The IMPACT Arkansas Principal Fellow program eases principal shortages and mitigates high turnover rates, especially in school districts that are geographically isolated or lack funding. Educators who show leadership potential and aspire to become leaders in their school settings are chosen for the program each year through a highly selective review process.
The following educators were chosen for cohort 8:
- Brittany Aalto, Lincoln Elementary School, Lincoln School District
- Stephanie Baker, Greenland Middle School, Greenland School District
- Erica Box, McGehee Elementary, McGehee School District
- James Copeland, Marvell-Elaine High School, Marvell-Elaine School District
- Britney Davis, Cedar Ridge Elementary School, Cedar Ridge School District
- Kaylan Ellis, Berryville Elementary, Berryville School District
- Jessica Gray, Paris High School, Paris School District
- Meredith Jeter, Park Avenue Elementary, Stuttgart School District
- Ben Jones, Pangburn High School, Pangburn School District
- DaLecia Jones, Robert F. Morehead Middle School, Pine Bluff School District
- Marlie Kinard, Douglas MacArthur Junior High, Jonesboro School District
- Cassie King, Clarendon High School, Clarendon School District
- Sonja McKinney, Lee High School, Lee County School District
- Laura Starr Phillips, J.F. Wahl Elementary, Helena-West Helena School District
- Patricia Smith, Bismarck Middle School, Bismarck School District
- Keri Standridge, Leslie Intermediate School, Searcy County School District
- Paula Thiel, Booneville Elementary School, Booneville School District
- Crystal Thomas, Arkansas Middle School, Texarkana School District
- Tamra Wiley, Brady Elementary School, Little Rock School District
The program has helped build leadership capacity in high-needs, rural Arkansas schools for nearly a decade with the support of the Walton Family Foundation. The U of A College of Education and Health Professions partnered with the foundation in 2014 to launch IMPACT, and their support has sustained the program since then. The college recently received new funding that will strengthen support to fellows. The Windgate Foundation pledged a nearly $500,000 gift to the college that’s earmarked for the next two cohorts of fellows. The Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation also recently committed funds to the program. The $40,000 King Foundation gift will provide additional support to fellows from rural Eastern Arkansas counties.
“IMPACT is making a huge difference in Arkansas by improving the available pool of potential leaders in schools that traditionally struggle to fill leadership positions,” said Dean Kate Mamiseishvili. “We are grateful for our partners that believe in the mission and have committed to helping support future school leaders.”
Graduates commit to staying in their current school for two years post-graduation after earning a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the U of A. Nearly 100 percent of IMPACT graduates remain in Arkansas schools, and 81 percent remain in high-poverty schools.
Further details may be found at “Windgate, King Join Walton Family Foundation to Support New Cohort of Principal IMPACT Fellows,” University of Arkansas News, June 21, 2023.
