FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Leadership Academy, a program coordinated at the University of Arkansas’ College of Education and Health Professions, has been selected as one of three such academies in the southern region to participate in a prestigious network aimed at improving schools in the southern region and nationally.

The Southern Regional Education Board is forming the network to link programs in 16 southern states to develop school leadership teams. Teams will work together over an extended period to apply research-based knowledge to improve curriculum and instructional practices in their schools. Funding for the project is provided by the Wallace-Reader’s Digest Funds.

Governor Mike Huckabee said, "It is exciting to see the efforts of the Arkansas Leadership Academy being recognized by the SREB. The academy has already increased the leadership capacity in our state with the valuable training offered to teachers and administrators. The joint project with SREB will be an opportunity for the academy to impact not only educators in Arkansas, but also educators nationwide."

"The Arkansas Leadership Academy is an outstanding example of collaboration between the university, state government and the private sector," said UA Chancellor John A. White. "We are proud of the academy’s impact on Arkansas through its proven and popular institutes. In recognition of her leadership and contributions, the academy’s director, Beverly Elliott, has been named the first Stewart T. Springfield Professor in Educational Administration in the College of Education and Health Professions."

"The Arkansas Leadership Academy has played an important role in Arkansas education," said Reed Greenwood, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. "A great many of the educators who will be tackling the key issues in Arkansas education-quality of programs, accountability, funding and equity-have learned critical skills in Leadership Academy institutes. As part of the SREB network, the academy will be joining some of the foremost educators in the southern region to advance our schools."

Founded in 1992, the Arkansas Leadership Academy has been built by its 44 partners from education, government, and business and industry who meet regularly to set policy and direction. In naming the academy to the network, SREB cited the quality of the academy’s work and its commitment to developing school teams to lead comprehensive school improvement efforts.

"Being named to the SREB network is a tribute to the academy partners from around the state," said Beverly Elliott, associate professor and director of the academy. "This is a tremendous opportunity for the Arkansas Leadership Academy to work with insightful and experienced educators from other leadership academies and the SREB.

"We have a strong history in leadership team development. Participating in the SREB network will put the academy in the center of the regional effort to design evaluation systems to measure systemic change."

The Arkansas Leadership Academy provides leadership development experiences for individual leaders as well as leadership teams. It sponsors institutes for individuals, teams, principals, and teachers, as well as training in coaching and collaborative practices for school districts, higher education institutions, and governmental and education-related organizations.

Elliott explained that the goal of developing leadership teams is central to the work of the academy. In the eight-year history of its Team Leadership Development Institute, over 4,700 participants from 540 school and district teams have completed the intensive, six-day, residential training institute. At this institute, learning teams include teachers, principals, parents, superintendents, board and community members, legislators, and university faculty, with a strong emphasis on diversity. Team Leadership Development Institutes are held quarterly, and typically, 40 to 50 teams seek admission to the 12 to 15 openings.

SREB was created in 1948 by the governors of 16 southern states to improve educational quality and opportunity and was the nation’s first interstate compact for education. SREB fosters cooperation between government and education leaders, develops educational initiatives designed to build the economic strength of states, and provides information about school performance.