The innovative "grow your own" IMPACT Arkansas Principal Fellows Program in the College of Education and Health Professions can now prepare more leaders for high-poverty Arkansas schools, thanks to more than $3.4 million in grant funding from the Walton Family and Windgate foundations.

Since 2014, IMPACT Arkansas has been a pipeline for school leaders in rural or geographically isolated parts of the state. The program identifies talent within these communities and provides the education and training they need to flourish where they are. It's designed for talented educators who aspire to be principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches or want to fill other leadership roles.

The college recently celebrated IMPACT's first decade and 10th cohort at the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock. Current fellows, alumni, funders and supporters gathered to reflect on the program's growth, partnerships and life-changing influence on school leadership across Arkansas.

Cohort 8 alumnus James Copeland told the crowd he went from a burned-out teacher to winning a Teacher of the Year Award.

"That's the power of IMPACT," he said.

Copeland, a teacher at Marvell-Elaine High School, said each IMPACT fellow represents a ripple that spreads outward to their students, colleagues, the entire school and the community. IMPACT is intentional about equipping school leaders to transform educational environments and improve student achievement.

The program typically recruits 60 fellows across three cohorts, but the new funding will allow an additional 30 aspiring school leaders to participate, for a total of 90 fellows over the next three years. By the end of the program, fellows will earn a master's degree in educational leadership from the U of A. There are many defining features that make IMPACT unique -- learning embedded in relevant practice; intentional succession planning from within the organization; diverse and rigorous internship experiences; 360 mentoring support from coaches, on-site supervisors, faculty and peers; ongoing opportunities to engage in reflective practice; and supported leadership development that extends into the early years of practice. These transformational learning experiences support aspiring leaders in becoming change agents within their schools, districts and communities. 

"IMPACT is one of the shining examples of programs that help us realize our commitment to Arkansas excellence and the university's land-grant mission," said Dean Kate Mamiseishvili. "Improving school leadership is the best tool we have to ensure that every child in Arkansas has access to high-quality education."

IMPACT's footprint now includes more than 60% of high-poverty school districts across Arkansas. Since 2014, IMPACT has recruited 197 aspiring leaders across 10 cohorts, who have served 167 schools in 106 Arkansas districts and eight charter schools.

The 10th cohort officially launched over the summer. During the program's summer symposiums, new fellows learn about instructional leadership, school improvement and the real challenges facing Arkansas' highest-needs schools, while forming a strong sense of community with their peers and program leaders. IMPACT ambassadors, fellow graduates who now serve as mentors and facilitators within the program, lead various sessions.

Cohort 9 was key in mentoring the newest fellows, sharing lessons learned and offering encouragement. They also presented the results of their year-long action research projects, each demonstrating the real-world impact they are making in Arkansas schools.

"Their presentations were not only insightful but also deeply motivating, offering cohort 10 a firsthand look at what's possible when thoughtful inquiry and leadership come together," IMPACT Director of Outreach Kevin Beaumont wrote in the program's recent newsletter.

Like the fellows before them, cohort 10 educators were apprehensive at the start of their IMPACT journey. But hearing from previous cohorts put them at ease and excited about the future.

"This is a little family," said Kristi Cook, a kindergarten teacher at Fairview Elementary School in Camden. "These cohorts are a testament to how they stay together and help one another."

IMPACT graduates commit to staying in their current school for two years. Nearly 100% remain in Arkansas schools, and 85% stay in high-poverty schools. The program continues to provide mentorship and development into the early years of a fellow's new leadership position.

Audrey Cooper, a K-2 English language arts instructional coach in the Conway Public Schools, said by the end of the program, she expects to walk away with practical tools, an expanded network and a renewed sense of purpose.

"My goal is to ensure that every teacher I support has the tools, confidence and resources they need to create engaging, high-quality learning experiences for all students," she said.

Jill LaRosa, one of two IMPACT directors of support along with Allison Prewitt-Kincaid, said with 10 cohorts now deployed across the state, there is a vast resource group of alumni who serve as a professional learning network for one another. During the Little Rock event, LaRosa fondly looked around the room bustling with alumni and new fellows, each person calling to mind struggles, successes and breakthroughs.

"IMPACT helps these school leaders imagine different," she said.

LaRosa often connects educators from various cohorts so they can benefit from each other's hard-earned wisdom. She has repeatedly seen how just one "nugget" of a new idea can change the direction of an entire school.

Copeland summed up the IMPACT culture in his remarks at the event.

"The support is real, and it is personal," he said.

About the College of Education and Health Professions: The College of Education and Health Professions prepares students for a wide range of careers in education and health. The college comprises approximately 360 faculty and staff members, serving more than 6,000 students and supporting six departments and over 25 research and service units. Driven by the WE CARE strategic plan, the college strives to advance impactful research, foster a caring culture, and expand service to Arkansas through transformative educational opportunities and meaningful partnerships. The college boasts an extensive research portfolio that is accompanied by multiple large-scale, prestigious grants secured by faculty and staff. Over the past five years, the college has received over $115 million in external funding.