NAESC's local lead team is conducting an early childhood family and community survey. We believe lifelong learning begins before kindergarten that is why we are seeking ways to support the needs of north central Arkansas' youngest learners. This short survey is for all residents of Fulton, Izard, Sharp, and Stone counties. Please take it and share with your family and friends.
https://forms.gle/QD9Yz1Yfayp1eMsQ7
On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, NAESC hosted a STEM event for schools that are a part of our educational cooperative. Schools brought teams made up of no more than 4 students per team. Students had to work as a team and solve as many challenges as possible to earn points throughout the day. Challenges included problem solving, decoding and encoding, encryption, and even physical challenges. At the end of the day, the teams that earned the most points would capture the flag to win the event. This years top three teams included ICC High School-1st place, Timbo High School-2nd place, and Highland High School -3rd place.
Two of our local school FBLA Chapters were featured in the April Edition of the Arkansas FBLA Business Leader Newsletter. Keep up the great work!
ArPEP Applications are available now through May 31st. Contact Gia Taylor for more info: gia.taylor@northcentralcoop.org
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/educator-effectiveness/the-arkansas-professional-educator-pathway-arpep
Congratulations to these amazing teachers!!
Students from our co-op area schools participated in the 2025 Be Pro Be Proud Draft Day in Mountain Home. This is an exciting event that aims to encourage and inspire young people to explore and pursue careers in skilled trades. The event showcases a variety of hands-on experiences, career opportunities, and expert guidance, helping students and future professionals connect with industry leaders.
Happy President's Day!!
NAESC, along with Ozarka College, organized and hosted mock interviews for our school districts, providing students with a valuable opportunity to practice and refine their interviewing skills as they transition from high school to the workforce or college. The event had an excellent turnout with 9 schools and 137 students participating.
Mandy Blevins, Systems Coordinator, visited Viola High School to support their work on assessment strategies. During her visit, students were engaged in group activities centered on guiding questions about photosynthesis. The focus was on incorporating a range of Depth of Knowledge (DOK) levels to enhance the rigor and ensure comprehensive coverage of each standard.
Last week, NAESC hosted Cognitive Coaching led by Dr. Curtis Cunningham. Participants learned about using strategies to enhance teachers' cognitive processes.
From all of us at NAESC
We had an inspiring time at the PLC Institute in Rogers, Arkansas! Through interactive keynotes, we explored how to build an effective intervention system by focusing on the four key elements of a successful RTI model: collective responsibility, concentrated instruction, convergent assessment, and certain access. Mountain View and Mountain Home School Districts were in attendance for this engaging learning experience!
Keri McCarn, Mindy Cooper, Gia Taylor, and Kim Poole represented NAESC today at the Future Story Mock Interviews at Southside High School. Seniors participated in mock interviews with local business and industry professionals, designed to help them prepare for future job interviews after graduation. This annual event is a major highlight, and the students come well-prepared for the experience.
Northcentral was excited to welcome Dr. Ivy Pfeffer, State Director of the Arkansas Bailey Education Group. Dr. Pfeffer collaborated with instructional leaders to examine their role in supporting teachers in utilizing data to effectively implement High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM), with the goal of accelerating student learning and ensuring high-quality instruction in every classroom.
Veterans Day
Career & Technical Education Coordinator, Keri McCarn, spoke to Timbo's FBLA students on Thursday about leadership and the qualities that define an effective leader. She discussed key principles such as integrity, communication, and adaptability, emphasizing the importance of these traits in both personal and professional growth. She encouraged students to reflect on their own leadership potential and how they can make a positive impact in their communities and future careers.
That’s a wrap on Cybersecurity Awareness Month! We’ve covered phone safety, wire fraud, family online safety, and disinformation.
Thank you for joining us at #SecureOurWorld. We’d love to hear the tips that helped you the most!
As we close out, here’s a quick recap of some key takeaways: https://www.wizer-training.com/hubfs/SAMK-2024/w5-cyber-awareness-wrap-up-ms.pdf
#StayWizer!
CyberPatriot Program Contest Extended Until November 15th!
Due to an overwhelming response from Arkansas teachers preparing their students for CyberPatriot certification, the quiz system experienced a high volume of users, temporarily preventing access for some. We’re happy to announce that testing will resume on November 1st, and to accommodate everyone, we’ve extended the contest deadline to November 15th.
This gives you extra time to participate and ensure you are entered into the contest.
Miss the deadline? Don’t worry—students can still pursue CyberPatriot certification after the contest ends, as the program will continue beyond this date.
The ACTC (Arkansas Cooperative Technology Coordinators) want to take a moment to honor Lisa who is bravely facing breast cancer. Lisa has shown immense strength, courage, and resilience in her fight. We are with you every step of the way! #FightLikeAGirl
Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Don’t get scammed by a parking meter!
Scan or SCAM? QR codes are EVERYWHERE - on parking meters, restaurant tables, buses, and emails. But be careful - scammers can change them to steal your info.
Watch this video to learn more about safe scanning and share it with friends and family: https://www.wizer-training.com/hubfs/SAMK-2024/W1-QR-Code-Scams-Story-WE.mp4
Stay Wizer!
#StayWizer #SecureOurWorld