Instructional Insights

Exceptional Partnerships in Arkansas

NIET’s latest work in the state is just the Beginning

Submitted by the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching

The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) works with districts to make success the standard - not just the goal. In our latest partnership with Arkansas schools, our partners’ results spoke for themselves: The Arkansas Rural Educator Network (AREN) resulted in 96% of AREN districts improving teacher instructional skills and 90% of districts outperforming comparison districts, paving the way for NIET to support other rural districts in strengthening instruction and student learning.

NIET and the Walton Family Foundation started AREN to improve teaching and learning in rural districts in 2020. AREN built educator capacity through customized professional learning and networking opportunities and served 27 rural districts, impacting more than 23,000 students.

The AREN partnership’s commitment to providing targeted, high-quality service that meets each district’s unique needs ensures that the extended support remains relevant, solidifying NIET partners’ resounding success. The growth through this initiative shows clear positive outcomes when educational leaders commit to raising achievement levels for all students by supporting teachers and the leadership that supports them.

NIET believes that when districts invest in instructional growth and leadership capacity at every level, it directly results in student success and is essential to eliminating equity gaps. That’s why we work with districts and schools every step of the way - from customized on-site support for district and school-level leadership teams, as an approved provider of Professional Learning Communities services and the Lead Professional Educator Designation, and building up new superintendents with our executive coaching program. Currently, NIET is supporting districts, educational service centers, and universities with customized support and has trained 750 Arkansas educators for Lead Designation certification. For Arkansas, our past, present, and future partnerships all drive achievement from every level of the school system.

Visit NIET.org to learn about our work in Arkansas.