Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast

9:49

Week 5: Every Day Matters

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/09/12

Happy Friday!Thank you all for the steady work you have given as we move through September. This is the time of year when routines are set, expectations are clear, and we begin to see patterns in attendance, discipline, and student engagement. These patterns reveal a great deal about our performance, and they remind us that consistency is crucial. They also tie directly into the performance targets we have set as a district, keeping us focused on daily actions that lead to long-term growth.In this

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11:59

Week 4: Data & Feedback That Drives Us Forward

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/09/05

Happy Friday!This morning began with an unexpected challenge when three of our four campuses were without power. The first estimated restoration time was 7:00 a.m., then extended to 9:00 a.m., but thankfully, the lights came back on around 7:30, still thirty minutes before students arrived. While this caused some understandable concern, the crews from SWEPCO worked quickly to restore power, and I want to express my gratitude to them for their rapid response. I also want to thank our staff and

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9:42

Week 3: Focusing on Growth

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/08/29

Happy Friday!As we close out another week, I want to thank each of you for the energy, creativity, and commitment you bring to our schools. Whether you are teaching in the classroom, supporting students in their daily needs, maintaining our facilities, or ensuring operations run smoothly, your work matters. Together, you create the environment where students can thrive, and that collective effort is what drives us toward meeting our district performance targets.This week’s Wrap-up will focus on one

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7:47

Week 2: Settling In and Starting Strong

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/08/22

Happy Friday!Thank you to every teacher, bus driver, custodian, food service worker, office staff member, paraprofessional, maintenance worker, administrator, tech team member, and volunteer for the dedication you showed throughout this first full week. Your steady effort and positive spirit ensured that our students were not only welcomed back but also engaged in meaningful learning from the very start.This first full week of the school year gave us the chance to move beyond the introductions and

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5:42

Week 1: Setting the Tone for Success

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/08/15

Happy Friday!The first Friday of the school year is here, and just like every August, it seems as though summer passed in a blink. I want to sincerely thank all of our teachers, bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, office staff, paraprofessionals, maintenance staff, administrators, tech team, volunteers, and all other school employees for the work you have done leading up to this week. Your preparation ensured that our year started on the right foot. Well done.On the first day, Mrs

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3:54

Week 37: A School Year of Accomplishment

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/05/23

Happy Friday!As the final week of the 2024–2025 school year draws to a close, I want to thank each of you for the focus, care, and effort you have shown throughout this week. You have managed final exams, field days, farewells, and everything in between with poise and professionalism. This year’s performance targets data is now complete, and the results affirm the direction shared in the Week 35 Wrap-up. We did not hit the mark for attendance and discipline, but there was good progress through

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6:02

Week 36: The Work Leading to the Walk

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/05/16

Happy Final Friday of the School Year!As we close out Week 36, I want to take a moment to thank each of you, not just for the work you have done this week, but for the work you have done across the years. The students who will walk across the stage this weekend have been shaped by hundreds of hands and hearts—by lessons taught, behaviors guided, and encouragement offered from Pre-K to 12th grade. Whether you were their first teacher or someone who simply smiled at them in the hallways, your presence

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15:20

Week 35: Performance Target Review and Reflection

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/05/09

Happy Friday!As we wrap up Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the incredible dedication, passion, and resilience of our staff. Throughout the year, you have gone above and beyond to create positive learning experiences for our students, and this week, it has been heartening to see so many businesses, families, and community members step up to show their appreciation. Your work matters, not just this week but every single day, and the impact you have on the

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11:54

Week 34: Pathways to Prosperity

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/05/02

Happy Friday!As we move into the final stretch of the school year, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued focus, your commitment to our students, and the resilience you show each day. May is a time when we begin to see the full shape of the year’s work—lessons that have taken root, relationships that have grown, and outcomes that will carry forward into what comes next.This week, I want to focus on exactly that: what comes next for our students, and how we can align our work to

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15:40

Week 33: More Than Just a System Update

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/04/25

Happy Friday!As we approach the final weeks of the school year, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for your steady focus and hard work. This time of year always brings excitement, reflection, and anticipation. Whether it is preparing students for end-of-year assessments, planning celebrations of growth, or supporting the many daily needs of our students, your efforts continue to make a lasting impact. I am grateful for your professionalism, patience, and commitment to helping us finish

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9:01

Week 32: Education Bills Signed and Passed and...

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/04/17

Happy Friday on a Thursday!As we head into a well-deserved long weekend, I want to thank each of you for another strong week at Mena Public Schools. We continue to see real progress toward our academic goals and performance targets, a reflection of your daily commitment and professional excellence. In this week’s update, I want to share exciting news about the launch of Rooms, our unified communication platform, and outline key legislative changes that will impact our schools in the months ahead

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9:01

Week 31: Progress, Not Panic

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/04/11

Happy Friday!As we close another full and fast-paced week, I want to thank each of you for your continued focus, effort, and resilience. This time of year requires much from all of us, and I am grateful for how you continue to show up for our students and one another. Our district vision—preparing students, supporting staff, and building community confidence—is not just words on a page. It is seen daily in classrooms, hallways, and offices throughout Mena Public Schools. This week, we also have

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11:36

Week 30: Clarity, Confidence, and Compensation

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/04/04

Happy Friday!Welcome back! I hope spring break provided you with time to rest, recharge, and reconnect with the people and things that matter most. As we return, we do so with renewed focus and purpose, knowing that the final weeks of the school year hold both opportunity and impact.As we enter the final stretch of the school year, I want to begin by expressing my gratitude for your daily commitment to instruction, student relationships, and professional growth. All of this continues to affirm that

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5:22

Week 29: Spring Break and the Road Ahead

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/03/21

Happy Spring Break Friday!As we close out the final week before Spring Break, I want to thank you for the energy, attention, and care you have given during these past few moths. It is not lost on me how fast and full the calendar has been—academically, athletically, and emotionally. You have shown up for students, for your colleagues, and for this community with consistency, grace, and a deep commitment to our mission.Next week, I hope you will allow yourself some time to rest. Not just physical

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13:06

Week 28: The Lessons of Imperfection

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/03/14

Happy Friday!As we come to the end of another busy and productive week, I want to take a moment to express my appreciation for the dedication and hard work of our teachers, staff, and students. Every effort we make is in pursuit of our district performance targets, ensuring that we are providing the best possible education for our students while continuously striving for growth and improvement. One of the key elements of this process is learning from experience—especially from mistakes. All of the

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22:30

Week 25 Bearcat Deep Dive

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/03/08

This Bearcat Wrap-up Deep Dive covers a variety of topics relevant to the Mena Public Schools community. It includes updates on the school calendar, such as closures due to winter weather. A significant focus is on the District Climate Survey, which gathers insights from students, parents, staff, and community members to identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. The podcast also addresses areas needing improvement, like bullying prevention and communication. Legislative updates

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11:24

Week 27: Watching the Ball Fly

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/03/07

Happy Friday!Thank you for another week of dedication and hard work. The commitment and passion I see from our instructional staff each day are making a real impact, and it does not go unnoticed. Across classrooms, teachers are refining their lessons, fostering deeper engagement, and implementing strategies that are strengthening student learning. Your efforts are creating meaningful progress, and as we enter the final stretch of the school year, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible

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9:54

Week 26: Keeping Students in Class, Keeping Ourselves...

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/02/28

Happy Friday!As we close out another week, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your dedication and commitment to our students. Every day, your efforts to engage, support, and challenge our learners reinforce our mission and move us closer to our performance targets. The work you do matters, and I appreciate the way you consistently rise to meet the challenges before us.I also want to clarify an error in the week 24 discipline data. While reviewing the reports, I realized that I had

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7:06

Week 25: Insights from Our Climate Survey

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/02/20

Happy Friday on a Thursday!Thank you all for your hard work and adaptability this week, particularly as we navigated the unexpected school closure due to winter weather. It certainly has been an unusual week, especially with the upcoming long weekend. Given the shortened week, our performance target data has not seen significant changes. It is reassuring to know that we still have two additional built-in days remaining on our calendar to accommodate any future weather-related closings, should they

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8:55

Week 24: Our Growth Is Their Growth

Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast ·

2025/02/14

Happy Valentine’s Friday!First, I want to thank each of you for your hard work and dedication. Your commitment to our students and our shared mission continues to drive us forward. I also want to acknowledge your efforts in working toward our performance targets, which are essential markers of our progress and growth as a district.I have updated our performance target page with the latest data from the ATLAS interim exams. The results show encouraging signs—especially in science and math—where we

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