FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Leadership Academy announced today that UA associate professor Barbara Gartin, interim head of the department of curriculum and instruction, in the College of Education and Health Professions, was awarded the distinguished leadership award at the academy's strategic leadership institute, December 9-14. Gartin was among 32 Arkansas administrators and academy partners selected to participate in the institute at the Tyson Management Development Center in Russellville.

"The institute was a wonderful learning opportunity, and I thank the academy partners for sponsoring the experience," Gartin said.

The weeklong institute focused on enhancing participants' leadership skills. Specific topics addressed were planning for the future in education, understanding and managing change, building the team, challenging the process, influencing people, impacting the outcomes, and leading leaders.

The Arkansas Leadership Academy, established by the Arkansas legislature in 1991 and housed at the University of Arkansas, is a collaborative partnership consisting of the following 44 educational and professional organizations, universities, and business corporations: Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators; Arkansas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development; Arkansas Education Association; Arkansas Leadership Exchange; Arkansas North Central Association; Arkansas Rural Education Association; Arkansas School Boards Association; Arkansas Public Relations Association; National State Teachers of the Year, Arkansas Chapter; Arkansas State University; Arkansas Tech University; Harding University; Henderson State University; Lyon College; Ouachita Baptist University; Southern Arkansas University; University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; University of Arkansas, Little Rock; University of Arkansas, Monticello; University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, University of Central Arkansas; Williams Baptist College; the 15 education service cooperatives; Arkansas Department of Education; Arkansas Department of Higher Education, Arkansas Department of Workforce Education, Arkansas Educational Television Network; Tyson Foods, Inc.; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; and the Walton Family Foundation.

The partnership is charged with improving public education in the state by enhancing and developing leadership. The academy will repeat the institute for other school leaders in the coming months.