RUSSELLVILLE Ark.- Russellville School District hosted the Russellville Regional Leadership Academy (RRLA) for Education Day this week. The Leadership class toured multiple RSD schools as well as Arkansas Tech University and the ATU Career Center.
The day started off with the class traveling on an RSD school bus to Center Valley Elementary school. After being greeted by the wonderful Center Valley Cougar Ambassadors, the Leadership class heard from Russellville School District Superintendent, Dr. Ginni McDonald, and learned more about the implementation of Capturing Kids’ Hearts in RSD schools from CVE Principal, Victoria Golden.
After touring Arkansas Tech University, the next stop was Russellville Middle School. At RMS, the Leadership class was greeted by Russellville Middle School cheerleaders and had the opportunity to eat lunch with the Superintendent’s Student Leadership class consisting of RJHS and RHS students. After lunch, the learning continued with a walkthrough the RMS data wall that demonstrated student learning and achievement on state testing, and RMS Principal, Sarah Monfee, speaking on Professional Learning Communities.
The challenge of the day was at Russellville High School as the Leadership class competed in a game of quiz bowl against the 6 time champion Cyclone Quiz Bowl team. While the Leadership class put up a good fight, they couldn’t beat out the Cyclone Quiz Bowl students who were quicker and smarter.
The tour continued onto The Center for the Arts where Chrissy Clayton, Executive Director of Community Relations, relayed the value of Fine Arts in Education and the RHS Chromatics entertained the group with an acapella 90’s tribute melody.
RRLA participant, Caroline Kitchens, said, “It was great to see just how much RSD has to offer from elementary school through high school. The teachers and administrators are so caring and our community is lucky to have such great facilities. As a parent, I am so glad that my children will have the opportunity to be challenged in school and enjoy the numerous extracurriculars that RSD has available.”
RHS Assistant Principal, Brad Coffman, and RHS Principal, Brad Ray, showed off the RHS programs including CTE, and STEM, and handed off the tour to RSD Athletic Director Johnny Johnson, for a tour of Cyclone Arena. The last stop of the day was the Arkansas Tech Career Center where RRLA learned about the educational opportunities ATCC has to offer.
RSD Superintendent Dr. Ginni McDonald commented, “I am so grateful to be a part of the Leadership Russellville this year and being able to show off some of the amazing parts about RSD was a proud moment for the District. It’s a great time to be a Cyclone!”