Week 13: Learning from Success and Aiming Higher

Happy Friday!

As we move deeper into the fall semester, I want to thank everyone for the steady, day-by-day effort that defines Mena Public Schools. Whether you are teaching, driving, feeding, cleaning, supporting, or leading, the work you do matters. It matters to the children who look forward to seeing you each day, to the families who trust us, and to the community that counts on us to help shape its future.

This has been a week of reflection and recognition, and there is much to celebrate. Our district’s progress is evident in both the data and the daily examples of professionalism I see across our campuses. We have also received more state accountability results, and they tell a story of progress, perseverance, and opportunity for continued growth.

District Report Card Results – A “B” for Mena

This week, the Arkansas Department of Education released the 2024–2025 District Report Cards, and I am pleased to share that Mena Public Schools earned a “B” rating. Only thirty-six percent of districts statewide reached that level, which reflects the strong, sustained effort of our teachers, support staff, and leaders in every building.

This system was created through Act 474 of 2025, legislation passed in the most recent General Assembly that now requires all public school districts and education service cooperatives to receive an A–F letter grade based on student achievement, growth, graduation and readiness, and equity. The change aligns with the LEARNS Act and provides a more complete picture of each district’s performance.

Mena’s results reflect steady, measurable improvement. In Achievement, our students scored above the state average in all tested areas—35 percent in English Language Arts, 43 percent in Math, and 44 percent in Science. In Growth, which measures individual student progress, 65 percent of students met math targets and 49 percent met science targets, both above the state average. Our Success-Ready Graduate indicator, combining graduation and postsecondary readiness, reached 56 percent, slightly above the state’s 55 percent average.

To remind you, our two elementary schools, Louise Durham and Holly Harshman, each earned B ratings, while Mena Middle and Mena High School earned C ratings—placing our district in the upper range across Arkansas. There were no D’s or F’s anywhere in our system.

While we celebrate these results, we also recognize where our work continues. Our achievement rates, though higher than state averages, still mean that fewer than half of students are performing at or above grade-level expectations. That is the challenge before us—to turn strong growth into mastery. Growth shows that our instruction is moving students forward; achievement shows how many have reached the goal. The connection between the two is the purposeful, daily instruction that sharpens focus, builds confidence, and leads every student to success.

Letter grades and full data for every district and school in Arkansas are publicly available at https://myschoolinfo.arkansas.gov.

The site provides detailed information on student demographics, academic performance, growth trends, graduation rates, and readiness indicators. I encourage staff and community members to explore it and join us in celebrating how far we have come, and in understanding where our continued attention can make the greatest impact.

This “B” is both a mark of achievement and an invitation to keep improving. It confirms that our foundation is strong and our direction is right, but also that our purpose is unfinished. With steady focus, collaboration, and determination, we will continue to move from good to great.

Opportunities and Engagement

November brings several exciting opportunities that align with our mission to prepare students for success through purpose-driven learning.

Arkansas Applied Campaign (AAC)The Arkansas Applied Campaign continues through December, supporting high-school seniors as they complete college, career, and military applications. This statewide initiative especially helps first-generation, low-income, and rural students take their next steps beyond graduation. Teachers and counselors play an essential role by encouraging participation in #WhyApply Day, FAFSA Frenzy, and College Signing Day events. You can learn more in this link.

#ARinNOV8STEM Outdoor STEM Exploration ChallengeIn recognition of National STEM Day (November 8), the Arkansas Department of Education and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission invite classrooms to take part in the #ARinNOV8STEM Social Media Challenge. Teachers can post photos of students exploring nature and applying STEM principles in outdoor learning. Submissions are due by 3 PM on November 12, and selected classes may receive a visit from the Game and Fish Commission’s Cave Simulation experience. To participate, click here.

Presidential AI ChallengeThe Presidential AI Challenge, part of the national AI.gov initiative, recognizes innovative school-based AI projects that promote problem-solving, creativity, and responsible technology use. Here in Mena, our computer-science students are participating in another no-code hackathon through the end of this month, continuing the innovation and teamwork that began with our district’s NYX No-Code event last spring.

Our Opportunity to Grow Together

In addition to celebrating our achievements, we also have opportunities to strengthen them. The Casey’s Cash for Classrooms Grant is now open, offering $3,000 to $50,000 for projects that enhance facilities, provide classroom materials, expand professional development, or increase community engagement. Applications are due November 14, 2025, with awards announced next spring.

Teachers or community partners who have project ideas aligned with these priorities are encouraged to reach out for support in preparing an application. Opportunities like this allow us to take what we already do well and extend it even further.

Closing Celebrations and Staffing Notes

Our Food Service Department is also working on a thoughtful plan to assist students who may be impacted by the ongoing government shutdown. The team is exploring ways to make leftover food available to students in need, while ensuring that all practices remain fully compliant with federal food service regulations. Their proactive approach reflects the care and compassion that define our district. More information about this initiative will be shared soon.

Congratulations to our elementary spelling bee winners from Louise Durham Elementary and Holly Harshman Elementary. These students demonstrated focus, preparation, and poise throughout their competitions, earning the opportunity to represent their schools at the next level. We are proud of their hard work and look forward to cheering them on as they continue to represent Mena with confidence and excellence.

This week has been filled with several other accomplishments and pride. Our Cross Country teams represented Mena well at the 4A State Meet in Hot Springs, competing with determination and finishing the season strong. At Louise Durham Elementary, preschool students in the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program continue to build a love for reading, with many already surpassing 100 books this year—an early start that reflects our district-wide commitment to literacy and the #menareads movement. Meanwhile, both Mena High School and Mena Middle School FCCLA chapters attended the Leadership in Action “Hands that Serve – Hearts that Lead” event at Acorn High School, where students learned about leadership, service, and community impact. The Middle School FCCLA earned special recognition by winning the Community Service Award for donating the largest amount of toiletries to families in need. On the field, our 7th Grade Bearcat Football Team finished their season with a decisive 22–0 victory over Mansfield, and tonight we celebrate our senior cheer and football athletes and band members as Mena Football hosts Dardanelle at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium for Senior Night. Congratulations to all of our students and coaches who continue to represent Mena with excellence, sportsmanship, and pride.

Finally, I want to share an important reminder about our substitute shortage. We continue to face a high number of unfilled daily vacancies, which means teachers and staff are covering classes and missing planning periods to keep instruction running smoothly. Our substitute service has new people in the pipeline, but most are still completing their onboarding. Until those additional substitutes are ready, please be mindful when scheduling leave, and let your administration know in order to plan ahead so we can minimize strain on others. I appreciate the teamwork and professionalism you continue to show in supporting one another and maintaining stability for our students.

It was a good week of improvement at Mena Public Schools.

At Mena Public Schools, our students are prepared, our staff is supported, and our community is confident.

Keep the #menareads posts and videos coming, and have a safe and restful weekend!

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