Angela Duran Director, Arkansas Campaign for Grade-Level Reading

The Arkansas Campaign for Grade-Level Reading launched Excel by Eight (E8) in partnership with 28 organizations across the state. E8’s goal is to ensure all Arkansas children have equitable access to health care and education that maximizes their full potential.

Thurman Green Policy and Community Engagement Associate

Crossett and Lee County, two ForwARd Communities, recently received grants to fund after-school programs in their communities. Thurman Green, our policy and community engagement associate, sat down with the grant writers.

Crystal Johnson CEO, Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce

Through their partnership with ForwARd Arkansas, Independence County has become a dynamic center of higher learning and training with unique educational partnerships that begin early in K-12 public schools and advance through partnerships with higher education and business.

Jerri Derlikowski Director of Research and Innovation

The Community Schools approach focuses on identifying the needs in a specific school and connecting students and families to community-based resources and supports that can help remove barriers to learning.

Dr. Nile Blunt Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is devoted to arts integration, an approach to teaching and learning in which content standards are taught and assessed equitably in and through the arts.

Jerry Jones Executive Vice President, LiveRamp

If we want our students to be able to effectively compete in the global market for jobs, we must dramatically improve educational outcomes in our state and consistently make informed and smart decisions on education policy.