Annual Report to the Community

North Little Rock School District

Annual Report to the Community

October 1, 2023

Dear Patrons of the North Little Rock School District:

There’s no place like the North Little Rock School District!

Sure, that may be a play on Dorothy’s words in The Wizard of Oz, but it rings true about our school district as well. I am so proud to be a part of the North Little Rock School District, and I am proud to call this place my home. For three years, I have enjoyed the opportunity of meeting exceptional students, employees, families, and community members who love this district and want to see that it thrives. With our team mindset, I am confident that we will see the fruits of our labor, which is to provide our students with a rigorous, high-quality education that will position them to be movers and shakers in their respective career fields.

This Annual Report to the Community serves as a snapshot of our efforts over the last school year. It is so easy to go day to day and be so consumed with the matters at hand that you can forget to look back from where you have come. This report serves as a historical document for us to reflect and retool as we serve all of the students entrusted in our care. We have come a long way in a number of areas; however, we are not done yet. I am grateful for this opportunity, for it is a role that I do not take lightly. I am grateful to work with such an outstanding team of people who share my vision of putting students first.

I also want to use this chance to thank the North Little Rock Board of Education for their unwavering support. Our Board of Education received the School Board of Excellence in Leadership Award last December, which is a testament to their superior dedication to the students and staff of our district. This is a tremendous honor for which we should all be proud. I enjoy working with each of them. Being a school board member is oftentimes a thankless job, but our board members are up to the task.

Thank you for being a friend of the North Little Rock School District!

Sincerely,

The North Little Rock School District participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2023-2024 school year. This means that all enrolled students in our district are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at no charge to their household.

Highlights of the 2022-2023 School Year

•Quarterback Malachi Gober was named “Scholar Athlete of the Week” by First Community Bank. Only 13 athletes in the state received this recognition.

•Five of our high school students received honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs.

•The district, in collaboration with the North Little Rock Police Department, launched a School Safety Task Force Committee. This committee is made up of parents, mental health professionals, medical practitioners, and law enforcement leaders.

•Cenergistic, an energy conservation management company, recognized the district for cutting energy costs by 28% percent and reducing energy use by 36% over a four year time span.

•The Board of Education approved the themes for the career academies at North Little Rock High School and the Center of Excellence.

◦ Center of Excellence: Academy of Engineering Technology and Computer Science and Academy of Health Sciences

◦ North Little Rock High School: Academy of Business, Hospitality & Future Technology; Academy of Digital Visual & Performing Arts; and Academy of Health & Human Services

•The North Little Rock Varsity Cheer Team won the Class 6A State Championship for the third consecutive year.

•The Center of Excellence and Crestwood Elementary School earned money from the Arkansas Department of Education for high achievement and student growth on the 2022 ACT Aspire exam.

•The O ce of Education Policy recognized the North Little Rock Middle School - Sixth Grade Campus and the North Little Rock Center of Excellence with the “Beating the Odds” award. The Sixth Grade Campus ranked third in the state’s central region for growth in math on the ACT Aspire. The North Little Rock Center of Excellence ranked in the top 10 high schools in the state for overall growth on the ACT Aspire. In addition, the COE ranked fourth in math in the

•Nevaeh McFelson, a member of the Class of 2023, earned a full scholarship to Columbia University, the Ivy League institution in New York City.

•The North Little Rock Board of Education approved the reconfiguration and transformation plan for Seventh Street Elementary School. This plan integrates high-interest, project-based learning at every grade level. The school will house Pre-K through 8th grade students by the 2026-2027 school year.

•Thirteen eleventh grade students were selected to attend Arkansas Boys State/Arkansas Girls State.

•Nine students were selected to attend Arkansas Governor's School.

•The Varsity Girls Basketball Team was named runner-up in the Class 6A Girls State Championship Game, finishing the season with 26 wins and 6 losses.

•Seventeen high school students earned the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy, which recognizes Arkansas high school students who have attained proficiency in two or more languages.

•The NLRHS Theatre Arts Department earned the exclusive rights to produce the Disney musical, Frozen. NLRHS is the only school in the state with this honor.

•Crestwood Elementary School’s fourth and fifth grade Quest students swept the Innovation Challenge competition, organized by the Arkansas Innovation Hub. This is a problem-solving competition where students think about problems they encounter regularly, brainstorm potential solutions, develop a solution, and then share it.

•Melisha Gri n, an engineering teacher at the Center of Excellence, was named a finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

•Students from North Little Rock High School earned first place in the Stock Market Competition! Zatoria Bell, America Campos, Ethan Carr, Sarah Roden, and Noah Strother represented the school and district well in the competition. As a result of their first place finish, they enjoyed an all expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., visited Arkansas lawmakers, toured attractions, and

District Places Priority on Security with Reorganization

In June 2022, the North Little Rock Board of Education approved a proposal to reorganize the district’s Safety Services Department in an e ort to enhance safety at all campuses.

“Under the visionary leadership of our Director, Chief Hayward Finks, our proposed reorganization plan will provide a robust, proactive infrastructure to keep our students and sta safe. This demonstrates our continued commitment that safety and security is our top priority,” said Dr. Gregory J. Pilewski, Superintendent of Schools.

The following personnel and measures are now in place throughout the North Little Rock School District:

•Eleven (11) armed, commissioned school security o cers, located at the nine elementary campuses, Pike View Early Childhood Center, and North Little Rock Academy;

•Twenty-seven (27) security o cers to provide unarmed security, in partnership with armed school resource o cers (SROs) from the North Little Rock Police Department, at the Center of Excellence, North Little Rock High School, North Little Rock Middle School – Seventh & Eighth Grade Campus, and North Little Rock Middle School – Sixth Grade Campus;

•One (1) security captain and two (2) security sergeants to provide supervision and accountability throughout the Safety Services Department;

•Three (3) technology positions that will oversee digital safety using cameras, alarms, and new innovative automation, along with district and campus-based crisis intervention planning;

•Upgraded security protocols that align with national safety recommendations for best practices in schools;

•Threat assessment teams at each campus and Central O ce sites;

•Issue new security uniforms for all Safety Services Department personnel for improved visibility;

•Enhanced security measures at extracurricular and special events sponsored by the school district;

•Conduct school climate surveys to determine where safety can be improved and to develop plans of action;

•Implementation of the STOPit app, an online reporting tool designed to stop bullying, cyber abuse, and other inappropriate behaviors

The Board of Education also approved the purchase of the Raptor School Safety Technology, which provides visitor, volunteer, and emergency management and scans visitors in real time for sex o ender status or custodial restrictions, and Opengate Weapons Detection System, a system that automatically screens people as they enter buildings, including their backpacks, to detect weapons that can cause mass casualties.

The reorganization proposal either meets or exceeds most of the recommendations outlined by the Arkansas School Safety Commission.

Salaam Named Arkansas Teacher of the Year

Capri Salaam, a social studies teacher at Seventh & Eighth Grade Campus, thought that on October 14, 2022, she would be there to cheer on her students during the pep rally. Little did she know the applause would be for her, as she was named the 2023 Arkansas Teacher of the Year.

At the end of the pep rally, former Arkansas Secretary of Education Johnny Key and North Little Rock School District Superintendent Gregory J. Pilewski, Ed.D., joined her with a $14,000 check to mark the milestone.

Salaam, a multi-classroom lead teacher, was one of four state semi-finalists for the award and was chosen by the ATOY selection committee for her innovative teaching practices, her ability to connect with students from diverse backgrounds, and her e orts to stay engaged with her students after they leave her classroom.

Salaam began her career at the North Little Rock School District in 2015. She became a multi-classroom lead teacher in 2018, a role in which she provided support in instructional practices and classroom management for other teachers. Prior to joining the district, she was a teacher from 2013-2015 at Little Rock Preparatory Academy. In 2014, she was promoted to a third-grade lead teacher and collaborated with other third-grade teachers to identify best practices and innovative teaching strategies.

In addition to receiving a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Central Arkansas, Salaam has a Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle School Education from Arkansas Tech University and a Master of Science in Special Education from Harding University.

Salaam holds multiple teaching licenses, including Social Studies (4-8), English (4-8), and Special Education Resource ELA (7-12) licenses. She is a Google Certified Educator Level 1 and holds a Lead Professional Educator endorsement.

When named a regional finalist, Salaam received a $1,000 prize and an additional $1,000 for being named a state semi-finalist. As Arkansas Teacher of the Year, she received an additional $14,000 award, sponsored by the Walton Family Foundation.

Salaam’s one-year tenure as Arkansas Teacher of the Year began on July 1, 2023. During her sabbatical from the classroom, she will travel the state representing teachers and promoting her platform. Her focus will be on improving the mental health of students and ongoing social-emotional learning. Salaam also will serve as a non-voting member on the State Board of Education.

Salaam is the seventh NLRSD educator to be named Arkansas Teacher of the Year.

The Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, contributed to this article.

North Little Rock Board of Education

The North Little Rock Board of Education is made up of seven dedicated individuals who represent their respective communities to serve as strong advocates for the students and employees of the North Little Rock School District.

Board members regularly visit schools to meet with students, teachers, and administrators to approve the district’s budget and policies, and to work closely with the Superintendent of Schools to determine the direction of the district.

Meetings of the North Little Rock Board of Education are open to the public. Board workshop meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month. Regular board meetings are held every third Thursday of every month. Both start at 5:30 p.m. and take place at the Administration Building, located at 2400 Willow Street.

In order to receive this coveted recognition, school boards must have documented evidence in each of the following eight criteria:

•Focuses on and demonstrates support for student achievement

•Supports educational improvement projects

•Demonstrates commitment to a code of ethics

•Maintains harmonious and supportive relationships among members of the board and with the superintendent

•Functions as a policy-making body with adherence to adopted policies

•Provides oversight for district finances and budget that support continuous improvement by making decisions and taking actions that are consistent with the district’s strategic plan (vision, mission, and goals) and policies

•Participates in training, workshops, and other performance improvement programs

•Supports and participates in relations e orts, including community awareness

School Performance, Curriculum Departments Formed

Following results from the Superintendent’s 100-Day Transition Plan Summary Report and a curriculum management audit, the North Little Rock School District began an aggressive plan to reorganize and create two new departments to positively impact student achievement.

The O ce of School Performance is led by two individuals: the Executive Director of Elementary School Performance and the Executive Director of Secondary School Performance. These educators are tasked with providing leadership coaching, professional development, and direct support to school-based administrators in all aspects of teaching and learning. Joining the executive directors is the Director of School E ectiveness and Literacy Enforcement, who serves as the district’s expert on developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating all professional development sessions. This director also works with building administrators to connect school-wide literacy goals with evidence-based practices aligned with the science of reading. In complying with the Arkansas LEARNS Act, the Director of School E ectiveness and Literacy Enforcement will regularly report on the types of interventions used and the students that are receiving the interventions in order to meet the third-grade reading standard, as mandated by the legislation.

The Curriculum Innovation and Design Department ensures students are exposed to a high-quality curriculum and aligned instructional materials for all grade levels, content areas, and courses through the district that aligns to national, state, industry, and technology content standards. This department also integrates innovative instructional strategies and assessments to adapt and personalize learning.

The Curriculum Innovation and Design Department is made up of the following roles:

•Executive Director of Curriculum Innovation and Design

•Coordinator of Coordinator of Accountability, Assessment, and Data Management

•Coordinator of Early Childhood and School Readiness

•Coordinator of Elementary Reading and Integrated Literacy

•Coordinator of Secondary Reading, English, and Integrated Literacy

•Coordinator of Elementary Mathematics

•Coordinator of Secondary Mathematics

•Coordinator of English Speakers of Other Languages/World Languages

•Coordinator of Innovative Virtual Learning Programs

•Coordinator of School Innovation

•Coordinator of Science, Environmental Literacy, Outdoor Education, and Advanced Programs

Moss-Newburn Named NLRSD Teacher of the Year

Karen Moss-Newburn, a gifted and talented teacher at Ridge Road Elementary School, is the 2023 NLRSD Teacher of the Year. Moss-Newburn is in her fourteenth year with the North Little Rock School District.

The surprise announcement was made at the 2023 Night of Honors, which is the district's signature event to recognize Building-Level Teachers of the Year and Classified Employees of the Year.

The Night of Honors takes place because of the generosity of sponsors. The Steering Committee paid tribute to event sponsors, which include local businesses, organizations, and schools. The committee gave a special recognition to the Bobby Gosser family, who has pledged $50,000 over a 10-year period toward the Night of Honors. In addition, the Teacher of the Year received a $1,000 check from the family. To commemorate this contribution, the award has been renamed in honor of the Bobby Gosser Family.

This year's level winners include the following:

•Elementary School Teacher of the Year: Lydia Robinson, a second grade teacher at Meadow Park Elementary School

2022-2023 teachers of the year

Campus

Amboy

Boone Park

Crestwood

Glenview

Indian Hills

Lakewood

Meadow Park

North Little Rock Academy

North Little Rock Center of Excellence

North Little Rock High School

Teacher/Teachers of the Year

Jill Tanner

Ulanda Ellis

Jordan Whisnant

Katie Drake

Darla Horton

Kim Douglass

Lydia Robinson

Stacy Naylor

Sherah Fulton

Cynthia Bell

Hunter Douglass

Aaron Whitt

NLRMS - Seventh & Eighth Grade Campus

NLRMS - Sixth Grade Campus

Pike View

Ridge Road

Seventh Street

Award

Child Nutrition Employee of the Year

Maintenance, Operations & Facilities Employee of the Year

O ce & Technical Employee of the Year

Paraprofessional Employee of the Year

Support Services & Security Employee of the Year

The Dr. Scot A. Tyler Sr. Transportation Employee of the Year

Elizabeth Roberts

Kellie She eld

Kristen Huston

Megan Wilson

Karen Moss-Newburn

Pam Springer

Employee

Tia Bryant

Yvonne Jordan

MaKesha Edwards

Michael Reeves

Dana Marshall

JW Moore

Amboy Elementary School 101 Auburn Drive (501) 771-8185

Glenview Elementary School 901 E. 19th Street (501) 955-3630

Meadow Park Elementary School 801 E. Bethany Road (501) 955-3620

North Little Rock High School 201 W. 22nd Street (501) 771-8100

Pike View Early Childhood Center 441 McCain Boulevard (501) 771-8170

School Site Directory

Boone Park Elementary School 1401 Crutcher Street (501) 340-5160

Indian Hills Elementary School 6800 Indian Hills Drive (501) 835-5622

North Little Rock Academy 5500 Lynch Drive (501) 955-3600

North Little Rock Middle School Seventh & Eighth Grade Campus 2400 Lakeview Road (501) 771-8200

Ridge Road Elementary School 4601 Ridge Road (501) 771-8155

Crestwood Elementary School 1900 Crestwood Drive (501) 771-8190

Lakewood Elementary School 1800 Fairway Avenue (501) 771-8270

North Little Rock Center of Excellence 201 W. 22nd Street (501) 975-3895

North Little Rock Middle School Sixth Grade Campus 2300 Lakeview Road (501) 771-8250

Seventh Street Elementary School 1200 Bishop Lindsey Avenue (501) 340-5170 .

Davis