Advocacy & Public Engagement Committee
This standing committee is charged with coordinating with the Arkansas Department of Education's Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to keep the association informed of the needs of the profession in the area of certification, licensure and academic standards. The chairman of the committee shall be appointed by the President for a three-year term. Other members of the committee are appointed by the President with recommendations from the chair for a three-year term.

2024-2025 Committee Membership:

Chair: Leigh Walters (Little Rock Central High School)
Member 1: VACANT
Member 2: VACANT
Member 3: Emily Garrison (Bentonville West High School)
Ex-Officio: Colton Gilbert (Little Rock Central High School)
Ex-Officio: Eric Gamble (Dardanelle High School)
Ex-Officio: Graci Johnson (Springdale High School)
Ex-Officio: Dariane Mull (Pinnacle View Middle School)
Observer: VACANT
Past-Chair: Jacki Reiff (Lifetime Member)

Committee Charge Documents (Approved 03/02/25)

Arkansas State Championship Committee
This standing committee is charged with the planning and execution of, and the verification of qualifications to, the Arkansas Forensics & Debate State Championship Tournament held each Spring. The committee includes rotating service, where each member serves a defined role on the committee rotating positions each year, until ultimately serving as chair of the committee. The chair works with a permanent tournament director, who is appointed every five years, to coordinate the committee and administrate the Arkansas State Championship Tournament.

2024-2025 Committee Membership:

Chair: Jessica Skordal (Bentonville West School)
Member 1: Jenny Moses (Mount St. Mary Academy)
Member 2: Tiffany Tucker (Cabot Junior High North)
Member 3: Dustin Jackson (Russellville High School)
Observer: VACANT
Past-Chair: Martene Campbell (Episcopal Collegiate School)

2024-2025 Committee Staff:
Director: Rosie Valdez-Block (Little Rock Central High School)
Tabulator: Colton Gilbert (Little Rock Central High School)

Committee Charge Documents (Approved 03/02/25)

Arkansas Student Congress Committee
This standing committee is charged with the planning and execution of the Arkansas Student Congress event. ACTAA's Student Congress (STUCO) is the state's (and perhaps the nation's) oldest model legislative competition. The committee includes rotating service, where each member serves a defined role on the committee rotating positions each year, until ultimately serving as chair of the committee. The chair works with a permanent tournament director, who is appointed every five years, to coordinate the committee and administrate the Arkansas State Championship Tournament.

2024-2025 Committee Membership:

Chair: Jessica Skordal (Bentonville West High School)
Member 1: Antha Johnson (Fayetteville High School)
Member 2: Dustin Jackson (Russellville High School)
Member 3: Eric Weed (Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School)
Past-Chair: Leigh Walters (Little Rock Central High School)

2024-2025 Committee Staff:
Director: Martene Campbell (Episcopal Collegiate School)
Tabulator: Jenny Moses (Mount St. Mary Academy)

Committee Charge Documents (Approved 03/02/25)

Belonging & Inclusion Advocacy (BIA) Committee
This special committee is charged with developing strategies for the association to ensure it is responsive to the needs, promotes the contributions of and strategically considers its diverse membership. The committee was appointed by Jacki Reiff, 2020-2021 ACTAA President, and has been reappointed every year since by Brandon Box-Higdem, 2021-2024 ACTAA President. The 2021 Summer Workshop was focused on brainstorming strategies and initiatives for ACTAA to adopt to help advance the mission of diversity, equity, & inclusion. In August 2021, the committee issued a report proposing initiatives to be implemented in association. Link to Report from the ACTAA 2021 Summer Workshop on Inclusion & Engagement. On January 5, 2025, the board renamed the committee the Belonging and Inclusion Advocacy (BIA) Committee to align the nomenclature with the nationwide practices.

2024-2025 Committee Membership:

Chair: VACANT
Member 1: VACANT
Member 2: VACANT
Member 3: VACANT
Past-Chair: VACANT

Committee Charge Documents (Approved 03/02/25)

ACTAA 2021 Summer Workshop on Inclusion & Engagement

ACTAA 2024 Progress Report on the Diversity & Inclusion Working Plan

Ethical Practices Committee
This standing committee is charged with the promotion of ethical and professional practices within the association and in all of the activities sponsored by the association. The committee serves as a hearing body for allegations of unethical practices. The committee consists of a chair and three members appointed by the President.

2024-2025 Committee Membership:

Chair: John Gale (Lifetime Member)
Member 1: Tiffany Tucker (Cabot Junior High North)
Member 2: VACANT
Member 3: VACANT
Past-Chair: VACANT

Committee Charge Documents (Approved 03/02/25)

Lifetime Member Committee
This standing committee is responsible for coordinating the involvement of retired lifetime members in the association’s work. Its duties include fostering a sense of community among lifetime members, recruiting new members, mentoring current members, and actively supporting the ACTAA mission whenever possible.

2024-2025 Committee Membership:

Chair: Debbie Ashcraft (Lifetime Member)
Member 1: Jennie Gray (Lifetime Member)
Member 2: Pres Benson (Lifetime Member)
Member 3: VACANT
Past-Chair: VACANT

Committee Charge Documents (Approved 03/02/25)

New Member Support Committee
This standing committee is charged with disseminating information about ACTAA to the association to teachers in the disciplines of debate, forensics, professional communication, and theater across Arkansas. With a focus on adding and retaining new members, this committee coordinates new member activities such as, but not limited to, the mentor program, workshops at meetings, and resource contacts. The committee is also responsible for developing a membership retention plan for the association. The chair is appointed by the President for a three-year term. Other members of the committee are appointed by the committee chair for a three-year term. The Executive Secretary and the 2nd Vice-President are ex-officio members of the committee.

2024-2025 Committee Membership:

Chair: Eric Gamble (Dardanelle High School)
Member 1: Lauren Loehndorf (Har-Ber High School)
Member 2: Tonya Reck (Sheridan High School)
Member 3: Breanne Selah (Cabot High School)
Past-Chair: VACANT
Ex-Officio: Jessica Skordal (Bentonville West High School)
Ex-Officio: Dustin Jackson (Russellville High School)

Committee Charge Documents (Approved 03/02/25)

Nominations Committee
This standing committee is charged with nominating candidates to the general membership for election of the following positions: 2nd Vice President, Debate Representative, Forensics Representative, Professional Communication Representative, and Theatre/Dance Representative. Additionally, the nominations committee solicits nominations and selects the recipients of ACTAA Teacher of the Year, ACTAA Administrator of the Year, and Spirit of ACTAA awards.

2024-2025 Committee Membership:

Chair: Brittney McGloflin (Fayetteville High School)
Member 2: Beck Greenway (Bentonville High School)
Member 3: Breanne Selah (Cabot High School)

Committee Charge Documents (Approved 03/02/25)

Publicity & Promotion Committee
This standing committee is charged with disseminating information about the association and the disciplines of debate, forensics, professional communication, and theater. The committee manages the association's social media and merchandise store at tournaments. The chair is appointed by the President for a three-year term. Other members of the committee are appointed by the committee chair for a three-year term. the 2nd Vice President serves as an ex-officio member.

2024-2025 Committee Membership:

Chair: Greer King (Washington Junior High)
Member 1: Antha Johnson (Fayetteville High School)
Member 2: Saxon Whitehead (Lonoke High School)
Member 3: Patrick Laxson (Joe T. Robinson High School)
Past-Chair: VACANT
Ex-Officio: Jessica Skordal (Bentonville West High School)

Committee Charge Documents (Approved 03/02/25)

Scholarship Committee
This standing committee is charged with the administration and selection of the association's several scholarships; namely: the ACTAA High School Scholarships (one debate and one theatre arts), the ACTAA College Scholarship and the Jennifer Akers Memorial Scholarship. The Executive Treasurer serves as the chair, and the President appoints three additional members.

2024-2025 Committee Membership:

Chair: Jenny Moses (Mount St. Mary Academy)
Member 1: Wyatt Hamilton (North Little Rock High School)
Member 2: Beck Greenway (Bentonville High School)
Member 3: Rebecca Lawson (Bigelow High School)

Committee Charge Documents (Approved 03/02/25)

Tournament Advisory Committee
This standing committee is charged with aiding tournament directors and coaches who implement and attend tournaments when questions, problems, and issues exist. This focuses on providing a public forum for discussion about competition and aiding new coaches who might need guidance before, during, and after a tournament. The committee consists of seven members, including the President, the ASC Permanent Director, and the Student Congress Permanent Director serving ex-officio and four general members appointed by the President and confirmed by the Board of Directors.

2024-2025 Committee Membership:

President: Zackery Tucker (Arkansas State University-Beebe)
ASC Director: Rosie Valdez-Block (Little Rock Central High School)
StuCo Director: Martene Campbell (Episcopal Collegiate School)
Member 1: VACANT
Member 2: VACANT
Member 3: VACANT
Member 4: VACANT

Committee Charge Documents (Approved 03/02/25)