The Arkansas Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is pleased to announce that we are accepting applications from school districts for Cohort 2 and 3 of the THRIVE AR Leadership Academy. The THRIVE AR Leadership Academy is an intensive, hands on, multi-day training for school leaders in positive behavior and mental health supports.  The goal is to equip building leaders to support behavior and mental health in their schools both reactively and proactively.   Successful completion of the academy will result in an endorsement added to the participant's teaching license and a $2500 stipend.    Space is limited, so you must submit your application by 4:30 PM on Friday November 11, 2022. Accepted applicants will be notified by Friday, November 18, 2022, with next steps and additional details.

THRIVE Leader Candidates must plan to attend all sessions of the AR THRIVE Leadership Academy. Please remember to check your professional and personal calendars and make sure you are able to attend ALL sessions for the cohort you are applying. Session dates are provided below.

Cohort 2 and 3 - Academy will meet at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute.  Participants are required to attend all days outlined below for the cohort they are accepted into.  Lodging and meals will be provided. District will be responsible to cost of travel to a from the location.

Submit AR THRIVE Leader Academy Cohort 1 District Application here:    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe0C6gahr_PlpmDZ2d5feXizIEq3OrxXbYB3l_w8ZGs3THNJg/viewform 

Participants must also complete and submit the Signed Expectations along with their district application.

Participants will be paid a $2500 stipend and will be eligible for an endorsement to be added to their current teaching license upon successful completion of the academy.  Successful completion of the academy includes:

1. Attending and participating in all days of training;
2. Completing all required assignments;
3. Demonstrating progress toward implementation of required plan;
4. Completing final project and presentation in fall 2023.

Purpose and Design 

The AR THRIVE Leader Academy is for those individuals who are currently serving as an administrator, dean of students or interventionist in an Arkansas public school and whose job duties require them to directly manage behavioral expectations for students in the K-12 setting. The academy will prepare participants to support behavior and mental health in their schools both reactively and proactively and strengthen current educational structures to systematically teach academic and social behaviors.  Participants will learn a variety of strategies used for prevention, de-escalation and positive supports. Some topics will include: 

• Recognizing internal and external biases about behavior; 
• Recognizing signs of trauma/distress that may be having an affect on the child’s behavior;
• Establishing a Multi-Tiered System of Support to address the needs of ALL students;
• Correcting undesirable behaviors by reinforcing desirable behaviors;
• Understanding the behavioral and mental health supports located in their region;
• Learning how to coordinate an inclusive building behavioral team to glean the fullest picture of a child’s resources and needs; 
• Utilizing a Behavioral Support Plan;
• Learning about non-punitive classroom management strategies and how to establish a system that addresses behavior from a positive lens;
• Coaching teachers in the strategies learned;
• Establishing essential standards and curriculum for academic and social behaviors;
• Recognizing best practice school based mental health programming.

The AR THRIVE Academy will provide 9 days of face-to-face professional learning with assignments to be completed between the sessions. 

Expenses

Lodging and meals will be covered by the Arkansas Department of Education through the use of ARP ESSER Funds.  Districts are responsible for travel to and from the meeting location.