The Southeast Arkansas Education Service Cooperative (SEARK) is now accepting competitive sealed proposals from qualified vendors to provide a Transportation Modernization Solution funded by the Transportation Modernization Grant (2025).
This project will support approximately 212 school buses across 13 member school districts and seeks a solution that includes software and necessary hardware to:
🚌 Optimize bus route planning
📍 Accurately track student ridership
📣 Enhance communication with stakeholders
Vendors interested in submitting a proposal can find full details and requirements at the link below:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WFj1Zaaahe9O5VgUjWCpPDjz-R8LU3rLq-8mfX_bWEs/edit?tab=t.0
Please help us spread the word by sharing with qualified vendors!
#SEARKserves #ServicebeginswithSE #yourBESTsolution
The Local Early Childhood Lead Agency continues to advance high-quality early care and education through strong partnerships with providers, families, and community stakeholders.
Recent Highlights:
✔️ Trained all area Foster Grandparents on positive reinforcement strategies
✔️ Provided LifeVac Choking First Aid Kits to eight early childhood centers
✔️ Supplied books and sensory activities to child care facilities
✔️ Supporting initiatives like the Brain Building Challenge and Power of Play
✔️ Conducting CLASS observations at all ABC programs and licensed child care centers
✔️ Trained nine additional CLASS observers to support program quality
Upcoming Events:
📅 Quarterly Provider Meeting – February 10
📅 CLASS Infant & Toddler Training – January 21–23
Have questions about early childhood programs, trainings, or resources? Reach out to our Local Early Childhood Lead:
👩🏫 Jessica Griffin
📧 Email: jessica.griffin@searkcoop.com
📱 Cell: 870-308-5221
☎️ Office: 870-367-4864
Jessica is happy to support providers, families, and partners as we work together to strengthen early childhood education across Southeast Arkansas.
#SEARKserves #ServicebeginswithSE #yourBESTsolution
These kits are being provided to directors who successfully completed the LifeVac online training in December and include both the device and an instructional poster to support staff readiness and child safety.
👏 Congratulations to the following directors who completed the training and are receiving kits:
• Hope Caruthers – Drew Central ABC, Monticello
• Rosa Miranda – FPC Child Care Center, Warren
• Rebecca Griffin – Discovery Center, Hamburg
• Sherrie Gillespie – Head of Class, Monticello
• Cassa Bilbo – Kids Korner, Crossett
• Jennifer Chisholm – Discovery Center, Monticello
• Janet Ricks – Crossett PreK
• Seneca Gulley – Head Start, Warren
We’re proud to support our early childhood partners as they take proactive steps to keep children safe and cared for. 💙
#SEARKserves #ServicebeginswithSE #yourBESTsolu
Please help us celebrate Lauriel Spurlock, one of our amazing ABC Preschool teachers, on her accomplishment! 👏🍎
#SEARKserves #ServicebeginswithSE #yourBESTsolution
Want to see something that truly works❓
Join us for the first stop on the Road to Innovation Rally and experience powerful systems in action. During your school visit, you’ll step inside one of two standout models:
🔹PBIS at the elementary level — watch routines, rewards, and expectations come alive, and see how their behavior matrix connects directly to competency-based grading.
🔹Transitions at the high school — hear inspiring student stories, see real workforce skills being built, and watch the Billie Store in action as students lead daily operations.
Then the learning continues at the Southeast Arkansas Education Service Cooperative, where we shift from observing to processing and applying what you’ve seen. Engage in collaborative discussions, deeper dives into the structures behind the success, and dynamic panels. Hear from leaders like Hope Worsham, Founding Director of Thrive and now Assistant Commissioner of Public School Accountability, along with members of the local Thrive Team, Arkansas’s MTSS support program.
This Road to Rally event is an elevated, innovative regional experience—spotlighting what’s working in Arkansas schools!
Register now— bit.ly/Road2Rally
#SEARKserves #ServicebeginswithSE #yourBESTsolution
Student growth begins with teacher growth! Mentors, instructional coaches, and leaders play a key role in personalizing support for every educator.
Based on John Wink’s book A Teacher’s Guide to Excellence in Every Classroom, this two-day DESE-approved coaching training will equip participants with mentoring and leadership strategies that help all teachers grow in both knowledge and competence within the Hierarchy of Instructional Excellence.
Participants will learn how to:
1️⃣ Identify each teacher’s current level of proficiency
2️⃣ Create an Individualized Excellence Plan focused on targeted growth
3️⃣ Use effective coaching feedback protocols to move teachers forward
4️⃣ Build strong, aligned relationships between principals and coaches
📅 January 14–15, 2025
🆔 Session ID: #568924
📍 SEARK Education Cooperative
Join us as we work together to empower educators and elevate instruction for every student!
👉 Register here: https://www.searkcoop.com/page/professional-development
#SEARKserves #yourBESTsolution #SEARKPD
We’re excited to kick off 2026 and continue serving our schools, educators, and students. Here’s to another year of learning, growth, and strong partnerships! 🎉
#SEARKserves #ServicebeginswithSE #yourBESTsolution
On this Christmas Day, we are thankful for our incredible employees and the heart they bring to serving our schools and communities. We hope your day is filled with joy, peace, and time spent with those you love.
From our SEARK family to yours, have a VERY MERRY Christmas! ❤️✨
#SEARKserves #ServicebeginswithSE #yourBESTsolution
The SEARK Education Cooperative will be closed for Christmas Break from December 22 through January 2 as our team takes time to rest and enjoy the holidays with their families. We wish you a very Merry Christmas filled with joy and peace, and we look forward to serving you in the New Year! 🎄
We had an awesome day hosting our Junior/Senior High Chess Tournament on December 11th! Thank you to the schools who joined us: Crossett, Woodlawn, DeWitt, Dumas, Hermitage, Monticello, Rison, Star City, and Drew Central.
🏆 Senior High Winners:
1st – Jack Richardson (Crossett)
2nd – Van Sang (Rison)
3rd – Jayden Stephens (DeWitt)
🏆 Junior High Winners:
1st – Jett Stephens (DeWitt)
2nd – John Day (Drew Central)
3rd – Dawson Dupuy (DeWitt)
A huge thank you to Scott Petroleum for sponsoring our winners with Sonic gift cards! We appreciate your support! 🎉
Want to see something that truly works❓
Join us for the first stop on the Road to Innovation Rally and experience powerful systems in action. During your school visit, you’ll step inside one of two standout models:
🔹PBIS at the elementary level — watch routines, rewards, and expectations come alive, and see how their behavior matrix connects directly to competency-based grading.
🔹Transitions at the high school — hear inspiring student stories, see real workforce skills being built, and watch the Billie Store in action as students lead daily operations.
Then the learning continues at the Southeast Arkansas Education Service Cooperative, where we shift from observing to processing and applying what you’ve seen. Engage in collaborative discussions, deeper dives into the structures behind the success, and dynamic panels. Hear from leaders like Hope Worsham, Founding Director of Thrive and now Assistant Commissioner of Public School Accountability, along with members of the local Thrive Team, Arkansas’s MTSS support program.
This Road to Rally event is an elevated, innovative regional experience—spotlighting what’s working in Arkansas schools!
Register now— bit.ly/Road2Rally
#SEARKserves #ServicebeginswithSE #yourBESTsolution
Earn your teaching license with ArPep!
We had such a wonderful day celebrating our amazing Foster Grandparents! They received an informative and uplifting training on positive reinforcement led by Jessica Griffin, our local LEAD—thank you, Jessica, for pouring into our program!
Our Grannies and Grandpas also rolled up their sleeves and got to work on their Martin Luther King Jr. Day service project. Together, they hand-made 40 cozy blankets that will be donated to The CALL next month.
We are so grateful for their servant hearts and the love they share with our students and community every single day!
Student growth begins with teacher growth! Mentors, instructional coaches, and leaders play a key role in personalizing support for every educator.
Based on John Wink’s book A Teacher’s Guide to Excellence in Every Classroom, this two-day DESE-approved coaching training will equip participants with mentoring and leadership strategies that help all teachers grow in both knowledge and competence within the Hierarchy of Instructional Excellence.
Participants will learn how to:
1️⃣ Identify each teacher’s current level of proficiency
2️⃣ Create an Individualized Excellence Plan focused on targeted growth
3️⃣ Use effective coaching feedback protocols to move teachers forward
4️⃣ Build strong, aligned relationships between principals and coaches
📅 January 14–15, 2025
🆔 Session ID: #568924
📍 SEARK Education Cooperative
Join us as we work together to empower educators and elevate instruction for every student!
👉 Register here: https://www.searkcoop.com/page/professional-development
#SEARKserves #yourBESTsolution #SEARKPD
We’ve got you covered! Check out our weekly calendar to see what is happening!
#SEARKserves #ServicebeginswithSE #yourBESTsolution
🎉 Congratulations, Allison Ray! 🎉
Join us in celebrating our incredible CTE Coordinator on earning her Teaching License!
Allison’s hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence have truly paid off. We are so proud of you and grateful for the passion you bring to SEARK and the districts you serve.
Help us congratulate her on this amazing accomplishment! 👏✨
The food was delicious, and most of us tried almost everything! 😄 We had a fantastic turnout for a rainy day, and we’re already excited to do it again with even more student vendors and food trucks next time!
One of our favorite parts of the day was hearing our student groups collaborate, plan, and dream together. THAT is what it’s all about. ❤️
Thank you for supporting our students and our co-op!
Be sure to join us for the next one!
#SEARKserves #ServicebeginswithSE #yourBESTsolution
The SEARK Co-op had an absolute blast participating in the Monticello Christmas Parade with our “Welcome Christmas – Happy Wholidays!” float! Being part of this community is such a joy, and we loved spending the evening celebrating alongside our amazing employees and their families.
📚💚 We were especially excited to give out over 800 books to children along the parade route—spreading Christmas cheer and the love of reading!
❤️💚 AND to top it all off-we brought home 2nd place! A huge thank you to our committee chair, Jenny Satterlee, and to everyone who helped bring our Whoville-inspired vision to life!
#SEARKserves #yourBESTsolution #ServiceBeginsWithSE
Rison High School, in partnership with the Southeast Arkansas Education Service Cooperative, recently hosted an AWS Certification Training for agriculture and welding instructors across the region. Trainers from the United Welding Institute delivered valuable insights and outlined certification requirements to help equip teachers with the skills and knowledge they can share with students in nine participating school districts.
