Fellows Anita Hart-McNair and John Osborn with IMPACT director of support Allison Prewitt.
One of our College’s outreach programs, IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship, supports K-12 education in the state by building leadership capacity in high-needs schools. IMPACT Fellows Anita Hart-McNair and John Osborn are co-education directors at Arkansas Lighthouse Charter School in Jacksonville.
The two graduated from IMPACT in December 2021. Coursework is delivered virtually to students across the state using several technologies that allow for live instruction and a social, cohort-based learning experience with U of A professors and highly accomplished school leaders. Fellows earn a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Arkansas.
Read more about their experiences with IMPACT:
Anita Hart-McNair
What prompted you to apply for IMPACT?
My sister inspired me to apply. She was a part of Cohort 1, and I watched in amazement as she maneuvered through the program. I saw her zeal for what she did grow, and her confidence in being an educator grew with her knowledge. I wanted to be a part of a program that empowered educators the way I saw her becoming more empowered. I was not sure if I wanted to be in a formal leadership role, so I did not apply for several years. After applying and speaking with people like Allison and Dr. Bacon, I realized that IMPACT would help me transform education from whatever seat in my building I decided to sit in. Knowing I would be guided and have support systems within the program made the decision an easy one.
How long have you been at Lighthouse?
I am entering my 7th year as an educator with Arkansas Lighthouse Charter School. I started as a classroom teacher and was able to use learned leadership skills to maneuver into different positions. I am currently an Education Director (Principal).
Can you tell me about your co-education director role?
As opposed to having an Assistant Education Director (Assistant Principal) on campus, we share the full responsibilities of the building. We are instructional leaders. This allows us to observe teachers and coach them by helping them implement effective instructional practices that our scholars need to be successful. We also guide teacher leaders through the process of taking on leadership roles within the building. We use restorative practices to help with the culture of the building as it pertains to scholars. We use this method to proactively and sometimes reactively address any discipline issues that may arise in the building. In essence, we move as one as we take on all of the leadership responsibilities of the building.
What would you say to other teachers who are considering applying to IMPACT?
DO IT! There are hundreds of leadership programs that I could have chosen, and I am eternally grateful that I took a chance on applying for IMPACT and that they took a chance by accepting me. Having a direct line to a coach for the entire program allowed me to have a professional and personal thought partner. I was able to learn in real time. I knew that the information I was being exposed to had value because I was able to immediately take it back into my building and apply it. I saw growth in teachers and students in real time because of this program. The financial investment the program made in me helped me realize the value others saw in me, and this helped me gain confidence as a leader. This program has been life-altering for me but also for every adult learner and child I have encountered since. That is what education is all about, and IMPACT helped orchestrate these life-altering interactions!
John Osborn:
What prompted you to apply for IMPACT?
I had heard about IMPACT for a couple of years and was recommended to them by our Academic Director at the time. I was an Assistant Principal at the time, with no formal training, and I wanted to learn as much as I could about school leadership. I wanted to be in a principal role, and I knew IMPACT was the best chance I had to prepare for that type of work.
How long have you been at Lighthouse?
This will be my 5th year with Lighthouse and 8th overall in education. While at Lighthouse, I have been a district math specialist (1 year), an assistant principal (1 year), a principal in Pine Bluff (2 years), the district STEM specialist (1 month), and now co-Education Director (co-principal) at Jacksonville Lighthouse Elementary.
Can you tell me about your co-education director role?
As Mrs. Hart mentioned, we are both responsible for everything in the building. There is no one answering to the other. Everything is a true partnership. We move and act cohesively in all things and model the power of partnership and collaboration. We talk constantly and strive to go hand in hand in everything we do. We both have our own unique strengths and areas of growth, as does every educator, and we play those off each other to strengthen the building and our team. A summary would be that we focus on the instructional growth of the teachers, because we know if we have great, strong, confident teachers, then we will have a great school.
What would you say to other teachers who are considering applying to IMPACT?
It is absolutely worth it. Even if you do not want to be a formal school leader, you are already a leader when you enter the school. Every staff member is a role model to someone (student, adult, parent). We all have the ability to affect REAL change in the building. IMPACT gives you the tools, hones your skills, and tests your commitment throughout the whole program. You are supported every step of the way. Throughout the program, you are learning by doing. All projects, assignments, and tasks are related to the work you are doing in the building. After IMPACT, you will be a better educator, guaranteed. We all want what is best for students, and IMPACT gives you the resources for us to be successful in that quest.
IMPACT truly encourages the concept of lifelong learners. There is always something that can be done better, and we can always learn more. The IMPACT network is extensive, and staying in touch with the coaches and the different cohorts ensures you are always growing and improving in your practice.
