The Spark Symposium for Charter Schools
Attendees at the 2025 Spark Symposium smile for a photo in between visiting with sponsors.
A Look at the Spark Symposium
Yesterday, on May 20, 2025, charter school leaders, educators, and supporters from across the state gathered at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock for our inaugural Spark Symposium for Charter Schools, and it was an incredible day.
This event was designed to spark ideas, connections, and growth within the charter school community, and it truly delivered. Thanks to our amazing attendees, speakers, sponsors, and staff, we are proud to say that Spark 2025 was a great success.
For Those Who Joined Us — Thank You!
To everyone who made the trip to Little Rock, thank you for being part of this special day. From being active listeners during the keynote message, to engaging with our sponsors, customizing your experience through the Spark Zones, gaining valuable insights during the legislative Q and A, and cheering on others in the charter school community during the awards ceremony, your presence made a real impact.
You helped make this event a success, and we truly appreciate your participation!
If you attended the event and are looking for more information, be sure to check your email for updates. You can also keep reading the recap below to find event photos, keynote speaker contact details, and more. We’re still working on the photos from this event, but you can click here to see what we’ve published so far!
Highlights from the Spark Symposium
From an inspiring keynote presentation to a customizable schedule filled with breakout sessions and roundtable discussions, the event was packed with opportunities to spark ideas, connections, and growth within the charter school community.
We began the morning with a presentation of the Colors and the Pledge of Allegiance, led by the Newport Army JROTC Cadets and Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Fernando Fuentes.
After opening remarks, APSRC Executive Director Scott Smith introduced our keynote speaker, Principal Baruti Kafele. His powerful talk, “Closing the Attitude Gap,” challenged educators to rethink the achievement gap and focus on student mindset as a key to academic success. You can learn more about his work at https://principalkafele.com.
Attendees then visited with more than 20 event sponsors in the foyer. A special thank you to our Diamond Level sponsor, Renaissance, and our Gold Level sponsor, Learning Blade. Of course, we are thankful for each and every sponsor who showed up and spent time talking with attendees. You can find the full list of sponsors at apsrc.net/meet-our-sponsors-spark25.
Throughout the day, attendees customized their experience through Spark Zones, choosing from a mix of breakout sessions and roundtable discussions led by expert presenters and facilitators.
Our working lunch featured a beautiful student performance by the Arkansas Arts Academy Dance Company and included a Legislative Q&A Panel with Senator Jane English, Senator Joshua Bryant, Representative Keith Brooks, and Representative Brit McKenzie.
After a short break, we moved into the Awards Ceremony and door prizes. Schools were recognized for outstanding academic performance through our School Growth and Elevate Awards. Individual honors were also announced:
Charter Leader Award: Dawn Hammonds, LISA Academy Springdale
2025 Changemaker Award: Amy Johnson, Arkansas Virtual Academy
Charter Teachers of the Year: Elizabeth James and Destiny Green, eStem Junior High Downtown
Trailblazer Award: School for Advanced Studies, Northwest Arkansas
It was a full day of sparking ideas, making connections, and celebrating the great work happening across Arkansas charter schools.
Thank you to everyone who attended or took the time to learn more about this year’s Spark Symposium.
We’re proud of what the day accomplished and grateful for the energy and engagement from our charter school community. We hope to see you at our next event, mark your calendars for the 2025 Fall Conference, coming this October.
