Keaton for Fayetteville

It has never been more important to support public education in Arkansas. Education is foundational to the success of individuals, families, communities, and systems. 

I envision schools as neighborhood hubs that bring families together, build social capital across economic groups, and support kids with wrap-around services. In order to accelerate this strategy, I’d like to see the district embrace the Community Schools model and work closely with the City and the development community to leverage our respective investments in K-12 facilities, infrastructure, housing, and supportive services. 1+1 can equal 3 when institutions not only partner, but strategize together. 

I believe now is the time to establish a big vision for the growth of internships, apprenticeships, work-based learning, concurrent credit, and our Career and Technical Education offerings. Everyone agrees that we have a workforce shortage, and that means opportunities for our students. We should invest time and resources in efforts that connect students with the jobs of the future, providing real-world experience in the fields that have the highest demand for talent. This will require a continuation of existing efforts around stakeholder engagement, thinking outside of the box, collaboration, innovation, and problem-solving to reduce logistical barriers. 

Sustainability is not only a passion of mine - it’s an engaging topic and a growing career path for many kids in our district. Sustainability efforts save money and make more efficient use of limited financial resources, and we’ve made significant investments in solar, energy efficiency, bike education, school gardens, and healthy local food. I believe we are poised to take these efforts to the next level by elevating student voices around these issues that are so important to their future. 

During my 5 years on the school board, we’ve supported teachers and staff with raises, building-level support, and efforts to improve school culture. We finalized a strong strategic plan that sets SMART goals focused on equity, growth, achievement, and career pathways. We’ve made significant progress in areas like staff diversity, representation in AP classes, and strategies that help professionals share valuable insights with their peers. We’ve raised the status of our Career and Technical Education programs by celebrating CTE students with a Signing Day ceremony, and we’ve invested heavily in our facilities to accommodate growth, build social capital amongst students and families, improve access for all, and save money with solar and energy efficiency. 

In the coming years, we will welcome our new superintendent, update the district’s strategic plan, and take a holistic look at our future facility needs. My experience, future-focused vision, and relationships throughout our community will help us maximize each of these opportunities for our community, our kids, and our future.