A publication of the Arkansas Department of Career Education 501-682-1500 ▪ http://ace.arkansas.gov January-February Director’s Update A public information pamphlet of William L. “Bill” Walker, Jr. the Arkansas Department of Ca- Director reer Education and the Arkansas Rehabilitation Services Division. Arkansas Department of Career Education Arkansas Department of Greetings, and best wishes for a happy and productive 2014! Career Education Director he year 2013 is now history, college readiness and align with William L. “Bill” Walker, Jr. but the many successes Common Core State Standards, Communications Director T the Department of Career the $120 cost of the test was a Deborah Germany Education (ACE) achieved in 2013 great concern to us. For many provide us a solid foundation for our years, Arkansas was one of Contributing Staff work in 2014. few states that paid the cost Sandra Hubbard of the GED® for test-takers. Carl Enna 2013—A look back However, we were very worried Ellice Scales about how we could continue Mark Apolinar Our accomplishments are far to subsidize the cost of the test too many to list. Here are just a few so that we could offer it at a Arkansas Department of of the major highlights: cost that would be affordable to Career Education Arkansas became the fi rst our test-takers. Thanks to the Three Capitol Mall state in the nation to offer release of $450,000 by Governor Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1083 the Microsoft IT Academy not Mike Beebe, we will be able to 501-682-1500 only to high school students, 501-682-1509 fax offset much of the cost of the http://ace.arkansas.gov but also to adult education test through 2014 so that our students. I am happy to report citizens can test for their GED® that all 44 adult education credential at a cost of only $16. programs now offer Microsoft IT Arkansas is in the process of Academy. In addition, through a developing an Innovations partnership between ACE and in Science and Technology the Department of Workforce curriculum that will be used not Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (DWS), the Arkansas only in Arkansas but also shared Services Division workforce centers refer clients with other Southern Regional Central Offi ce to adult education for Microsoft It Education Board (SREB) states 525 West Capitol Avenue Academy instruction and testing, Little Rock, AR 72201 that are participating in a multi- and adult education programs 501-296-1600 (V/TTY) state consortium to improve refer students to DWS for job 800-330-0632 (V/TTY) career and technical education. placement assistance. Today’s students will enter On January 1, 2014, the GED tomorrow’s workplace that will Testing Service® rolled out demand a higher level of skill. By a new computer-based test integrating a rigorous academic nationally. While the test core and challenging project will, for the fi rst time, assess DIRECTOR continued on page 2 page 2 DIRECTOR continued from page 1 work, the Innovations curriculum Arkansas Scores Big at will prepare students considering a career in science, technology, JAG National Conference engineering, and mathematics t the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) National Conference, (STEM). The third- and four- A Arkansas garnered a number of impressive awards. Arkansas year courses in the Innovations JAG was tops in the “5 of 5” Performance Club with 30 “5 of curriculum will offer opportunities 5” schools. Louisiana fi nished a distant second with 23 schools, and for industry certifi cations for Tennessee was third with 22 schools. Only 10 of the 33 states with students, as well as possibilities JAG affi liates received this state award. for dual credit. Arkansas JAG also earned the State Championship Award for The Department of Career Outstanding Outcomes in 10 areas, including six third-, fourth-, and Education continues to be in fi fth-place fi nishes. Arkansas JAG received the State Championship the forefront of using technology Award for Selection of Participants to Serve in 13 areas, scoring fi rst to better serve our students in the nation in six areas, second in three areas, and fourth or fi fth in and clients. Thanks to our four areas. acquisition of VGo Tele- Also recognized were the Top Ten Multi-Year Programs in the Presence robots, students JAG Network. Of the 504 multi-year programs, two of the top ten with disabilities, injuries, or were Arkansas programs—Cabot High School, Brenda Easley, JAG illnesses will be able to attend specialist, and Har-Ber High School, Donald Struebing, JAG specialist. to class virtually. Students who Eight other schools also received performance awards, with are physically unable to attend several schools recognized in classes have historically been multiple areas. These schools served through online classes, result, the Department of Career and their JAG specialists are in-home tutors, and similar Education will no longer mail copies Hackett Middle School, Marissa accommodations. However, of the newsletter to those who have Thornburg; Bald Knob High these accommodations do not requested it in the past. School, Cheryl Burns; Batesville allow the student to participate Since we will be going to an High School, Dennis Butler; in the classroom experience online-only newsletter beginning Mena High School, Karen Pevis; or the social aspects of being with this issue, we are transitioning Ozark High School, Twyla on campus. The Verizon to a bi-monthly newsletter instead Couch; Pea Ridge High School, Foundation is donating a VGo of a quarterly one. The issues Charley Clark; Southside robot to the Little Rock School will be shorter, and the news will High School, Terry Watson; District through the Jobs for be more current than with the Springdale High School, Sherrie Arkansas’s Graduates (JAG). previous printed version. We hope James. The Increasing Capabilities you will enjoy the newsletter as a Twelve Arkansans received Access Network (ICAN) has way of keeping up with the latest the Outstanding Specialist also purchased a robot, and news from our three divisions— Award. They include Cheryl the Arkansas Career Training Career and Technical Education, Burns, Bald Knob High School; Institute (ACTI) is also in the Adult Education, and Arkansas Dennis Butler, Batesville High process of acquiring a robot. Rehabilitation Services. School; Cathy Clark, Pine Bluff As always, we encourage your High School; Mary Jacobs, J. feedback and your suggestions for 2014— a new look A. Fair High School; Sherrie articles and photographs. for the Career Counselor James, Springdale High School; The newsletter will be Dr. Martha Marshall, Cabot High posted on our website at the As we begin 2014, I want School; Sherrie Mays, Hall High following location: http://ace. to announce a change in our School; Barbara Milner, Joe T. arkansas.gov/newsEvents/Pages/ newsletter, the Career Counselor. Robinson High School; Gracia careerCounselor.aspx. As you may know, Act 501 of Sroud, Sylvan Hills High School; You can also sign up to receive 2013 requires state agencies to Jo Nell Thomas, Greenwood e-notices from the agency at http:// use the internet as the primary High School; and Terry Watson, ace.arkansas.gov/newsEvents/ means of distributing many Southside High School. Pages/careerCounselor.aspx state agency publications. As a page 3 Spotlight on Samuel Henson amuel Henson is not one to let adversity get “The ACT Academy was scheduled to start the him down. When his family lost everything in last week of March, so I got in touch with Samuel’s S a house fi re last March, it would have been mother to see if Samuel would be coming to the ACT easy for Samuel to lose his focus on his studies--at Academy since the fi re had just occurred,” said Josh least for a time. But Samuel didn’t let the fi re stop him Hayes, Arkansas Works career coach supervisor, who from moving forward with his college plans. worked with Samuel. “His mother said of course he Samuel is now a proud second-semester would be there.” freshman at Morehouse College in Atlanta, thanks to And he was. Samuel did indeed attend the 12-week, the Arkansas Works ACT Academy. after-school ACT Academy program. He had perfect attendance except for one day when he competed in the state SkillsUSA competition. Director Walker Receives Through the ACT Academy, Samuel was able National JAG Leadership Award to improve his ACT score so much that he not only ACE Director William L. “Bill” Walker, Jr., received avoided remedial college classes, but in fact earned an the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) National academic scholarship, along with a band scholarship, Network Leadership Award. He was presented the to Morehouse College in Atlanta. award at JAG Annual National Leadership Awards “It changed the whole ballgame for him—his whole Luncheon in Washington, D.C., in November. academic status and his future,” said Hayes. “Without the academy, he would have had to take remedial Director Walker’s notifi cation letter states that he courses in college and also take out a student loan.” was nominated for the honor “by your friends and When they found out that Samuel had been colleagues because of the extraordinary leadership accepted to Morehouse, his parents decided to pack up you have contributed to America’s most successful the family and move to Atlanta (at Samuel’s request). program for helping high-risk young people to His father found a good job, and the family is settled succeed in school as well as in pursuit of a career and rebuilding a new life in Atlanta. and/or a postsecondary education through your “The Academy truly changed Samuel’s life. He support of the program.” maximized his opportunity to the fullest,” said Hayes.