John Pijanowski, a University of Arkansas professor of educational leadership and founder of the IMPACT Arkansas Principal Fellows Program, believes that schools can play a part in addressing just about any kind of problem a community is facing – from the economy and workforce to education and public health. School leadership, therefore, can often spark…Continue Reading IMPACT’s Vision: A Decade of Growth and Strength, Continuing to Shape the Future

The IMPACT Arkansas Principal Fellows Program footprint now includes 60 percent of high-poverty school districts across Arkansas. As of this summer, the innovative program in the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions has been preparing future leaders for the state’s highest-needs schools for 10 years. Educators who show leadership potential and aspire to become leaders…Continue Reading New Cohort Welcomed This Summer

Stacie Breshears (’17) was a successful fifth-grade teacher at Wakefield Elementary School in Southwest Little Rock when her principal, Leslie Taylor, approached her about applying for the first cohort of the U of A IMPACT program. Breshears knew she had Taylor’s support as a mentor, so she was confident in preparing to join the leadership…Continue Reading U of A COEHP IMPACT Fellow Is Beating the Odds for Student Outcomes in Little Rock, Arkansas

John Osborn (’21) and Anita Hart-McNair (’21) are reimagining what school leadership can look like in Arkansas. As Cohort 5 graduates of the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions IMPACT Fellowship Program, Osborn and Hart-McNair were on separate leadership journeys with Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools. Osborn had served as a school leader…Continue Reading U of A COEHP IMPACT Fellows Implement Collaborative Leadership Approach in Jacksonville

When University of Arkansas graduate Cindy Bever (Class of 2018) was approached last summer by her district superintendent about taking on the role of principal for a newly reconstituted Ivory Intermediate School to serve approximately 300 fourth- and fifth-graders, she knew she was ready for the challenge. Mrs. Bever had spent her recent career successfully…Continue Reading U of A COEHP IMPACT Fellow Changing School Culture in Camden, Arkansas

S.C. Tucker Elementary in Danville earned the “Beating the Odds” award this year for having the highest overall student growth among Arkansas schools serving a high percentage of students living in poverty. Their recognition from the U of A Office for Education Policy includes being the highest math growth school and the second highest in English Language…Continue Reading IMPACT Fellows Lead School to Highest Student Achievement Growth in Arkansas