Education Innovation Rally 2025

This keynote celebrates a decade of bold innovation in Arkansas education—and the people who made it possible. Through storytelling, reflection, and future-focused action, we’ll explore what has changed, what still needs to, and what is possible when we lead with purpose. Because ten years in, we know the work isn’t done—and the future is ours to build.

Heritage speakers frequently have characteristics that differ from those of second language learners and thus require different pedagogical approaches. This talk covers questions such as these: What are some typical linguistic, affective, and academic profiles of heritage speakers?  How can we determine appropriate curricular goals, instructional approaches, and placement procedures? And what can instructors do when a separate heritage speaker course is not possible and a classroom contains a mix of “apples” and “oranges”? The goal is to best serve the linguistic and affective needs of heritage speakers.

In our session, we will present our self-paced Envision program, which we offer for grades 6-8 at Lonoke Middle School. Envision is a teacher-guided program that puts students in the driver's seat of their education. Teachers are here to guide, hold students accountable, and assist as needed.
To be successful in Envision, students must be self-motivated learners who can work independently. Students progress through the program using a grade-level pacing guide as a tool, at a pace that allows them to master the content. They may demonstrate mastery before their peers or may need a few extra class days to master a particular skill. Either way, students have access to collaborate with their peers and teachers as they master the content and then move on to the next skill.
A major benefit of the Envision program is its accessibility. Students receive a login to the website, where they can access all of their materials. Since it’s an online platform, students can log in from any computer, anywhere, at any time. Each student is assigned a mentor who meets with them at least once per week to discuss goals, progress, programs of study, pacing, and any support they may need.To facilitate the process, all students will explore possible career options and create a career plan. 
Flex Days are something our students look forward to and work towards. Students who are working at or ahead of pace can attend essential classes such as art, PE, band, EAST, etc. This allows them to focus more deeply on their essential classes and produce projects that interest them or relate to potential career paths.
We would also like to present the growth our students demonstrate over the course of the year. Many students in the program experience growth of up to two grade levels, as they are able to move at their own pace and challenge themselves.
Students will be joining us during our presentation. Here is what they have to say about our Envision program:
“The Envision program has helped me understand things better than I would in a traditional classroom. It has also allowed me to work at my own pace and redo assignments I struggled with. Some opportunities that have opened up for me include the chance to improve my grades and have free time to focus on work for other classes once I finish my Envision tasks. My learning has improved because I can better understand lessons and revisit any videos or past assignments if I’m struggling with something. My motivation continues to improve, and I’m not only learning more but also developing greater independence!”

As a lower elementary school (grades PreK-2) in its 2nd year implementation of Thrive AR - PBIS, I endeavor to share the progress we are having since it's implementation.

After exploring innovative ideas at the Innovation Rally, you may be wondering how to effectively implement change when you return home. This session will explore why change is often met with resistance, the different ways people respond to it, and how to support those who struggle with change. Participants will examine the four fundamentalist archetypes of resistance and learn strategies for addressing concerns while fostering collaboration. The session will conclude with a strategic planning process, equipping participants with practical tools to build momentum and sustain meaningful change in their school communities.

How can we foster deeper student engagement? How can teachers create the right conditions for students to take ownership of their learning? This session explores key strategies from Agency by Design: An Educator's Playbook by Wenmoth, Jones, Edwards, and Thompson. The John Tyson School of Innovation team will share how they developed a common language around student agency using this framework, along with practical approaches to measuring progress through rubrics and goal-setting. Educators from K-12 schools will gain actionable insights to cultivate agency in their classrooms and enhance student engagement.

Teaching is more stressful than ever, with national and Arkansas statistics showing rising burnout, high turnover, and growing emotional strain. One innovative resource to help--not solve--this challenge is the Arkansas Teacher Support
Helpline, a confidential service where teachers and school staff can talk through stress "in the moment" with a peer with lived teaching experience trained in compassionate listening. This workshop explores why talking it out works and will demonstrate through roleplay how an ATSH peer listener may respond to an audience-selected situation.

Heritage speakers are increasingly common in Spanish classrooms around the U.S. After reviewing some common profiles of heritage speakers and how are they linguistically and affectively different from second language students, we will examine why it is important for us to center our instruction in language arts to the greatest extent that students’ proficiency allows. The goal is for our Spanish programs to center the needs of heritage speakers and lead to their personal, academic, and linguistic development in ways that support social justice. We will examine several textbook activities to see how they can best be supportive of students' language arts development

Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking panel discussion, The State of Innovation in Education, as part of the OIE Speaker Series. This panel will spotlight dynamic leaders, visionaries, and changemakers from across the southeastern United States who are pushing the boundaries of education.
Our panelists will explore critical questions such as: What does innovation in education look like today? What factors catalyze meaningful change? What barriers exist, and how can they be overcome? Through shared stories, insights, and lessons learned, we’ll uncover the inspirations that drive these leaders to challenge the status quo and create transformative learning experiences.
Whether you’re an educator, policymaker, student, or lifelong learner, this session will provide fresh perspectives, practical ideas, and a deeper understanding of the evolving educational landscape.