We are looking for district, building, and classroom leaders to be part of our 2025 AFESC Math Leadership Collaborative. These dates will be a mixture of updates, new learning, and planning that will support our schools, teachers, and students. We hope to see you there! Register with the link below!
https://www.escweb.net/ar_esc/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=5697645 months ago, Tara Sanders
Arch Ford was honored to host Dr. Corrales from Fueling Brains during his recent visit to our region.
He had the opportunity to visit incredible schools, see Nurturing Minds in action, and connect with teachers and leaders who are intentionally building executive function skills in their classrooms.
What he saw was powerful. Executive function matters, and our educators are leading the way!
We are proud of the work happening across our cooperative and grateful for this meaningful partnership.
4 days ago, Kristen Weatherall
Watching ArPEP educators in action is a powerful reminder that passion and perseverance make a difference everyday. We are proud of the impact they are making on Arkansas schools!
5 days ago, Jennifer McMahan
These three ladies have teamed up (with a little emotional support from Archie) to begin the work of establishing a common language for behavior expectations at Shirley Elementary. They will continue this work throughout the spring semester so they will be prepared as a staff to begin the 2026-2027 school year. We are so proud of their work, and it's only just beginning!
7 days ago, Bethany Hill
Elementary and middle school counselors from the region recently met at Arch Ford to collaborate, network, and learn together. They had kid talks, shared ideas about mentoring and check in systems, and learned more about collaborative problem solving with students.
8 days ago, Bethany Hill
Using Evaluation Results to Guide Service Design and IEPs: Target Audience - Building Level Admin & Special Education Teachers
This half-day professional development session focuses on analyzing data from initial and three-year reevaluation results or reports to better understand the whole child and guide effective IEP development and service design. Participants will learn how to translate evaluation data into meaningful decisions related to PLAAFPs, goals, accommodations, and services. Teachers and administrators will leave with a clearer, shared understanding of how evaluation data drives compliant, student-centered planning.
Wednesday, March 18 - Register Here
Wednesday, April 8 - Register Here
Applying Evaluation Data to IEP Development: Guided Work Session: Target Audience - Special Education Teachers
This half-day guided work session is designed for teachers who attended the original evaluation data PD. Participants will apply learning by working directly with data from initial and three-year reevaluation results or reports to strengthen PLAAFPs, align measurable goals, and refine IEP components. Support will be available to clarify expectations and ensure alignment between evaluation data, student needs, and service design.
Wednesday, March 18 - Register Here
Wednesday, April 8 - Register Here
9 days ago, Laura Watford
Calling all Special Education Teachers...
This full-day professional development session supports Special Education teachers in proactively writing high-quality, compliant IEPs before the busy spring season. Participants will learn how to use Atlas and DLM data in conjunction with other forms of data to make data-driven decisions, develop well-rounded PLAAFPs, and write clear, measurable goals aligned to student needs. The session also emphasizes effective collaboration with IEP team members and families to ensure data, input, and instructional priorities are accurately reflected. Teachers will leave with practical strategies and tools to streamline the IEP process while improving quality, confidence, and consistency.
2/24 - Register Here
3/10 - Register Here
4/3 - Register Here
13 days ago, Laura Watford
9-12 counselors, (or 7-12 if you are configured as such) we hope you join us for this day of collaboration for high school counselors across the region. We will take a deep dive into life skills that enhance student success plans, goal setting, career pathways, graduation requirements, and have protected time to network and learn from other counselors across the region. Come with your ideas, struggles, questions, and celebrations! Register here--->
https://www.escweb.net/ar_esc/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=57320822 days ago, Bethany Hill
Arch Ford Education Service Cooperative hosted a three-day CLASS Observer Training designed to prepare early childhood providers to become certified CLASS observers. Facilitated by Kristen Weatherall, Dayna Lewis, and Melinda McFerron, participants engaged in in-depth learning around the CLASS domains, dimensions, and indicators, building the knowledge and observation skills needed to reliably assess classroom interactions and successfully complete the CLASS certification process.
about 1 month ago, Kristen Weatherall
🌟 BIG NEWS, EARLY CHILDHOOD FRIENDS! 🌟
We’re launching another CLASS Observer Training!
Ready to deepen your understanding of high-quality teacher–child interactions? Join us at Arch Ford for Pre-K CLASS Observer Training on January 13–15, 2026! This FREE 18-hour training is led by Kristen Weatherall, Dayna Lewis, and Melinda McFerron.
👉 Register:
https://www.escweb.net/ar_esc/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=5716672 months ago, Kristen Weatherall
🎉✨ Arch Ford Education Service Cooperative is celebrating 50 Years of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)! ✨🎉
Today, November 29, marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of IDEA — a landmark law that transformed education by ensuring that students with disabilities have access to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.
For five decades, IDEA has opened doors to inclusion, opportunity, and lifelong success — empowering millions of students, families, and educators to dream bigger and achieve more. 💛
At Arch Ford, we are proud to honor this milestone and to recognize the teachers, families, advocates, and students who make the promise of IDEA come alive every day. Here’s to 50 years of progress — and to an even brighter, more inclusive future for all learners! 💫
#IDEA50 #ArchFordProud #InclusionMatters #SpecialEducation #EveryStudentEveryDay #CelebratingProgress#ArchFordGrows
2 months ago, Laura Watford
Elementary counselors in the Arch Ford region recently spent the day with Bethany for a time of networking, collaboration, and learning! They explored the power of adult regulation, executive functioning development in young people, and how they can contribute to systemic change on how we approach student behavior. This is an amazing group! #archfordserves #yourBESTsolution
2 months ago, Bethany Hill
Administrator Book Study: Help for Billy-ZOOM
Join Arch Ford for a virtual book study on Help for Billy, by Heather Forbes and Jim Sporleder. Together, we will take a deep dive into how to approach challenging behaviors while exploring the role of neuroscience in education today. Administrators will discuss challenging scenarios as they learn to better support both teachers and students. Our state and national trends show that the most vulnerable students are the people who receive the harshest punishments (seclusion, corporal punishment, restraint, suspension, expulsion). Through a trauma-invested lens, school staff can empowered to lead students and each other through challenges and cultivate a community of safety and belonging for all.
There will be 8 biweekly meetings starting on January 29, 2026. I will starting sending email communication on January 20th. These will be Zoom meeting from 9:30 to 10:30. The first 15 to register will get a free book!
https://www.escweb.net/ar_esc/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=571774
#archfordserves
2 months ago, Bethany Hill
Elementary educators at South Side Bee Branch recently spent a whole morning learning about brain science, executive functioning development, the impact of childhood adversity on brain development, and how excessive screen time has impacted child development. They also learned how common, universal language for expectations and how regulated adults can create a community of safety and belonging for all. This is the very beginnings of building a system for adults and students that will create that level of belonging for all!
2 months ago, Bethany Hill
Through the work of our Local Lead, Arch Ford provided preschool students with a high-quality arts-integrated experience through Tiny Toy Tales, led by teaching artist Kassie Misiewicz. During this interactive storytelling session, children engaged with narrative elements through props, movement, and imaginative play.
This experience supported early learning skills including making predictions, letter identification, retelling, comprehension, and vocabulary, while also strengthening language development and oral expression.
What a fun week with some of our tiniest learners as they explored story, language, and creativity through the arts.
3 months ago, Kristen Weatherall
Mentoring Program Specialists Vandy Nash and Jennifer McMahan recently facilitated a session for Conway's mentor teachers and their novice teachers. We are proud of the work this district is doing to support their novice teachers.
3 months ago, Jennifer McMahan
We are so proud of all the hard work our ArPEP candidates are doing in our schools!
3 months ago, Jennifer McMahan
:
🎃👻 Crestwood Elementary Teachers know how to mix learning and fun! 👻🎃
This week, the Crestwood team hosted a Halloween party to celebrate and explore their learners’ needs — combining collaboration, creativity, and a touch of spooky spirit! 🧡🕸️
We love seeing teachers come together to share ideas, build community, and keep student success at the heart of everything they do. Way to go, Crestwood Elementary! 🍎✨
#CrestwoodElementary #TeacherLife #LearningIsFun #SpookySeason #CollaborationInAction
#yourBESTsolution #ArchFordServes
3 months ago, Laura Watford
🧠✨ Atkins Elementary and Middle School Special Education Staff spent time growing their skills and deepening their impact through a powerful professional development session on October 29!
The training focused on:
🔹 Behavioral Neuroscience – understanding how the brain impacts behavior and learning
🔹 Interactions to Strive For and Steer Away From – strengthening positive, supportive communication
🔹 Building Self-Regulation Tools – for both teachers and students
🔹 Creating Accessible Expectations and Consequences – ensuring all students can succeed
We’re so proud of this dedicated team for their commitment to continuous learning and for investing in strategies that build stronger, more supportive classrooms for every learner. ❤️📚
#AtkinsPride #SpecialEducation #ProfessionalGrowth #BehavioralNeuroscience #StudentSuccess
#yourBESTsolution #ArchFordServes
3 months ago, Laura Watford
The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) partnered with leaders in the Arch Ford region to explore Arkansas’ new school accountability formula.
Educators engaged in thoughtful collaboration and were challenged to reflect on their systems of support—celebrating growth and achievement while planning intentional responses to student needs throughout the school year.
#archfordserves
#yourbestsolution
4 months ago, Jacob Sisson
