At Harrison Public Schools, our mission is “Building the Future: Every Learner. Every Day. Every Way.”. This morning, that mission extended beyond our own hallways and into the classrooms of North Arkansas College.
Amber Likes, Harrison Schools Director of Special Services , and Brenda Landrum, Assistant Director, visited Tammye Stahler’s "Exceptional Child" course this morning to mentor the next generation of educators. This 3-credit hour class introduces aspiring teachers to the unique characteristics and challenges of students with diverse needs.
Amber and Brenda led students through a deep dive into the comprehensive supports Harrison Schools offers, often referred to as the "Umbrella of Special Services". They discussed the vital roles that keep our students thriving:
Early Childhood & School Age Support: From Child Find and services for ages 3-5 to IEP and 504 eligibility for older students.
A Multi-Disciplinary Team: The presentation highlighted our dedicated staff, including 23 Instructional Specialists, 38 Paraprofessionals, and a robust team of therapists (Speech, Occupational, and Physical) and mental health professionals.
The Inclusive Vision: They shared Arkansas’s commitment to inclusive education—ensuring all students receive high-quality instruction in age-appropriate general education settings.
One of the most impactful moments of the presentation was the discussion on the critical shortage of special education teachers—an issue facing 49 states, including Arkansas. Amber and Brenda highlighted Harrison’s successful "Grow Your Own" model:
40% of our current special education department began their careers as paraprofessionals.
6 of our current teachers or administrators transitioned from general education to special services.
5 of our current paraprofessionals are currently working toward their teaching degrees.
To wrap up their session, our directors left the students with key principles for their future careers:
Believe all students can achieve at high levels.
Collaborate with peers and strictly follow IEP guidelines.
Practice differentiated instruction and maintain student confidentiality.
We are incredibly proud of Amber and Brenda for sharing their expertise and passion. By investing in these future educators at Northark, they are ensuring that the "future" we are building remains bright for every learner in our community.