Arkansas School Boards Association

09/24/2026

Registration is 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 for the 𝟕𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞!

Join Arkansas school board members and education leaders 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟗–𝟏𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, at the 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐭-𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤 for three days of learning, connection, and leadership.

This year’s theme, “𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐑𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐦 – 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬,” will come to life through engaging breakout sessions, inspiring general sessions, networking opportunities, student speakers and performers, Commercial Affiliate exhibits, and more.

🎷 Headlining this year’s conference is GRAMMY Music Educator Award recipient 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡, 𝐉𝐫., who will challenge education leaders to rediscover their passion, purpose, and leadership at “full volume.”

Attendees can earn up to 𝟏𝟒 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐄-𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭, with All Access, single-day, and virtual registration options available.

Early registration rates are available through November 20.

Register today through AR Board Connect: https://bit.ly/arboardconnect

View the agenda at a glance: https://aptg.co/th-CRN

We’ll see you in Little Rock as Arkansas education leaders come together to find their rhythm and set the tone for stronger schools! 🎵

09/23/2026

Reminder - Board of Excellence nominations are open through October 19! Help us ensure our state's hardworking boards receive the recognition they deserve!

Does your school board exemplify exceptional leadership, strong governance, and a commitment to student success? It’s time to share their story!

Applications are now open for the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗔𝗦𝗕𝗔 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱, recognizing Arkansas school boards whose leadership and dedication are making a difference for their students, schools and communities.

Up to two boards will be honored—one from a district with enrollment below 1,500 and one from a district with enrollment above 1,500. Award recipients will be recognized at the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗔𝗦𝗕𝗔 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟭.

📅 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

Learn more about the award and criteria: https://aptg.co/l0gNbB
Apply: https://bit.ly/asbaboe26

Know a board whose work deserves to be recognized? Encourage them to apply!

09/22/2026

Dr. Dan Award nominations are open through October 15!
Know someone who deserves to be recognized? Submit their nomination today!

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Dr. Daniel L. Pilkinton Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education! 🏆

Presented annually by ASBA, the Dr. Dan Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant and lasting contribution to public education in Arkansas. Nominees may include school board members, administrators, teachers, school employees, attorneys, legislators, elected officials or school patrons.

Help us recognize someone whose service and dedication have made a difference for Arkansas public schools!

🔗 Submit a nomination: https://bit.ly/drdan26
📋 View award criteria: https://aptg.co/Gd45Kf
📅 Deadline: October 15, 2026

The recipient will be honored during the ASBA Annual Conference Awards Ceremony on December 10, 2026.

Who deserves to be recognized for their outstanding service to Arkansas public education? Nominate them today!

09/22/2026

Last week, we celebrated our September birthday, Karri, with a festive lunch featuring Mexican food, sweet treats, and plenty of birthday fun! 🌮🎉

Happy Birthday, Karri! We hope your year ahead is something to taco ’bout! 😉

09/21/2026

Regional meetings begin next week! Don't miss this great opportunity to attend meaningful training close to home.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆.

Registration is open for 𝗔𝗦𝗕𝗔’𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀! Join school board members and district leaders from your area for an evening of networking, timely updates, and conversation about the issues affecting Arkansas public schools.

Legislators from each region have been invited to join attendees for the networking meal, giving board members and district leaders an opportunity to connect with their local lawmakers.

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 of DESE-approved board training credit will be available.

𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁: $60 per person

Learn more and find your region’s date and location: https://www.arsba.org/article/3113686
*𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟒!

Register through AR Board Connect: https://bit.ly/arboardconnect

09/11/2026

📣 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬!

We are now accepting presentation proposals for the 𝟕𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟗–𝟏𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔!

This year’s theme, “𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐑𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐦 – 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬,” will bring Arkansas school board members and administrators together for practical, relevant learning focused on stronger governance, leadership, and student outcomes.

We are looking for engaging sessions that share innovative ideas, practical solutions, and strategies that board members can take back to their districts. Presentations should be designed primarily for school board members, and including a board member on the presenting team is encouraged.

📅 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: November 6
🔗 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥: https://bit.ly/acrfp26
📋 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬: https://aptg.co/SzBsFG

Have a topic or experience worth sharing? Help set the tone for stronger schools at Annual Conference 2026!

09/11/2026

On this Patriot Day, we honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001, the first responders who ran toward danger, and the countless individuals whose courage and service emerged in the days that followed.

May we continue to carry forward the spirit of unity and compassion that brought Americans together during one of our nation’s darkest moments.

We will never forget.

09/11/2026

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

Inside this issue:
•Jordan an Educator, Advocate – Remembering longtime Arkansas educator and former ASBA Advocacy Director Dan Jordan, whose 37-year career was marked by a commitment to students, relationships, and public education.
• Students Take the Stage – Southern Region Leadership Conference attendees heard from six Arkansas students who shared what they value about their schools, where they see room for improvement, and why school leaders need to listen to student voices.
• Unanimous Board Votes and Healthy Disagreement – A UCA study of more than 27,000 Arkansas school board votes explores how often boards disagree, what issues most often divide them, and how healthy disagreement can strengthen governance.
• Nelson: School Boards Will Save Rural Regions – Rex Nelson traced the shared history and challenges of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi while making the case that strong public schools are essential to the future of rural communities.
• Executive Session with Jason Jones – Get to know Yellville-Summit board member and ASBA Region 2 Director Jason Jones in Report Card’s recurring Q&A feature.
•Five Teacher of the Year Semifinalists – Meet the five educators selected as 2027 Arkansas Teacher of the Year state semifinalists and the other finalists recognized among the state’s outstanding teachers.

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

Thank you for staying connected with ASBA!