Arkansas School Boards Association

Highlights from the 2026 Southern Region Leadership Conference! From thought-provoking sessions to meaningful connections with education leaders from across the region, these photos capture just a few of the moments that made this year’s conference so special. Thank you to everyone who joined us in Hot Springs!

A special thank you to NoLimits Photography for their photo coverage of SRLC 2026!

Registration is now open for the 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞, taking place on 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐 at the 𝐇𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫! 𝘝𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦.

This one-day event, worth 6 boardsmanship training hours, focuses on equipping school board members and administrators with the tools and insights they need to lead effectively. We will cover current issues affecting the work you do in your local districts, encourage you to connect with peers from across the state, and offer training sessions that are both practical and relevant.

Whether you attend in person or virtually, this is a great opportunity to strengthen your leadership and stay informed. We hope to see you there!

Register online at bit.ly/arboardconnect under the “Registrations / Publications” tab. Full agenda coming soon!

Learn more at https://www.arsba.org/article/3047781.

Yesterday’s student panel was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do.

Thank you to our outstanding student leaders—Madi Duke (Beebe School District), Austin Bernard (Parkview Arts/Science Magnet High School- LRSD), Cooper Jones (Lake Hamilton School District), Mallory Thompson (Bryant Public Schools), Annslee Young (Sheridan School District), and Micah Autrey (South Conway County School District)—for sharing their perspectives openly and honestly. We also appreciate ASBA Board Vice President Travis Warren for facilitating this meaningful conversation.

One of the biggest takeaways was that school leaders and board members must be willing to listen to and value student voices. When students are included in the conversation, schools are better equipped to meet their needs and prepare them for success in today’s world.

Stay tuned for more highlights from the 2026 Southern Region Leadership Conference! Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, sponsored, volunteered, and supported this tri-state event!

Thank you Louisiana School Boards Association for partnering with us to strengthen board leadership across the Southern Region!

📢 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞!

Don't miss three days of engaging keynote speakers, practical breakout sessions, inspiring student voices, and valuable networking with school board members and education leaders from across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi—all in beautiful Hot Springs.

Online registration closes today. Don't worry - On-site registration will be available, but this is your last opportunity to secure your spot before the conference begins.

View the schedule and register today: https://www.arsba.org/page/2026-southern-region-leadership-conference

Celebrating 250 years of America!

Arkansas School Boards Association offices will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of the holiday. We will resume normal business hours on Monday, July 6.

We wish you a safe and happy Independence Day!

🎙️ 𝗔𝗦𝗕𝗔 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 5 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲!

In this episode, we are joined by Jill Barham, Interim Executive Director of the Arkansas Ethics Commission, and Drew Blankenship, Staff Attorney for the Commission. They discuss recent changes to Arkansas campaign finance reporting requirements, what school board candidates and members need to know, common reporting questions, and where to turn for assistance. Whether you're considering a run for office or currently serving on a school board, this conversation offers practical guidance to help you stay informed and compliant.

Listen on our website at https://www.arsba.org/page/asba-boardcast or on your favorite podcast platform:
🎧 Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Amazon Music

Other helpful resources related to campaign finance are available at the following link: https://www.arsba.org/browse/28231141

We are always looking for feedback from our members on what you want to hear! Submit this brief survey to share your ideas for future episodes. - https://bit.ly/boardcastsurvey

We celebrated Kara and Baby Miles with a sweet baby shower at the ASBA office yesterday! 💙

Congratulations to Kara and her husband, Tanner, as they prepare to welcome Baby Miles in the coming weeks. We are so excited for your growing family and can't wait to meet your little one!

The June 2026 issue of Report Card, the journal of the Arkansas School Boards Association, is now available.

Inside this issue:
• AA Degrees at an A-Rated District – See how Greenbrier is helping students earn associate degrees before graduation, with nearly 11% of this year's senior class completing the milestone on campus.
• Oliva Pushes "Accelerated Mindset" – Arkansas' Secretary of Education challenges schools to expand opportunities for advanced learners and increase associate degree attainment.
• What to Do About "The Big Shrink" – District leaders discuss enrollment declines, school choice, and strategies for navigating a changing educational landscape.
• Parham: "We Work as a Team" – ASBA's president shares key lessons for newly elected board members on governance, leadership, and student-focused decision-making.
• Six Receive ASBA Scholarships – Meet the students recognized by the ASBA Educational Foundation for their academic achievement and future plans in education and beyond.

This and previous issues of Report Card are available online at arsba.org/page/report-card-magazine.

Thank you for staying connected with ASBA!