Welcome to the ASBA’s 71st Annual Conference! We’re happy you have joined us for this opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate the achievements of Arkansas’s school board members and educators.
Washington Middle School in El Dorado, Arkansas, serves a diverse population of fifth and sixth graders. Historically, the school had a punitive discipline approach, disproportionately affecting students of color. Under new leadership since 2020, the school has implemented transformative changes to foster a supportive and inclusive environment. These changes include a House System, restorative practices, intensive Response to Intervention (RTI), and expanded family engagement. Communication has been improved through newsletters, surveys, and home visits, while trauma-informed training and alternative discipline frameworks like "Don't Suspend Me!" were introduced. As a result, the school drastically reduced suspensions in the 2023/2024 year. The presentation will showcase these efforts, including research findings from the district’s Mental Health Coordinator on restorative practices, demonstrating the effectiveness of equitable, community-focused approaches in transforming school culture and student outcomes.
