DON’T MISS THIS
OPPORTUNITY
Join us on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at the Hot Springs Convention Center for a day filled with professional learning, meaningful networking, and engaging sessions designed for every role in K-12 education. You can expect a wide range of topics and sessions tailored to the unique needs of education professionals across Arkansas. Whether you're a superintendent, teacher, finance staff member, or technology coordinator, you'll find practical strategies, valuable resources, and actionable takeaways to support your day-to-day work.
APSRC Annual Fall Conference 2026
Includes full access to the APSRC 2026 Fall Conference
$275
APSRC Annual Fall Conference Bundle
Includes full access to the Pre-Conference Workshop & the APSRC 2026 Fall Conference
$300
APSRC Annual Fall Conference Group Registration Request Form
Registering multiple people? Submit the form below. We’ll handle the rest and invoice you. Card payments are not accepted.
Cancellation Policy
We understand that plans can change! If you need to cancel your ticket, please review our refund policy below
100% refund if you cancel by October 1st, 2026
50% refund if you cancel by October 15, 2026
0% refund if you cancel after October 15, 2026
Have extenuating circumstances? Reach out to us, and we’ll be happy to assess your situation and consider a refund if warranted.
FEATURED SPEAKERS
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
DR.JOHN HODGE
Join us on October 27, 2026, at the Hot Springs Convention Center as we welcome nationally recognized educator, author, and speaker Dr. John Hodge as the keynote speaker for the APSRC Annual Fall Conference!
Dr. John W. Hodge is a nationally recognized educator, author, and keynote speaker who has delivered more than 800 presentations across the United States, Canada, and South America, inspiring over 1.5 million students and educators. A former U.S. Army veteran, Dr. Hodge has served in roles ranging from classroom teacher and school leader to researcher and educational consultant, helping schools nationwide improve student outcomes and build cultures of success.
As the Chief Inspirational Officer of AADULLC, he continues to equip educators with practical strategies that turn research into results. Dr. Hodge is also the author of the best-selling books You Can Get in the Way and Resilience By Design, which have helped thousands of educators create environments where all students can thrive. Known for his engaging and impactful presentations, Dr. Hodge challenges, motivates, and inspires audiences to believe in the success of every child.
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Dr. John W. Hodge has delivered more than 800 keynote and professional learning sessions across the United States, Canada, and South America, reaching a conservative estimate of over 1.5 million students. His work has helped secure more than $22 million in federal grant funding in education and workforce development. Meetings and Conventions Magazine named him among the best speakers conference organizers have heard, in the same company as many of America's most well-known celebrity speakers.
Before he entered education, Dr. Hodge served with distinction in the 7th Infantry Division of the United States Army. That service instilled a discipline and leadership that still define his work today. He earned his Bachelor of Science from North Carolina A&T State University, graduating with honors, and his Master of Arts from Chapman University. He completed his Doctor of Education at Virginia Tech, where his research examined the factors that shape academic success for children facing economic hardship. That research became a key element of the SAME Framework, a school improvement model he co-developed that now shapes work in districts across the country.
Dr. Hodge has done the work himself, not just studied it. He has served in various capacities from the classroom to the district office. As Associate Director of AVID Center Eastern Division, he helped expand the program across 13 states. As Director of An Achievable Dream Academy, a high-performing school in an economically challenged community, he helped build a model that earned national recognition and proved what is possible in any zip code.
That experience led him to co-found Urban Learning and Leadership Center (ULLC), where he served as President and built an organization devoted to closing the achievement gap. Following a strategic merger between ULLC and An Achievable Dream, Dr. Hodge now serves as Chief Inspirational Officer of AADULLC, leading efforts that inform and inspire school districts nationwide.
Dr. Hodge is the author of the top-selling book You Can Get in the Way: How You Can Be a Roadblock to Risk Factors, which has guided thousands of educators in uniting the entire staff around student success. He recently published Resilience By Design: Build Unshakable Students Through Intentional Practice, a guide for schools that want to build a culture where resilience is the norm, not the exception. When Dr. Hodge takes the stage, audiences don't just hear a speech. They leave with a reason to believe in the success of all children, regardless of risk factors.
CONFERENCE
SCHEDULE
We’re still finalizing this year’s event agenda, and we can’t wait to share it with you. Check back for updates, and in the meantime, take a look at the day's schedule!
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Spread across 3 different time blocks, this annual event offers 30 breakout sessions tailored to every role in education.
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Two Roles, One Mission: Federal Programs & Finance
TRACK: Finance
Presenters: Cris Bolin, the CFO for Sheridan School District, Dr. Missy Walley, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Sheridan School District, and Dr. Leann Pinkerton, Director of Educational Technology at Sheridan School District
Topic: The importance of a strong partnership between the Federal Coordinator and Business Manager
Arkansas Legislative Audit
TRACK: Finance
Presenter: Matt Fink
Description: Join representatives from the Arkansas Legislative Audit (ALA) for an insightful, practical deep-dive into the most common financial and compliance findings surfacing across Arkansas K-12 school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools.
Technology Session (Details Coming Soon)
TRACK: Technology
Presenter: Ben Janelle, APSRC Director of Technology & TBA
Description: Sites, resources, and decades of experience fighting seemingly random, nonsensical state data system errors collide for your benefit! Come learn the tricks of the trade and best practices for making sense of state accountability data systems, or at least have a laugh at our years of misfortune in learning what NOT to do!
Expanding Opportunity Through the Charter Schools Program Grant
TRACK: Charter
Presenter: Luanne Baroni, APSRC Director of Charter Support & Jim Fowler, APSRC CSP Grant Finance Specialist
Topic: An overview of the CSP SE Grant and how your school may be able to apply for funding.
Keynote Breakout Session (Details Coming Soon)
TRACK: Other
Presenter: Dr.John W. Hodge, Chief Inspirational Officer at An Achievable Dream
Topic: TBA
Panel on SPED Law
TRACK: Legal & Policy
Presenters: Tripp Walter, APSRC Staff Attorney & Additional Legal Attendees
Topic: Focused on Special Education law as it is applied and practiced in Arkansas.
Visible Learning: Making Student Progress the Center of Every Lesson (Details Coming Soon)
TRACK: Teaching & Learning
Presenter: TBA
Description: TBA
Scaling Growth After Success: Sustaining Momentum When It's Working
TRACK: Teaching & Learning
Presenters: Dr. Heather Williams, Director of School Support and Leadership, Sheridan School District and & Dr. Brandy Howell, Principal, Jacksonville North Pulaski School District
Description: Getting a school from struggling to improving is one challenge; keeping the growth going is another. This session is for schools that have already seen real gains and now face the harder question — how do we stay on the path to continued success? Attendees will look at how to protect the practices driving growth, extend them to new grade levels or subjects, and avoid the common plateau that follows an early win.
CTE: Part of the Plan
TRACK: Teaching & Learning
Presenter: Shantele Raper, Superintendent, Rivercrest School District
Description: CTE should not be a side note in a student’s high school experience. It should be part of the plan.
Join Shantele Raper, Superintendent of Rivercrest School District, to see how Rivercrest intentionally embeds career preparation into the student journey. Learn how the district introduces Tier I CTE in 8th grade, builds multiple pathways for high school, and keeps career readiness connected to the district’s overall academic vision.
Shantele will also share how Rivercrest “progress monitors” students beginning October 1 of 9th grade and continues tracking them through graduation to ensure they are on pace for Success Ready.
Maximizing District Impact Through CFAM (Details Coming Soon)
TRACK: Leadership
Presenter: Gary Williams, White Hall School District
Topic: TBA
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Raising the Ceiling: Acceleration, AP, and Cambridge AICE Pathways (Details Coming Soon)
TRACK: Teaching & Learning
Presenter: TBA
Topic: TBA
Growing Your Own: Building a Teacher Apprenticeship Program with Higher Ed
TRACK: Teaching & Learning
Presenters: Dr. Deborah Daily, College of Education Dean & Professor, University of Central Arkansas & Sunny Styles, College of Education Professor, University of Central Arkansas
Topic: This session explores how school districts and higher education institutions can partner to develop and implement a yearlong teacher residency program. Presenters will share UCA’s approach to structuring the residency experience, aligning clinical practice with teacher preparation and licensure requirements, and establishing meaningful mentorship and support for teacher candidates. Participants will learn about the roles and responsibilities of university and district partners, strategies for placing and supporting residents, and opportunities to strengthen the teacher pipeline through collaborative partnerships. The session will also address lessons learned during implementation and considerations for districts interested in developing or expanding teacher residency partnerships.
APSRC Data Optimization Tools (DOTs)
TRACK: Technology
Presenters: Ben Janelle, APSRC Director of Technology & Jeana Williams, APSRC Director of Teaching & Learning
Topic: eSchool, Triand, ATLAS, and LEA Insights all have great information, but are often difficult to bring together. View common Arkansas student testing data in new and innovative ways, making quick sense of interim tests, multi-year trends, and school accountability factors such as growth data.
ACCess to Success: Connecting Schools with Support
TRACK: Teaching & Learning
Presenters: Julie Amstutz, State Special Education Development Coach, DESE, & Diane Hardin, APSRC Special Education Coordinator, ACC Members
Description: Explore how the Arkansas Collaborative Consultants (ACC) can partner with your school to support students with IEPs and increase access to the general curriculum!
Breakout Session with Imagine Learning (Details Coming Soon)
TRACK: Other
Presenter: Mandi Thines, Imagine Learning
Topic: TBA
Paycheck to Proof: Preparing for a Payroll Audit
TRACK: Finance
Presenters: Sarah Snider & Missy Smead, APSRC Finance Specialists
Topic: How to Prepare
Dollars and Direction with Your Federal Funds
TRACK: Finance
Presenter: Jayne Green, Education Professional Supervisor/Expert, DESE Federal Programs Unit
Description: Navigate the complexities of federal funding compliance, strategic budgeting, and corrections. This session equips school officials, regardless of what department you work in, with actionable strategies to align expenditures with allowable uses, optimize impact, and remediate past spending inefficiencies.
Enroll Arkansas: Simplifying Public School Registration
TRACK: Other
Presenters: Monica Tucker, OneApp Grant Manager, Enroll Arkansas & Brian Lowerance, APSRC Technology Specialist
Topic: Online enrollment made easy - overview of platform
Breaking Down the Latest Legislative Audit (Details Coming Soon)
TRACK: Leadership
Presenter: Nick Hill, APSRC Director of Finance
Topic: TBA
Legal Panel
TRACK: Legal & Policy
Presenters: APSRC Legal Staff & Additional Lawyers
Topic: Will explore current legal issues in education
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Leadership Lab Experience
TRACK: Teaching & Learning
Presenter: Jeana Williams, Director of Teaching & Learning
Topic: Insight into APSRC’s new Leadership Lab and the professional learning pathways
What High-Merit Schools Do Differently (Details Coming Soon)
TRACK: Teaching & Learning
Presenter: TBA
Description: TBA
K12 Cyber Security – Not Just a Technology Problem (Details Coming Soon)
TRACK: Technology
Presenter: Ben Janelle, APSRC Director of Technology & TBA
Description: Recent Arkansas cyber security incidents have targeted teachers, administrators and finance staff for fiscal gain. Come discuss how these attacks worked and what can be done on the administrative, process, training, and technical sides to mitigate.
SPED SESSION (Details Coming Soon)
TRACK: Teaching & Learning
Presenter: TBA
TOPIC: TBA
Leadership Session (Details Coming Soon)
TRACK: Leadership
Presenter: TBA
Topic: TBA
Reconcile to Reality: Bank Recs
TRACK: Finance
Presenters: Tena Coleman, DESE Fiscal Services & Sarah Snider, APSRC Finance Specialist
Topic: Importance of Bank Recs
Best Practices Roundtable
TRACK: Finance
Presenters: APSRC Finance Specialists
Topic: Collaborative discussion on best practices for school finance departments.
Substance Over Style: Taking Care of School Business
TRACK: Charter
Presenters: Charter Impact Team
Description: In education, trends come and go, but a school's fiscal and operational health depends on timeless fundamentals. This session cuts through the noise to focus on substance over style, examining the core mechanics that separate thriving institutions from those that struggle.
APSRC Membership Benefits and Data Projects
TRACK: Other
Presenters: Jim Robb, APSRC Director of School Support
Topic: Come see an overview of APSRC offerings that you might not be aware are available to member districts!
Legislative Panel
TRACK: Legal & Policy
Presenters: Scott Smith & Legislators
Topic: Panel discussion with Arkansas Legislators as they share their insights and perspectives on the future of education.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Sponsoring the 2026 Fall Conference is a great way to show your commitment to supporting schools in providing the best possible education for their students. The deadline to secure a sponsorship is September 30, 2026, unless all available spots are filled before then. Learn more about our sponsorship tiers, what’s included, what to expect at this year’s conference, and how to apply.
MEET OUR SPONSORS
Check out this year’s sponsors! Interested in becoming a sponsor? Click here to learn more.
HOT SPRINGS ARKANSAS
This year’s conference will be held at the Hot Springs Convention Center, conveniently connected to The Hotel Hot Springs, offering attendees easy access to sessions, networking events, and accommodations all under one roof. APSRC has reserved a dedicated room block at The Hotel Hot Springs to ensure a comfortable and convenient stay for our guests.
THE LATEST UPDATES
Event Details
Tuesday, October 27th, 2026
Hot Springs Convention Center