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Monday, July 14
 

5:00pm CDT

Early Registration
Monday July 14, 2025 5:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Grand Lobby
Monday July 14, 2025 5:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Grand Lobby Hot Springs Convention Center
  General

6:00pm CDT

Welcome Reception
Monday July 14, 2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Grand Lobby
Join us in the Grand Lobby as we kick off the conference! Enjoy food and drinks at the reception, visit the Exhibit Hall to chat with our vendors, and attend a Roundtable Session from one of our vendor sponsors. 
Monday July 14, 2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Grand Lobby Hot Springs Convention Center
  General
 
Tuesday, July 15
 

7:30am CDT

Registration
Tuesday July 15, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am CDT
Grand Lobby
Tuesday July 15, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am CDT
Grand Lobby Hot Springs Convention Center
  General

7:30am CDT

Morning Snacks
Tuesday July 15, 2025 7:30am - 9:30am CDT
Grand Lobby
Join us in the Grand Lobby for snacks and beverages including:
  • Assorted breakfast breads and petite muffins
  • Individual yogurts with granola
  • Fresh seasonal fruit
  • Freshly brewed coffee, chilled orange juice, hot tea, and bottled water
Tuesday July 15, 2025 7:30am - 9:30am CDT
Grand Lobby Hot Springs Convention Center
  General

8:30am CDT

[KEYNOTE] ALL In, We're Gonna WIN! The BEST School Year EVER!
Tuesday July 15, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Exhibit Halls C & D
Renowned educator and motivational speaker Dr. Adolph Brown is bringing his dynamic energy and transformative message to this year’s Summit! With a powerful blend of music, motivation, and evidence-based, data-driven insights, Dr. Brown’s keynote will ignite inspiration across every level of a district. His high-energy session will encourage all staff—teachers, administrators, and support staff alike—to be ALL IN for the year ahead. Through engaging stories and actionable strategies, Dr. Brown will dive into critical topics like mental toughness, self-care, and the power of teamwork.
No matter your role, you'll walk away with practical tools and renewed motivation to start the school year empowered, energized, and uplifted.

Don’t miss this unforgettable kickoff experience—join us and leave ready to make this your best year yet!
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Adolph Brown

Dr. Adolph Brown

Dr. Adolph Brown, III without a doubt, offers the most uniquely inspiring, relevant and entertaining presentations around. He is an American businessman, investor, author, urban and rural school educator, research-scientist, and keynote speaker. He is a servant-leader at heart, a... Read More →
Tuesday July 15, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Exhibit Halls C & D Hot Springs Convention Center
  General

9:00am CDT

Beverage Break
Tuesday July 15, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am CDT
Grand Lobby
Join us in the Grand Lobby for beverages including:
  • Freshly brewed coffee
  • Hot tea
  • Iced tea
  • Bottled water
  • Soft Drinks
Tuesday July 15, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am CDT
Grand Lobby Hot Springs Convention Center
  General

2:00pm CDT

Afternoon Snack Break
Tuesday July 15, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
Join us in the Grand Lobby for snacks an beverages including:
  • Gormet cookies, blondies, and brownies
  • Assorted bagged chips and snacks, assorted bagged nuts
  • Coffee, hot tea, iced tea, bottled water, Gatorade, assorted soft drinks
Tuesday July 15, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
  General

4:40pm CDT

District Team Debrief
Tuesday July 15, 2025 4:40pm - 5:40pm CDT
Exhibit Hall B
School/District teams will have the opportunity to meet during this time and share what they learned.
Tuesday July 15, 2025 4:40pm - 5:40pm CDT
Exhibit Hall B Hot Springs Convention Center
  General
 
Wednesday, July 16
 

7:30am CDT

Registration
Wednesday July 16, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am CDT
Grand Lobby
Wednesday July 16, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am CDT
Grand Lobby Hot Springs Convention Center
  General

7:30am CDT

Morning Snacks
Wednesday July 16, 2025 7:30am - 9:30am CDT
Grand Lobby
Join us in the Grand Lobby for snacks and beverages including:
  • Assorted breakfast breads and petite muffins
  • Individual yogurts with granola
  • Fresh seasonal fruit
  • Freshly brewed coffee, chilled orange juice, hot tea, and bottled water
Wednesday July 16, 2025 7:30am - 9:30am CDT
Grand Lobby Hot Springs Convention Center
  General

8:30am CDT

[KEYNOTE] From Welfare to Warrior: How love and connection empowers others to defy the odds
Wednesday July 16, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Exhibit Halls C & D
Despite growing up poor and on welfare and spending time in the foster care system Sandy has achieved the impossible over and over again in her life but it’s taken a team. Sandy will share stories of the impact teachers, coaches, administrators and staff had on her life. In this keynote you will be reminded of why you went into education, the transformation power of connection, and the rippling effect it has for generations to come.
Speakers
avatar for Sandy Zimmerman

Sandy Zimmerman

Sandy was a teacher and coach for 23 years.  She is a mother of 3, an inspirational speaker, author of ‘Get Out of the Car’, 9-time competitor on NBC’s hit show American Ninja Warrior and became the 1st mom in the show’s history to finish the course and hit the buzzer. Sandy... Read More →
Wednesday July 16, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Exhibit Halls C & D Hot Springs Convention Center
  General

9:00am CDT

Beverage Break
Wednesday July 16, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am CDT
Grand Lobby
Join us in the Grand Lobby for beverages including:
  • Freshly brewed coffee
  • Hot tea
  • Iced tea
  • Bottled water
  • Soft Drinks
Wednesday July 16, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am CDT
Grand Lobby Hot Springs Convention Center
  General

10:20am CDT

Rise Together: How failure is a key ingredient to developing courage and confidence
Wednesday July 16, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am CDT
TBA
Courage and confidence are skills just like anything else that we can learn, grow, develop, and improve over time. In this session Sandy will share research-based tools and strategies she’s used to defy the odds and achieve the impossible in her own life.
Speakers
avatar for Sandy Zimmerman

Sandy Zimmerman

Sandy was a teacher and coach for 23 years.  She is a mother of 3, an inspirational speaker, author of ‘Get Out of the Car’, 9-time competitor on NBC’s hit show American Ninja Warrior and became the 1st mom in the show’s history to finish the course and hit the buzzer. Sandy... Read More →
Wednesday July 16, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am CDT
TBA
  General

2:00pm CDT

Afternoon Snack Break
Wednesday July 16, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
Join us in the Grand Lobby for a healthy snack sponsored by the DESE School Health unit, including:
  • Fresh seasonal fruit
  • Assorted KIND bars
  • Freshly popped popcorn
  • Bottled water
Wednesday July 16, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
  General

4:40pm CDT

District Team Debrief
Wednesday July 16, 2025 4:40pm - 5:40pm CDT
Exhibit Hall B
School/District teams will have the opportunity to meet during this time and share what they learned.
Wednesday July 16, 2025 4:40pm - 5:40pm CDT
Exhibit Hall B Hot Springs Convention Center
  General
 
Thursday, July 17
 

7:30am CDT

Registration
Thursday July 17, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am CDT
Grand Lobby
Thursday July 17, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am CDT
Grand Lobby Hot Springs Convention Center
  General

7:30am CDT

Morning Snacks
Thursday July 17, 2025 7:30am - 9:30am CDT
Grand Lobby
Join us in the Grand Lobby for snacks and beverages including:
  • Assorted breakfast breads and petite muffins
  • Individual yogurts with granola
  • Fresh seasonal fruit
  • Freshly brewed coffee, chilled orange juice, hot tea, and bottled water
Thursday July 17, 2025 7:30am - 9:30am CDT
Grand Lobby Hot Springs Convention Center
  General

8:30am CDT

[KEYNOTE] The Power of Educators: Transforming Lives Across Generations
Thursday July 17, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Exhibit Halls C & D
In this deeply personal keynote, Beau McCastlain shares insights from a transformative year as the 2024 Arkansas Teacher of the Year. Drawing from over 16 years in the classroom, a broadcast journalism career in Arkansas, and on the road connecting with students, educators, and communities, this keynote explores how educators and mentors not only impact individual lives, they shape legacies.
 
For the past four years, Beau has led a groundbreaking video production program at De Queen High School, where students take the lead in telling authentic stories through a student-run broadcast studio known as DQTV.
Launched during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic with just seven students, DQTV has grown into a nationally recognized program that builds student voice, fosters civic engagement, and connects classrooms to communities. Students graduate not only with technical skills but with real-world experience and confidence to pursue enrollment, employment, or enlistment after high school. Several students have earned regional and national recognition, including opportunities to work alongside the White House Press Corps.
In this keynote, Beau shares stories from his 2024 Arkansas Teacher of the Year journey, his classroom, and beyond—illustrating how educators can ignite change that echoes through generations. Through a mix of reflection, storytelling, and real-world examples, Beau reminds us that when students are seen, heard, and empowered, they don't just succeed—they lead.
 
Through authentic storytelling and reflection, McCastlain offers a powerful reminder: the influence of an educator echoes far beyond the school walls, reaching across generations. Attendees will leave feeling inspired, affirmed, and ready to elevate the calling of teaching in their own communities.
Speakers
avatar for Beau McCastlain

Beau McCastlain

2024 Arkansas Teacher of the Year, Arkansas Department of Education
Beau McCastlain is a 2025 Presidential Leadership Scholar, the 2024 Arkansas Teacher of the Year, De Queen High School’s DQTV Television Production Advisor, and Communications Director for De Queen Public Schools. Mr. McCastlain, along with the help of his students, has created... Read More →
Thursday July 17, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Exhibit Halls C & D Hot Springs Convention Center
  General

9:00am CDT

Beverage Break
Thursday July 17, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am CDT
Grand Lobby
Join us in the Grand Lobby for beverages including:
  • Freshly brewed coffee
  • Hot tea
  • Iced tea
  • Bottled water
  • Soft Drinks
Thursday July 17, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am CDT
Grand Lobby Hot Springs Convention Center
  General

2:00pm CDT

Afternoon Snack Break
Thursday July 17, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
Join us in the Grand Lobby for snacks an beverages including:
  • Gormet cookies, blondies, and brownies
  • Assorted bagged chips and snacks, assorted bagged nuts
  • Coffee, hot tea, iced tea, bottled water, Gatorade, assorted soft drinks
Thursday July 17, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
  General

2:20pm CDT

District Team Debrief
Thursday July 17, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm CDT
Exhibit Hall B
School/District teams will have the opportunity to meet during this time and share what they learned.
Thursday July 17, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm CDT
Exhibit Hall B Hot Springs Convention Center
  General
 
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