Student Focused Teacher Led Conference 2024
Register TODAY! On Oct. 4, 2024, The Reform Alliance will host its seventh annual Student Focused Teacher Led (SFTL) Conference, gathering veteran educators and experts respected statewide and nationally in Little Rock to share ideas and best practices to support student-centered education! This one-day conference will also include a welcome reception the evening before, on Oct. 3, which is included with registration.
Educators in all roles are invited to join us, whether teachers, principals, district administration, counselors, social workers or others who ensure a quality student experience for all pupils, regardless of setting. That includes traditional districts, charter schools, private schools, virtual schools, microschools and homeschool teachers.
Session topics include:
- Career and Technical Education and Career Exploration
- Transformation Contracts
- The Four-Day Week
- Trauma-informed Response
- De-Escalation and Distress Tolerance
- Community Engagement and Military Families
- Microschooling
- And more!
Registration is $50 per person, which includes breakfast and lunch on the day of the conference, as well as admission to the Oct. 3 reception, which will include refreshments.
Save your spot at this unique gathering by filling out a registration form, which does not require payment processing. Invoices will be sent to the contact information provided. Hurry, because time is limited!
If you need overnight accommodations, please see our list of nearby hotels.
General Session Speakers:
Breakout Session Leaders:
Beau McCastlain, 2024 Arkansas Teacher of the Year, De Queen Schools
Jessica Saum, 2022 Arkansas Teacher of the Year, Cabot Schools
Lori Edgin, Superintendent, Atkins Schools
Mary Ann Spears, Superintendent, Lincoln Schools
Ashley Soifer, National Microschooling Center
Evan Wilons, UAMS Trauma Resource Initiative for Schools
Nicole Fairchild, Arkansas AWARE
Michele Linch, Learning Blade
Karmen McNutt, Marvell-Elaine Schools
Marques Collins, Marvell-Elaine Schools
Lunch Panel
Led by:
Kerry McDonald, State Policy Network
With guests:
Tammy Fletcher, North River Christian Academy
Ar’Jillian Gilmer, Gilmer’s Learning Solutions and Christian Micrschooling by GLS
Rebecca Newby, Friendship Aspire Pine Bluff
Full schedule below:
| Main Hall | Presenter | Small Conference | Presenter | Game Room | Presenter | ||||
| Registration | 7:30 | 2:15 | |||||||
| Opening Remarks | 8:15 | 8:40 | |||||||
| General #1 | 8:45 | 9:40 | General Session | Darrell Smith, ADE | |||||
| Breakout Block #1 | 9:45 | 10:45 | Transformation Contracts | Karmen McNutt | Military Families | Jessica Saum | Microschooling | Ashley Soifer | |
| Marques Collins | |||||||||
| Breakout Block #2 | 10:50 | 11:50 | Career Exploration (CTE) | Michele Linch | De-Escalation | Nicole Fairchild | 4-Day Week | Mary Ann Spears | |
| Lori Edgin | |||||||||
| Break | 11:50 | 12:15 | Lunch Served | ||||||
| Lunch Keynote | 12:15 | 1:00 | Exploring Educational Journeys | Kerry McDonald | |||||
| Panel: | Rebecca Newby, Tammy Fletcher, Ar’Jillian Gilmer | ||||||||
| Breakout Block #3 | 1:05 | 2:05 | Empowering Students (CTE) | Beau McCastlain | Distress Tolerance | Nicole Fairchild | Trauma Response | Evan Wilons | |
| Networking Break | 2:05 | 2:15 | |||||||
| General #2 | 2:15 | 3:30 | General Session | Sec. Jacob Oliva, ADE | |||||
| Closing Remarks | 3:30 | 4:00 | |||||||
Click the video below to hear from attendees at SFTL 2023!
