LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A state program to develop education leaders is awarding $527,800 to 36 Arkansas schools.
The Promoting Educator Effectiveness in Rural Arkansas, or PEER, program will award central and northeast Arkansas schools in its network to improve education in rural Arkansas. The awards will be given to schools that have shown growth in 2023 that exceeds 2022 levels or pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
PEER has a partner network of 60 schools. Officials said that through the network, schools receive training, coaching and job support, with personalized performance management to help schools meet or exceed goals.
Incentives are provided through PEER to encourage the development of educator-leaders in rural schools.
Bald Knob High School principal Lisa Moore apprciated how the PEER network helped her school’s development.
“The PEER program has contributed to our district’s success with implementation of our Model of Instruction,” she said. “PEER Teacher Leaders have provided teaching strategies to their colleagues to utilize in their classrooms to increase student engagement and learning.”
PEER has been a positive support for the Balk Knob School District, Moore added.
PEER is a partnership between the Arkansas Public School Resource Center and Crowley’s Ridge Educational Service Cooperative. Funding is from a federal Teacher and School Leader grant from the U.S. Department of Education.