Today, we are proud to celebrate Harrison Schools' Executive Director of Instructional Technology & Federal Programs, Susan Gilley, for her featured article in this month's Instructional Leader publication by the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators.
In her piece, Susan draws on her extensive career and deep-rooted dedication to Arkansas education, as well as Harrison Schools' commitment to keeping opportunities cutting-edge for our students. Susan highlights three innovative programs currently transforming our district:
The WOLF Program: A vocational partnership providing work-readiness skills for students with disabilities, with nearly 20 students already employed in various roles across our campus.
Teacher Apprenticeship Pathways: We are growing our own! We currently have seven high school students who have passed their paraprofessional exams and over 20 classified staff members pursuing teaching degrees through our apprenticeship program.
"Homegrown Stories" Literacy Initiative: Our middle schoolers are becoming published authors! Through this project, students interviewed local farmers and collaborated with author Brandy Mincer to write and market their first children's book, Farmer Jack and the Never-Ending Puzzle.
Susan’s leadership and dedication in finding the money to fund these projects ensures that we continue to live out our mission: Building the Future: Every Learner, Every Day, Every Way.
Congratulations, Susan, on this well-deserved recognition and for your tireless advocacy for our students and staff!