Executive Viewpoint

Meeting The Moment

Dr. Megan Duncan, AAEA Executive Director

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.