning communities that inspire teacher retention.
“NIET has been such a great partner to help us continue building teacher leaders, building a leadership team, and building how we support teachers effectively, so that we do see those gains in the classroom and student achievement,” said Cross County High School Master Teacher and NIET Fellow Stephen Prince. “A teacher has to have effective instruction in order to yield higher student achievement results, and both of those go hand in hand. NIET has helped us identify what we need to do right so we can get both of those results.”
Arkansas’ commitment to strengthening teacher leadership, combined with the support of NIET, is making an impact in classrooms statewide. This coaching milestone stands as both a success in elevating teacher quality and an indicator of how far educators will go with effective systems in place to pave the way.
President’s Perspective
Charles Warren, AAEA Board President
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A FREE
LUNCH
Growing up in Elkins (Go Elks!), I was a big fan of school lunches. My favorite dish was the square shaped piece of pizza on Fridays. I’ll admit that there were times that the school lunch did not suit my fancy. When that happened, I was quick to bring out my Six Million Dollar Man lunch box filled with a good old-fashioned bologna sandwich and maybe, just maybe, a Twinkie. Mostly, I ate the school-provided lunch.
When I was in elementary school in the late 1900s, I knew the names of the Child Nutrition workers at my school – like Dixie, Irene, and Laverne. They knew my name and the names of my classmates. I think that we sometimes overlook the fact that these staff members know all the kids in their school. We forget that these school employees develop real relationships with students. They get to know what we like and what we don’t like. They try to pick us up when we are down and they celebrate with us when things are going our way.
I have always had a deep respect for the profession because my grandmother, Margaret West, was a Child Nutrition worker at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville at Pomfret Hall. She loved interacting with the students. I remember her returning from work in her white uniform and talking about the kids in the dorm. They were from all over and she loved pulling out a map to see exactly where they came from.
Back then, the term that was used was likely “cafeteria worker” or “lunch lady” or “food service”. These terms don’t honor their skills and professional service they provide. That’s why I’ll use the term “Child Nutrition.” To further demonstrate their professionalism, they have a professional organization called “School Nutrition Association” (SNA). They also have a certification program with 70 hours of training to become a “Certified Child Nutrition Worker.” It feels like this group should be a constituency of AAEA.
When I think of Child Nutrition finance, I think of Ashten Black. I first met Ashten when she made a presentation at the 2022 Annual AASBO Conference. She spoke so intelligently and passionately about Child Nutrition finance that I was floored. She broke down a complex subject into foundational points that allowed me to expand my understanding about the program called Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
Soon after that presentation, Ashten joined the AASBO Board. I asked Ashten to provide a few thoughts from the perspective of a school business official (SBO) on Child Nutrition. She pointed out that although recent state legislation funded free breakfasts for all Arkansas public school students, the CEP program could still make a meaningful impact to your school district.
That’s because districts qualifying for CEP can provide lunches for free to all students. When all meals are free, more kids are eating and that’s a good thing. There are so many more benefits to the CEP program
(both inside Child Nutrition and outside) than I could have listed here, but Ashten can easily reel them off in a conversation.
Districts must look closely at the financial impact of moving to CEP. If your district’s free and reduced (F/R) student population is not high enough, your district may be subsidizing a lot of student meals. There’s an old business expression “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”. That’s true, but there may be value in providing a free lunch through CEP.
Although not enrolled in CEP, school districts like Fort Smith have to work hard to ensure all students have an F/R meal application on file, especially by October 1st every year. The unique nature of our Enhanced Student Achievement (ESA) funding created funding cliffs that provide significant drops in funding per F/R students. When I first started working at FSPS in 2009, our F/R percentage was 68%, placing us on the lowest funding tier of ESA. For the last ten years, we’ve reflected a level of 72%, moving us to the next funding tier.
I worry about these F/R counts and percentages every September. I don’t wish that so many of our students live in some level of poverty. If they do, however, I want every dollar we can get for our district and ultimately for them. I don’t like having to sweat it out until we get to 70% F/R.
I unashamedly advocate for F/R students. There was a period of time that I was one. For a couple of years, my mom stayed home to raise my youngest brother Jonathan, her most favored child. Jonathan knows it’s true. My brother Bill and I know it too. I mean, we went to a baby sitter so mom could teach in Fayetteville when we were preschoolers – not that we’re bitter. But I digress. As a family of five living on the wages of a rural school principal, we qualified for reduced meals. I remember my dad telling me that we were going to start buying yellow lunch tickets from now on because it would help the school. Later, as an adult, I realized that the school collected colored lunch tickets – green (full pay), yellow (reduced), and red (free). I never dreamed that this program would be one of my biggest concerns as an SBO at Fort Smith.
Even though breakfasts are free, whether or not you qualify as an F/R student, Ashten has also got me thinking more about moving to a program called “breakfast in the classroom.” She advocates that more kids will eat if there is time provided at the start of the school day to eat breakfast. Some students don’t get to school early enough to enjoy breakfast in the cafeteria before school starts. She knows the classroom may get “messy,” but she showed me research indicating that breakfast in the classroom to start the day improves student attendance, discipline, mental health, test scores, and academic achievement. It’s hard to argue with that kind of data.
Lastly, my wife, Missy, shared a memory, also from the late 1900s. While attending her first year of school in Hamburg (Go Lions!), she forgot to get lunch money from her dad. She was sobbing in the lunch line because her six year old imagination thought she might starve and that her dad was going to have to pick up her boney, dead carcass from school later that day because she assumed that she couldn’t eat if she couldn’t pay.
A Child Nutrition employee saw her and heard her story. She assured Missy that everything was OK and that she could “charge” her lunch today and bring in the money tomorrow. She remembers the relief of that moment and the kindness of that lady. Though we lived in two different corners of the state, Missy and I learned early in our childhood that Child Nutrition employees cared about us and every kid in their school building. I can also confirm that Missy is still very comfortable “charging” things to this day.
Administrator Spotlight: B.J. Burgess
Chief Information Officer, Greenbrier Public Schools
B.J. Burgess's technology career with Greenbrier Public Schools started while he was still a student in high school. "I started out as a part-time technology worker during the summer," he says. "I worked through college and eventually came on full-time as a technician." After a few years, he became network administrator and started installing and managing servers and networks. That role transitioned into assistant technology director and then eventually director. He states, "I’m starting my 23rd year and my title today of Chief Information Officer encompasses all technology, information systems, cybersecurity, data privacy, and reporting."
B.J. says his favorite thing about his job is the location. "Greenbrier is my alma mater, it’s our home and just part of our blood," he states. "My wife, Misty, and I grew up here, we have three kids in school here. It is a privilege to be able to work and contribute in the same school and community that shaped me growing up. I wouldn’t have it any other way." He also enjoys getting to see how technology can enhance everything from student learning in the classroom, to district core operations.
On the other hand, the integration of technology into so many areas can present challenges. "It is overwhelming when you think of all the systems that rely on technology and information systems to function. Everything we do is somehow reliant on IT," he states. One of the most challenging aspects of his job is staying on top of the latest threats in the cybersecurity realm. "There’s always a new threat and an update for something that can be applied and new technologies and services that we are pursuing and implementing," he explains. "Doing all of that while ensuring the integrity of the systems and data is a challenge."
The growing impact and importance of technology in schools is also the biggest change he's seen over his career. He says, "Early on in my career, computers and computer networks were an added bonus. Extra things that were nice to have and made things fun or interesting. Now, the systems we manage are critical to all district operations and services." Those considering a similar career should know that while it's very rewarding when things go right, it is also very demanding and stressful if equipment or services fail, and the ability to troubleshoot problems under pressure is vital. "Everything the organization does requires some type of network, data or Internet access to function normally. This makes our job as IT specialists so critical."
with B.J. Burgess ? ! Q&A
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Do everything with honesty and integrity and everything else will work itself out.
What is the most daring thing you’ve done?
We had a pretty exciting summer this year. Misty and I took a 20th anniversary trip to Curacao. We did a 45 ft. cliff jump into the ocean while there and then the next week we took the whole family to Pigeon Forge and were able to do white water rafting which was really cool.
What do you enjoy doing during your time off?
When I’m not at work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I love bass fishing, we love to hike as a family, swimming, river floats, lake days and family movie nights. And our kids are in a lot of sports and activities so we stay busy with football, basketball, baseball, volleyball and gymnastics.
What
What do you feel is your greatest professional accomplishment?
Outside of leading technology initiatives at Greenbrier, I’ve had the privilege to serve on the board of TEL-AR and currently serve as president. This has opened up a whole new platform allowing me to share with and learn from other technology leaders in the state, attending and leading sessions and conferences. Obtaining the CISSP certification this past year was something I have wanted to do for many years and finally took the time to tackle that.
What is one of the things on your “Bucket List?”
I’ve never made it to Yellowstone National Park and would enjoy a trip out west to see the unique landscape and wildlife there.
do you see as the biggest benefit of AAEA membership?
AAEA has allowed our TEL-AR group to get involved in the right conversations and with the right people to make connections and forge critical relationships across the state. We are launching a mentoring program for new technology leaders in school districts and hope that this will further engage our group. We have started an EdTech Leadership survey that hopefully will continue to provide valuable information to decision makers across the state. Our group's connections through AAEA have ignited many opportunities for our members.
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.
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 September 2025 issue.
SIGNIFICANT U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISIONS DURING THE 2024-2025 TERM
The U.S. Supreme Court recently completed its 2024-2025 term that included a fair number of decisions with implications for school boards and districts.
A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools (2025)
This case involved a teenaged student with a rare form of severe epilepsy that materially limits her physical and cognitive functioning. The student experienced seizures that prevented her from attending school in the mornings. In the first few years she attended school in another state, that school accommodated her by permitting her to avoid morning activities and instead receive evening instruction. When the student’s family moved to Minnesota in 2015, the district denied her parents’ repeated requests to include evening instruction in her IEP. The parents filed a complaint under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) alleging that the school’s refusal to provide after-hours instruction denied the student a free appropriate public education. A hearing officer determined the district had violated the IDEA and ordered the school to provide compensatory education and evening instruction. Federal courts subsequently affirmed the parents’ IDEA claims.
The student and her parents then sued the school district for disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, seeking a permanent injunction, reimbursement for certain costs, and compensatory damages. The district court granted summary judgment for the school district, and the Eighth Circuit
(the federal appellate court with jurisdiction over appeals from Arkansas federal courts), affirmed. In its decision, the Eighth Circuit stated that a school district’s failure to provide a reasonable accommodation was not enough to state a claim of disability discrimination under the ADA and Section 504; rather, a plaintiff is required to prove that the school officials conduct rose to the level of bad faith or gross misjudgment.
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court reversed, holding that students’ claims under the ADA and Section 504 related to their education do not require a heightened showing of “bad faith or gross misjudgment” but are instead subject to the same standards that apply in other disability discrimination contexts. These standards permit plaintiffs to establish violations under the ADA and Section 504 by showing intentional discrimination, most typically satisfied by “deliberate indifference” –a standard requiring only a showing that the defendant disregarded a strong likelihood that the challenged action would violate federally protected rights.
This decision significantly eliminated the heightened standard previously applied by the Eighth Circuit to cases in which students and parents seek compensatory damages from school districts.
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.
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.
Job Openings
