Math and creativity came together today at GFESC! Participants discovered how visual art can bring geometry to life by exploring lines, angles, shapes, symmetry, and patterns through hands-on artistic projects. It's a fun and engaging way to deepen mathematical understanding while inspiring creativity in the classroom. Thank you to Richard Jenkins for leading this creative and interactive workshop, and to everyone who joined us! #GFESC #MathEducation #VisualArt #Geometry #ArtsIntegration #ProfessionalLearning #CreativeClassrooms #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe

Today's workshop equipped educators with practical reading comprehension strategies that empower students to become confident readers and independent learners. Participants explored engaging lesson ideas, valuable resources, and connections to the Arkansas Library Media Standards and ATLAS Blueprints to support student success across all content areas. A big thank you to Cassandra Barnett for leading this informative and engaging session, and to everyone who joined us for a day of learning! #GFESC #ReadingComprehension #LibraryMedia #ArkansasEducation #ProfessionalLearning #ATLAS #IndependentLearners #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe

Today at GFESC, educators joined Kris Shinn for From Chaos to Calm: Moving Beyond Punishment to Solve Your Toughest Classroom Behaviors. Participants explored the "why" behind challenging behaviors and gained practical, research-based strategies to respond with understanding, build student skills, and create calmer, more supportive classrooms. Thank you, Kris, for sharing your expertise and to everyone who attended! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #GFESC #ProfessionalLearning #ClassroomManagement #BehaviorSupport #EducatorGrowth #StudentSuccess

Understanding the "why" behind student behavior is key to creating meaningful support. Today's GFESC Unraveling the Story of Behavior: A Journey Through Functional Behavior Assessment workshop provided educators with practical strategies for conducting effective FBAs and developing individualized behavior support plans. Thank you to Audrey Kengla for leading this engaging session and to everyone who participated! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #SpecialEducation #BehaviorSupport #FunctionalBehaviorAssessment #StudentSuccess

Today's GFESC Diabetes/Adrenal Insufficiency and Special Health Care Needs Train the Trainer workshop equipped district RNs with the knowledge and resources needed to train unlicensed school personnel to safely support students with specialized health care needs. Thank you to Katelyn Chambers for leading this important training and to all of the dedicated school nurses committed to keeping Arkansas students safe and healthy! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #GFESC #Diabetes #StudentSuccess

Great books inspire great readers! 📚✨ Today's GFESC Books & Banter workshop introduced educators to the latest trends in young adult literature while sharing practical strategies for engaging struggling readers, building successful book clubs, and fostering a culture of literacy in schools. A special thank you to Ashley Ziegler for leading this inspiring session and helping educators discover new ways to connect students with books they'll love! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #BooksAndBanter #SchoolLibraries #Literacy #ProfessionalLearning

History comes to life through art! 🎨📖 Today's GFESC Integrating Art in History Classrooms workshop equipped educators with strategies to use artwork as historical evidence, strengthening students' critical thinking, visual literacy, and understanding of historical events and perspectives. A special thank you to Sarah Bartmier for leading this engaging session and sharing practical tools to enrich social studies instruction. #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #SocialStudies #ProfessionalLearning #VisualLiteracy #HistoryEducation

Building stronger readers starts with strong instruction! 📚 Today's GFESC UFLI Implementation Training gave educators an in-depth look at the UFLI Foundations program, with hands-on practice, lesson modeling, and strategies to support effective literacy instruction and implementation. Thank you to everyone who joined us as we continue investing in evidence-based practices that help students become confident, successful readers! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #UFLI #ScienceofReading #Literacy #ProfessionalLearning

Five days of learning, problem-solving, and preparing for success! 💻 Last week, participants in our GFESC Computer Science Praxis Preparation workshop strengthened their understanding of essential computer science concepts while preparing for the Praxis 5652 exam. Throughout the week, educators built confidence, expanded their knowledge, and took important steps toward earning their computer science certification. Thank you to everyone who dedicated their time and effort to this intensive week of professional learning. We wish you the very best as you continue studying and work toward success on the Praxis exam! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #ComputerScience #Praxis5652 #ProfessionalLearning #ArkansasEducators

As technology continues to evolve, so do the challenges of keeping students safe online. During Friday's GFESC Keeping Kids Safe in Our Cyberworld workshop, educators explored today's digital risks—from dangerous apps and AI deepfakes to online gaming, cell phone safety, and sextortion—while gaining practical strategies to help protect students in an ever-changing online world. A special thank you to Dr. Robin Finley for leading this timely and informative session and equipping educators with valuable tools to promote digital safety. #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #DigitalSafety #CyberSafety #ProfessionalLearning

Safety starts with preparation! 💙 Friday's GFESC CPI Certification Training equipped participants with practical, nonviolent crisis intervention strategies designed to promote the care, welfare, safety, and security of everyone involved in crisis situations. A special thank you to Karen Grady for leading this valuable training and sharing her expertise with educators committed to creating safe and supportive learning environments. #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #ProfessionalLearning #CPICertification #SchoolSafety

What an incredible week with our 2026–2027 ArPEP Year 1 Cohort! 🎉 As we wrap up this five-day learning experience last Friday, we're celebrating the dedication and enthusiasm of our first-year teachers. Throughout the week, participants strengthened their instructional practices, built meaningful connections, and gained valuable tools to help them start the school year with confidence. A special thank you to our ArPEP facilitators, Angela Miller and Jennifer King, for leading an engaging and impactful week of professional learning. We appreciate the time, expertise, and encouragement you shared with our newest educators! We can't wait to see the positive impact these teachers will have in their classrooms this school year. 🍎📚 #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #ArPEP #TeacherSupport #NewTeachers #ProfessionalLearning

Another great day of learning at GFESC! 📚🔬 Today's Science Curriculum Cohort: Amplify workshop gave K–8 educators the opportunity to dive into curriculum planning, pacing, assessments, and data analysis to help prepare for a successful school year. Thank you to everyone who participated and to Amber Cobb for leading today's engaging session! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #GFESC

This week, educators kicked off the K–2 RISE training with Days 1 and 2, exploring the science of reading, evidence-based literacy practices, and the critical role of phonological awareness in early reading success. We're excited to see participants continue building their knowledge throughout the remaining RISE sessions! A special thank you to Sandy Shepard and Dallas Henderson from the Arkansas Department of Education for leading these engaging and informative sessions. We also extend our appreciation to County Line School District for generously allowing us to use their high school library to host this training. #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #ScienceOfReading #RISEArkansas #EarlyLiteracy

Congratulations to the educators who completed Days 5 and 6 of the 3–6 RISE training this week! Throughout these final sessions, participants strengthened their understanding of reading comprehension, lesson internalization, and evidence-based literacy instruction grounded in the science of reading. We appreciate their commitment to helping every student become a successful reader. #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #ScienceOfReading #RISEArkansas #LiteracyLeadership

Today's Elevating Elementary Instruction with AI Tools workshop gave educators practical strategies for using AI to enhance instruction, personalize learning, and streamline everyday classroom tasks. From lesson planning to family communication, participants explored innovative ways to make AI a valuable teaching partner. Thank you to Karen Grady for leading today's engaging session! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #AIinEducation #ElementaryEducation #EdTech

Being prepared can make all the difference!! Educators gathered on Monday, Wednesday, and again today to complete CPR/AED/First Aid Certification, building the skills and confidence needed to respond in emergency situations within the school setting. Thank you to Katelyn Chambers for leading this important training and to all who participated in strengthening school safety for their students and communities. #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #SchoolSafety #CPRTraining #FirstAid #AED

Educators joined us today for School-Based Identification of Dyslexia in Grades 4–12, where they explored updated legislation, screening processes, and best practices for identifying students who may benefit from dyslexia intervention services. Sessions like these help ensure schools are equipped to make informed decisions that support student success. Thank you to Elizabeth Reeves for leading today's informative workshop! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #GFESC #Dyslexia #StudentSuccess

We're halfway through an incredible week with our 2026–2027 ArPEP Year 1 Cohort! 🎉 Our first-year teachers have been learning, connecting, and building a strong foundation for a successful school year. We're excited to share this midweek glimpse of all the great work happening and can't wait to highlight the rest of the week on Friday! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #GFESC #ArPEP #FirstYearTeachers

Today's Leveraging AI Tools to Enhance Secondary Instruction workshop gave educators practical strategies for using AI to enhance teaching and learning in the secondary classroom. Participants explored ways to create engaging, differentiated lessons, strengthen connections to high-quality instructional materials, and streamline classroom planning to better support student success. Thank you to everyone who joined us and to Karen Grady for leading today's engaging session! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #GFESC #AIinEducation #SecondaryEducation