LITTLE ROCK — Forward Arkansas celebrated 16 schools from the Delta and Northwest Arkansas, including four from Jefferson County, for designing and implementing innovative approaches to reimagine student learning. Over the past 17 months, teams from eight districts participated in the LeARner Collective, a first-of-its-kind professional development initiative for Arkansas educators.
“Students’ needs and the workforce opportunities we’re preparing them for are rapidly changing,” said Ben Kutylo, Forward’s president and CEO. “Through initiatives like the LeARner Collective, we empower great teachers and school leaders to create innovative solutions to meet their communities’ needs, improve student learning and equip kids for success in career and life.”
Forward launched Phase I of the LeARner Collective in January 2024 by supporting participating schools in identifying priority areas and piloting solutions to address their challenges. For Phase II, beginning in August 2024, Forward and its partner, 2Revolutions, helped the teams expand and scale their ideas through personalized coaching, professional learning and cross-school collaboration. Phase II included two implementation pathways:
Continuation, grouped by four focus areas: targeted instruction (Randall G. Lynch Middle School in Farmington), durable skills (Explore Academy in Pine Bluff and Pine Bluff Junior High Academy), positive behavior systems (Gentry Primary School, James Matthews Elementary in Pine Bluff, Jerry “Pop” William Elementary School in Farmington and Pea Ridge Primary School) and teachers as leaders (Gentry Midddle School, Ardis Ann Middle School in Bentonville and Northside Elementary School in Rogers).
Schoolwide transformation, a deeper, community-driven experience that consists of five schools: Grimsley Junior High School (durable skills for student engagement and success), Lowell Elementary School (schoolwide systems for ensuring high-quality instruction for all learners), Marvell-Elaine School District (academic excellence through community engagement and collaboration), Pea Ridge Intermediate School (staff-family collaboration for greater student engagement) and White Hall High School (empowered teachers for strengthend culture and enhanced learning).
Forward’s publication, Celebrating the LeARner Collective, highlights the schools’ journeys and impact, along with resources about the initiative.