Cohort 5, Class of 2021

Kristie Betancur

Arkansas Department of Education, DESE, Statewide Literacy Coach

• Bachelor of Science in Public Relations & Marketing, Troy University, 1997
• Masters in Business Administration, University of Redlands, 2000
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

The IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship  program continues to make a daily impact on my experiences as an educator. The expertise of the IMPACT coaches, knowledge of professors of pertinent content, and the support system of colleagues to grow with have made IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship one of the BEST decisions I have made in regards to my career. Their expectations are high, but so are the rewards!

Angela Dixon

Friendship Aspire Academy Pine Bluff -Friendship Aspire Public Charter School District,
Director of Curriculum & Instruction

• Bachelors of Arts, Elementary Education, Tuskegee University, 2011
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

The IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship has strengthened my leadership skills, and provided me with a wealth of strategies and tools to implement as a leader. The IMPACT fellowship has also reinvigorated my passion to be a change agent within the field of education.

Julie Ferguson

Mansfield Elementary, Mansfield School District, Principal

• Bachelor of Science Early Childhood Education, University of North Texas, 1996
• Master of Educational Technology, University of Arkansas, 2005
• Master of Reading, Arkansas State University, 2018
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

The IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship has shown me the importance of making my voice as a school leader heard. It has also given me the tools I need to be a productive school leader.

Stacey Gaddis

Mineral Springs School District,
K-12 Principal

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 2007
• Master of Science in Education, Gifted, Talented, and Creative, Arkansas State University, 2013
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

The IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship has provided me with resources and tools to become a more effective teacher and leader. This program has given me the confidence to step outside my normal box and look for opportunities to pursue. I am grateful for the support I have received from the coaches and fellows. This has been an amazing experience!

Elizabeth Roach

• Associates of Arts Degree in General Studies
• Bachelor of Science in Education- Early Childhood Education
• Master of Education- Special Education
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship encompasses more than just preparing future leaders. IMPACT grows people. It ignites fire into a human’s ability to develop in every way. The relationships and supports with this program are paramount. You dig deep, you rise above, and you become the best version of yourself to serve as a leader anywhere your path takes you.

Tiffany Harper

Jacksonville High School, Jacksonville North Pulaski School District, Classroom Teacher, New Teacher Mentor, and Classroom Management Coach

• Bachelor of Science, Secondary English Education, Arkansas Tech University, 2013
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

The IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship has prepared me to be a more effective leader. The projects, coursework, and professional development combined with the one-on-one coaching make this program unique from traditional programs. My confidence as a leader has increased as I have expanded my personal learning network and gained new resources and skills that will allow me to have a meaningful impact in my position. I am honored to be an IMPACT Arkansas Fellow.

Anita Hart

Westwind School of Performing Arts,
Principal

• Bachelor of Science in Sociology, University of Arkansas Little Rock, 2013
• Masters of Education in Curriculum & Instruction, University of Arkansas Little Rock, 2017
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

The IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship has helped to further ignite my passion for education and my passion for being a lifelong learner. The tools, resources, and practices I have been able to add to my toolkit will allow me to become a more effective leader.

Erika Hubbard

KIPP Blytheville Collegiate High School
Principal

• Bachelor of Arts, African American Studies and Earth and Environmental Science, Wesleyan University, 2014
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

The IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship has helped me develop my leadership capacity by refining my adaptive and technical skills. As a result of this experience, I am confident in my ability to affect change within my school community.

Jessica Jeffers

Langston Elementary Leader Academy, Hot Springs School District,
District Title I and Community Involvement Coordinator

• Bachelor of Science, Early Childhood Education, Henderson State University, 2009
• Masters of Library Science in Library Science, Sam Houston State University, 2016
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

As an IMPACT Fellow I have gained the support, tools, grace, and encouragement necessary to become an effective leader. I have not only grown professionally from this program, but personally as well. I am beyond grateful to this program’s staff for seeing the potential in me before I saw it in myself.

Sherrie Jones

KidSPOT Trumann, Educational Curriculum Coordinator Specialist

• Bachelor of Science, Early Childhood Education, Arkansas State University, 2012
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

The IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship has allowed me the opportunity to expand my knowledge to facilitate adult learning, grow my professional network, and understand the importance of social emotional learning (SEL) for children and adults. I have the confidence now to initiate and lead learners in their journey.

Sara Kennedy

Bernice Young Elementary, Springdale School District,
Assistant Principal

• Bachelor of Science, Early Childhood Education, University of Texas at Austin, 2004
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

The IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship has given me the leadership experience and confidence I needed to be an effective and dynamic leader in my current position as well as the knowledge I need to continue to pursue my passion in educational leadership.

Jennifer Lassiter

Lonoke Primary School, Lonoke School District
Second Grade Teacher, Lead Teacher

• Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 1999
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

The IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship has given me the knowledge and experience to be a more confident teacher leader. I am making professional connections with amazing teachers and leaders from all over Arkansas. I am grateful for the opportunity the Fellowship program has afforded me.

Rosanna Mhlanga

Friendship Aspire Academy North Little Rock, Principal

• Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, Tuskegee University, 2010
• Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, Argosy University, 2013
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

Having a coach through the IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship program has been a rewarding experience for me. I was able to navigate through my second year in administration with an experienced educator and former principal, that walked side-by-side with me throughout my school year, and throughout this graduate program.

John Osborn

Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School, Education Director

• BA Mathematics, Ave Maria University 2015
• Masters in Secondary Education, Grand Canyon University, 2017
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

The IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship has helped me discover my strengths and areas of growth as a school leader. It has provided me with meaningful relationships, countless tools, resources, and ideas that have already made a positive impact on myself and my school community.

Jenni Phomsithi

SC Tucker Elementary, Danville School District,
Principal

• Bachelor of Arts in English, University of Central Arkansas, 2000
• Masters of Arts in Education, University of Arkansas at Monticello, 2006
• Education Specialist in Curriculum, Arkansas State University, 2017
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

The IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship has been incredibly fulfilling. Thanks to the fellowship, I’ve learned strategies from cohort fellows, coaches, professors, and TLI staff that I can take back and implement in my school district. My thinking has been challenged, and through reflection I’ve grown into a stronger educator and advocate for staff and students.

Jessica Ramirez- Martinez

Lakeside Jr. High School, Springdale School District, Spanish Teacher

• Bachelor of Arts in History, University of Arkansas, 2016
• Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, University of Arkansas, 2016
• Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies, University of Arkansas, 2016
• Master of Arts in Teaching, University of Arkansas, 2017
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

The IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship has empowered me to lead. I was challenged, I grew, and I reflected on my practices as an educator and as a leader.

Christian Storm

Pottsville High School, Pottsville School District, Teacher

• Bachelor of Science, Physical and Earth Science Education, Arkansas Tech University, 2014
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

The IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship has empowered me, as an aspiring educational leader, to have a voice of change for the betterment of all learners.

Kala Thornton

Hermitage High School, Hermitage School District,
English Teacher

• Bachelor of Arts & Humanities, Literature Concentration, University of Arkansas Monticello, 2012
• Masters of Arts in Teaching, University of Arkansas, Monticello, 2013
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

The IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship has provided me with an outstanding educational opportunity that has allowed me to craft my leadership skills, become more reflective of myself in order to address my areas of growth, and provided me with the support and tools necessary to become a skilled leader.

Grover Welch

Jonesboro High School, Jonesboro School District, Special Education English Language Arts/Reading

• Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, Arkansas State University, 2013
• Masters of Reading Arkansas State University, 2016
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

IMPACT has helped me reflect on my practice as an educator and a leader. I have grown to understand the demands of instructional leadership and how to better work with educators to benefit students.

Darius Young

• Bachelor of Science in Physical Education & Health, Arkansas State University, 2017
• Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, 2021

The IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship has taught me how to be a better leader within my school and community. The training and coaching I received was excellent. This process has taught me to analyze every situation with an open-mindset. I have enjoyed this journey of becoming a transformative leader.