Wilbur D. Mills Education Service Cooperative

Be Pro Be Proud is a mobile workshop that made a stop at McCrory School district on September 6, 2023, for students to get hands-on experience in skilled professions. The Be Pro Be Proud mobile workshop truck welcomed the students and allowed them the opportunity to check out professions like welding, diesel driving, and eight other skilled professions. This truck travels all over Arkansas and four other states looking to educate and reeducate students. By using simulators, students get to see what a day in the life of a skilled worker looks and feels like. The East teacher at McCrory, Nicole Whatley and her students invited and helped with the mobile workshop. All 10-12 grade McCrory students attended the Be Pro Be Proud mobile workshop.

Brad Horn, Director of WDMESC, along with Lesa Grooms, Assistant Director, present their PLC goals and achievements to fellow ESCs during the "Leading PLCs Districtwide from the Board Room to the Classroom" event, with Dr. Janel Keating. This event was hosted by Cabot School District.

WDMESC's HIPPY (Home Instruction of Parents with Preschool Youngsters) Home Based Educators and Field Coordinators all came together recently for back to school training and had a great day of fun and learning! They are ready to meet their families and start delivering lessons next week! Each of our locations still have some spots open, look in the comments for more information on how to get your family signed up.

WDMESC had the privilege of hosting a meeting of the Arkansas Cooperative Technology Coordinators! A big thank you to all the Technology Coordinators who joined us.

Wishing everyone a fantastic school year ahead! May your days be filled with exciting discoveries, wonderful friendships, and endless opportunities for growth. Remember to embrace each moment, learn from every experience, and keep your curiosity alive. Here's to making this year your best one yet! #BackToSchool #NewBeginnings #HaveAGreatYear 📓🍎

Wilbur D. Mills Early Childhood Special Education Program is Hiring!! We are now hiring a paraprofessional and still needing a speech therapist. We have great schedules, pay, benefits, paid leave, retirement, and much more! Contact Dr. Suzanne Bailey at sbailey@wdmesc.org for more information and details.

Last week, Arkansas Cooperative Technology Coordinators (ACTC) and Arkansas Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) presented multiple sessions at the ADE Summit in Hot Springs. Sessions focused on cyber awareness regarding insurance, timeline & system reconnections, superintendent cyber panel, MFA, COOP, data responsibility, and Google for school leaders.

WDMESC educators learning about the state’s plan for inclusive education and how general educators and special educators can collaborate to ensure access to grade-level content for ALL learners. Thanks, Robin Stripling and Tabitha Riendeau from DESE!

WDMESC Board of Directors had a great work session this week. Sessions included Tier I, CFAM, District Budgets and District Cyber Considerations.

Migrant Education students from Riverview, Searcy and White County Central attended STEM Camp at Harding University.

The WDMSEC Early Childhood Special Education Program is seeking applicants for the following positions: Full-time speech therapist to begin in August, 2023. This is a nine month position and follows the school year schedule and calendar. Teacher retirement as well as other benefits are included with this position. Travel is reimbursed for providing speech services, and the coop is increasing speech staff pay with the recently passed Act 237 of 2023 (LEARNS).The program is also seeking part-time contract speech. Medicaid/Eschool Administrative Assistant for the 2023-2024 SY. Qualified applicants should be knowledgeable in Medicaid billing and eschool for preschool services, and/or skills closely related to these. This position is a 12 month position and qualifies for teacher retirement and other benefits. This position has recently received an increase in pay for next year. Behavior consultant to work with our early childhood special education teachers and children to support behavioral strategies and skills in the classroom. This position is a nine-month position with travel reimbursement included for providing behavioral services. Qualified applicants must have a bachelor's degree in education, special education, or early childhood education, and be willing to obtain an early childhood special education endorsement. An early childhood educational background in counseling and/or mental health is desired. This position qualifies for teacher retirement and other benefits, and the cooperative has recently increased this position pay for next year with the recently passed Act 237 of 2023 (LEARNS). For more information, contact Dr. Suzanne Bailey, Early Childhood Special Education Program Coordinator at sbailey@wdmesc.org or 501-882-3852.

May 9, 2023 is National Teacher Appreciation Day!

Early Childhood Special Education Program is Hiring for the 2023-2024 SY! Administrative Assistant Speech Therapist Sped Teacher Behavior Specialist Contact Dr. Suzanne Bailey for more information and details at sbailey@wdmesc.org or 501-882-3852.

Summer's coming! Don't forget to register for PD sessions at bit.ly/3KDkuvX.

Hiring for 2023-2024 SY Wilbur Mills Early Childhood Special Education Program Speech Therapist- 190 day contract  Administrative Assistant- 240 contract   For more details contact Dr. Suzanne Bailey at 501-882-3852 or sbailey@wdmesc.org 

Our member districts are HIRING and WDMESC is hosting a Job Fair this Thursday night, March 30, at 6:00 pm. Interested applicants should come ready to meet and greet and possibly interview! Prior to the Job Fair, Grand Canyon University will be hosting an information session from 4:30 to 6:00. Current and future, certified or classified public school employees are welcome and will benefit! See you there!

WDMESC will be hosting a Teacher Job Fair this Thursday, March 30, 2023. Please help share the word with anyone interested in becoming a teacher or joining one of our member school districts! Paras and other support staff would benefit from this as well!

ADE Secretary Jacob Oliva and a team from DESE spoke with superintendents and guests today at WDMESC. Arkansas Department of Education

Last week, WDMESC hosted our first ever, America's Battle of the Books Regional Tournament. Students from Augusta, Cabot, Hazen, Lonoke, Searcy and White County Central participated. The Battles for the Primary Division were held on March 7th and the Battles for the Elementary and Middle School Divisions were held on March 8th. Congratulations to ALL students who made it to the regional tournament!!! Primary Division Winners 1st Place: The Searcy Chocolate Chip Cookies 2nd Place: The Searcy Book Masters 3rd Place: The Cabot Roses Elementary Division Winners 1st Place: The Cabot Bookworm Buddies 2nd Place: The Lonoke Dream Readers 3rd Place: The Cabot Wild Readers Middle School Division Winners 1st Place: The Hazen Masterminds 2nd Place: The Hazen Book Busters 3rd Place: The Augusta Magic Bookends

WDMESC is hiring! Administration Assistant for Early Childhood Special Education Program Start Date- July 1, 2023 Application open until filled Contract length- 12 months Salary- Per Salary Schedule Duties- As assigned by supervisor to assist with program needs and goals Education- Minimum- high school diploma Preferred Candidates- Experience with office related duties and roles, customer service, billing, early childhood, special education, and prior administrative assistant experience Contact Person- Dr. Suzanne Bailey at 501-882-3852 or sbailey@wdmesc.org