"I'm excited for Pea Ridge," Susan Chambers with the Arkansas State Board of Education, said when in Pea Ridge Monday.
Chambers attended the Strategic Planning Session with community and school leaders.
"I've been hearing great things about Pea Ridge," Chambers said, "and how the community members take ownership of the school. The community takes ownership ad is passionate about the school and the whole child educational experience."
"I think you're up to something great here," Chambers said to school superintendent Rick Neal.
About 35 people attended the working lunch session brainstorming and helping map the strategic plan to support learning.
Dr. Terry Nichols and Dr. Catherine Nichols, involved in the strategic planning from the beginning, said their role is to help map the road to success.
Celia Swanson with ForwARd Arkansas, a public-private partnership established in 2015 by the Arkansas State Board of Education, the Walton Family Foundation and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, said the goal of ForwARd Arkansas is to enhance equity and achieve increases in student achievement and economic prosperity for Arkansas.
Neal said the Pea Ridge Cornerstone is:
• Students prepare for success;
• Staff provides high quality service;
• Community and parents actively participate; and
• School environment supports learning.
"The growth that has occurred in Pea Ridge is astounding," Dr. Terry Nichols said, "but it's because of commitment... ForwARd Arkansas is talking about collaboration across the state. There is a lot of expertise in this room."
Rick Jasculca, chairman of J.T. Strategic Communication, said he wanted to learn from "this specific engagement model" and work on how to publicize and make it a great part of your community.
"I love being here and I love this school district," Dr. Catherine Nichols said. "It's amazing what's happening here."
Neal credited the incredible involvement of the community that helps make the schools successful.
General News on 05/16/2018