Wilbur D. Mills Education Service Cooperative

Science teachers came together to dive in and learn about the Stream Team and understanding the health of our local water sources. Teachers spent the morning in the classroom and then took the knowledge to test water quality and practice techniques for catching and identifying macro invertebrates. Big thank you to John Burden from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for leading this great session.

Today, WDMESC had the pleasure of hosting Economics Arkansas for a dynamic Stock Market Game professional development session! 📈 💡📊 Educators from across the region came together to learn how to bring real-world investing, financial literacy, and economic decision-making into their classrooms. From analyzing stock trends to exploring classroom strategies, participants walked away with practical tools to engage students in meaningful, hands-on learning. Huge thanks to Economics Arkansas for empowering educators with resources that make a lasting impact!#YourBestSolution

For the past two days, WDMESC GT Coordinators have been hard at work alongside Advanced Learning Specialist Jennifer Park, planning for next year's accelerated learning opportunities. They also focused on strengthening a more strategic and sequential identification process for gifted learners. Additionally, the team took a deep dive into GT Value-Added Growth Scores with Dr. Sarah McKenzie, using data to drive decisions and improve outcomes across the region. Collaboration, data, and intentional planning—setting the stage for a strong year ahead for advanced learning! #YourBESTSolution

WDMESC partnered with Economics Arkansas to offer a unique professional development experience at Rockin’ W Ranch in Romance! Educators explored entrepreneurship and homesteading in action—connecting economic principles with real-world application. 🐄🐐🥚 Attendees enjoyed sampling fresh sourdough with homemade jelly, sourdough cookies, and raw milk—then rolled up their sleeves to bottle-feed a calf, milk a goat, and even hold a young tortoise! 🐢💚 #YourBestSolution

Today, WDMESC Advanced Learning Specialist Jennifer Park led an impactful session focused on unpacking standards, raising the rigor, and increasing student engagement in the classroom! Educators walked away with practical strategies to deepen learning and challenge students in meaningful ways. #YourBestSolution

Mr. BJ Greene, Superintendent of Carlisle School District, shared his experience during the session, “Balancing the Books: Practical Approaches for Managing Declining Fund Balances,” at the 2025 AAEA School Law & Finance Conference.

🌟 Join Us for a Powerful Day of Learning and Leadership! 🌟 🕣 8:30–9:30 AM – The Joplin Schools Story CJ Huff shares an unforgettable story of resilience and leadership after disaster struck Joplin, MO. 🕘 9:45–10:45 AM – Cyberbullying & Harassment Judy Brunner breaks down prevention strategies, intervention tips, and legal insights you need to know. 🕙 10:45–11:45 AM – Safety Audits & Risk Assessments Dennis Lewis shares what every school should know about conducting effective safety evaluations. 🍽 11:45–12:45 PM – Lunch & Updates Hear important updates from ADE & ASSC featuring Jerry Keefer, Jason Weatherly, and Cheryl May. 🕐 1:00–3:30 PM – Especially Safe: Inclusive Emergency Planning A vital session on safety planning for students with access and functional needs. 👉 A must-attend day for educators, leaders, and anyone passionate about safe and supportive schools! Click here to register https://bit.ly/4krQlPU or email bhardcastle@wdmesc.org. #YourBestSolution

Wilbur D. Mills proudly hosted the 3rd Annual Regional Battle of the Books and what a thrilling competition it was! Seven teams from three districts—White County Central, Lonoke, and Des Arc—put their book knowledge to the test in some fierce battles. These students came prepared and impressed everyone with their skills! Congratulations to all the teams who competed! Here are the winners by division: Primary Division: 🥇 1st Place – White County Central Golden Bears 🥈 2nd Place – White County Central Story Bears 3rd–5th Grade Division: 🥇 1st Place – White County Central GOATS 🥈 2nd Place – Des Arc Bookaneers 4th–6th Grade Division: 🥇 1st Place – Des Arc Dino Nuggies 🥈 2nd Place – Des Arc Book Nappers Great job to all the students, Library Media Specialists and parents for making this event a success! Pictured are some of the teams that competed in the Battles.

Huge shoutout to 7Brew Beebe for delivering the magical fuel that’s keeping us vertical today! Wilbur D. Mills is fully caffeinated and highly appreciative!

♟️ WDMESC Spring Elementary Chess Tournament Recap! ♟️ Last Tuesday, we hosted our annual Elementary Spring Chess Tournament at the Veterans Park Community Center in Cabot—and it was a huge success! We're thrilled to have had 14 out of our 17 districts represented! 🎉 Congratulations to all our talented young players and winners across the grades: 🧠 3rd Grade 🥇 Luke Robbins (Cabot) 🥈 Ellie Weeks (Cabot - 2nd Grader!) 🥉 Titus Loggins (Cabot) 🏅 Honorable Mentions (4 wins): Asher Livengood (Cabot), Ethan Yarnell (Carlisle) 🧠 4th Grade 🥇 Chris Wilson (Cabot) 🥈 Miles Betzold (Cabot) 🥉 Grayson Little (McCrory) 🏅 Honorable Mentions (4 wins): Leeam Foster & Boston Minner (White County Central), Ben Hardie (Carlisle), Kannon Ungerank (Cabot) 🧠 5th Grade 🥇 Jack Allen (Beebe) 🥈 Samuel Copeland (Lonoke) 🥉 Tyler Smith (Cabot) 🏅 Honorable Mentions (4 wins): Colton Reeves (White County Central), Axel Adkins & Nate Ouellet (Cabot), Cameron Taylor (Hazen) 🧠 6th Grade 🥇 Chael Pierce (Cabot) 🥈 Ethan Meeks (Bradford) 🥉 Dominick Santana (Cabot) 🏅 Honorable Mentions (4 wins): Ryce Kerr (Beebe), Conner Sitzmann (Cabot) Thank you to everyone who participated, and a special shoutout to all the schools, parents, and coaches who made this event a success. The future is bright—and strategic! #yourBESTsolution

♟️ WDMESC Junior & Senior High Spring Chess Tournament ♟️ Last Wednesday, WDMESC hosted our Junior and Senior High Spring Chess Tournament at Veterans Park Community Center in Cabot—and these students came ready to compete! 🧠 Junior High (7th–8th Grade) 🥇 Tucker Laubham (Bradford) 🥈 Wesley Tater (Cabot) 🥉 Isaac Gustke (Searcy) 🧠 Senior High (9th–12th Grade) 🥇 Jacob Watkins (White County Central) 🥈 Elijah Barber (White County Central) 🥉 Micah Coburn (Cabot) 👏 Huge congratulations to all our winners and participants! The strategy, focus, and sportsmanship on display were incredible. We're so proud of these young thinkers representing their districts! #yourBESTsolution

Riverview School District Introduces Centegix CrisisAlert System to the Community Riverview School District has implemented the Centegix CrisisAlert solution to enhance safety and security across its campuses. This powerful tool enables staff to quickly and discreetly request help during any situation—from everyday incidents to critical emergencies—allowing them to stay focused on supporting students.

🌟 Career Exploration Day Success! 🌟 On Monday, WDMESC hosted a Career Exploration Day for our 6th grade GT students, giving them an exciting look into the world of entrepreneurship and career pathways! Students explored: ✅ Entrepreneurship with Economics Arkansas ✅ Careers in geography, plant science, food, & electricity with UCA, UADA Cooperative Extension Service - Prairie County, & First Electric Cooperative ✅ Real-world financial skills through the Get Real Financial Simulation with White County’s UADA Cooperative Extension Service ✅ Immersive career experiences using virtual reality goggles to step into various professions! A HUGE thank you to First Electric Cooperative & Connect2First for providing lunch for our students, educators, and presenters!

Wishing the best of luck to all the student entrepreneurs who made the top 25 in the Youth Entrepreneur Showcase, especially those from Hazen and Searcy! They’ll be selling their products today at Park Plaza Mall in Little Rock. If you’re in the area, stop by and show your support for these talented students from across the state!

Congratulations to WDMESC Elementary Quiz Bowl winners! 1st Place - Rose Bud 2nd Place - McCrory 3rd place - Jacksonville North Pulaski 4th place - Beebe Thank you to all districts that participated, along with all of the amazing volunteers that made the day possible! #yourBESTsolution

The Wilbur D. Mills Education Service Cooperative is currently seeking a motivated educator for the position of Director of Teaching and Learning/Teacher Center Coordinator, for the 2025 - 2026 school year. For more information, and to apply click the following link. https://bit.ly/3CnDbTh

During Arkansas School Board Recognition Month, WDMESC proudly acknowledges and extends our gratitude to our WDMESC Board for their dedicated service and commitment. #SchoolBoardRecognitionMonth #celebrateARschoolboards

WDMESC and Economics Arkansas hosted an engaging economics scavenger hunt on Thursday! 🎉 Attendees had a fantastic time exploring local economic opportunities, connecting with our amazing community, and discovering how businesses contribute to our region’s growth. A huge thank you to all the participating businesses, especially to The Grumpy Rabbit for covering some food expenses, and to Matt Boyles with Grand Prairie Financial for providing fantastic prizes! #yourBESTsolution

The Department of Health is looking for a Health Program Specialist. This position will be housed at one of the following locations: Northcentral Educational Cooperative – Melbourne, AR Northeast Educational Cooperative – Walnut Ridge, AR Crowley’s Ridge Educational Cooperative – Harrisburg, AR Wilbur D. Mills Educational Cooperative – Beebe, AR For more information and to apply click the following link: bit.ly/3BY9Z4Z

WDMESC Advanced Learning Specialist Jennifer Park presented a session after school today in Searcy focused on providing strategies to utilize with high-ability students.