Due Dates and Late Fees

All invoices for conferences, membership, tournaments, and other hosted events are due at the commencement of the event. Acceptable proof of payment may include a verified purchase order (PO) issued by an authorized school district, agency, or organization. Any balance not paid or supported by an approved purchase order at the start of an event shall be subject to a late payment fee of ten percent (10%) of the outstanding balance. An additional ten percent (10%) late fee will be assessed every thirty (30) calendar days thereafter on any unpaid balance until the account is satisfied in full.

Notice of Excessive Balances

Accounts remaining unpaid beyond thirty (30) days shall be considered delinquent, and the ACTAA member will be notified of the fee. For accounts with unpaid balances exceeding sixty (60) days, account statements will be distributed to the respective district Accounts Payable office and the designated building administrator or program director. Programs or organizations with delinquent accounts will be prohibited from registering for or participating in future events until all outstanding obligations, including late fees, have been remitted in full or a payment resolution has been established in writing with the organization’s Treasurer.

Due Dates and Late Fees

All invoices for conferences, membership, tournaments, and other hosted events are due at the commencement of the event. Acceptable proof of payment may include a verified purchase order (PO) issued by an authorized school district, agency, or organization. Any balance not paid or supported by an approved purchase order at the start of an event shall be subject to a late payment fee of ten percent (10%) of the outstanding balance. An additional ten percent (10%) late fee will be assessed every thirty (30) calendar days thereafter on any unpaid balance until the account is satisfied in full.

Notice of Excessive Balances

Accounts remaining unpaid beyond thirty (30) days shall be considered delinquent, and the ACTAA member will be notified of the fee. For accounts with unpaid balances exceeding sixty (60) days, account statements will be distributed to the respective district Accounts Payable office and the designated building administrator or program director. Programs or organizations with delinquent accounts will be prohibited from registering for or participating in future events until all outstanding obligations, including late fees, have been remitted in full or a payment resolution has been established in writing with the organization’s Treasurer.

ACTAA is excited to announce its participation in Giving Tuesday, a global movement uniting over 35 million nonprofits to inspire generosity and drive positive change. Taking place on the Tuesday, December 2, following Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to support meaningful causes that strengthen communities.

ACTAA invites individuals and organizations to join this worldwide effort by contributing to our mission and helping us make a lasting impact. Contributions will help fund scholarships for students, professional development for teachers, and provide opportunities for Arkansas to highlight the talent of our students on stage and in the classroom.

ACTAA Leadership asks members to help amplify our Giving Tuesday campaign by sharing the campaign's social media posts throughout the next few weeks, leading up-to Giving Tuesday, December 2.

If you know of  individuals or organizations that would be interested in supporting communication and theatre education state-wide, please direct them to donate at: actaa.org/donate.

Organizations interested in making larger donations or underwriting ACTAA's activities, can review our sponsorship packet at: actaa.org/support.

Not only can a positive volunteer experience be educational and fulfilling, it can also be a great way to connect with colleagues across the state who share your passions and are committed to advancing speech, debate, & theatre as a profession, life skill, & art form through service.

No matter your current skill level, years of experience in the classroom, or available time, you can tap into long-term career success through the many pathways into ACTAA leadership. Now is the time to communicate your interest in many of the leadership positions across the association, as well as dozens of committee and work team opportunities that will begin service in 2025-2026.

ACTAA Leadership Opportunities

• Executive Secretary

• Belonging & Inclusion Advocacy (BIA) Committee
• Ethical Practices Committee
• Lifetime Member Committee
• Advocacy & Public Engagement Committee
• Publicity and Promotions Committee

• New Member Support Committee

Share your interest in serving. 

The following postings have been shared with ACTAA or recommended by Google Alerts. Please check the referenced school district's website for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

FHS Theater Teacher

Fayetteville Public Schools is urgently seeking a FHS Theater Teacher for Fayetteville High School. Apply at: https://district.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5331275.

The Board of Directors meets every two months to receive updates from committees/ officers and discuss association matters. In addition to the discussion on updates on summer workshop, fall conference, the board member accountability, and past due membership balances to the association, the following outlines updates from the Board’s August 28 & 30 meeting.

Resignation. The Board accepted the resignation of the Dustin Jackson as Executive Secretary, pending the appointment of a replacement for the remainder of Jackson's term.

Appointments. Following Fall Conference, President Zackery Tucker appointed and the board confirmed the following appointments:

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At the 2025 Fall Conference, ACTAA Leadership hosted a Tournament Advisory (TAC) Forum on 08/29/2025. The following are the summations of discussions from the TAC Forum to inform and guide participates for the 2025-2026 competitive season. 

Reminder from President Zackery Tucker about the structure of the TAC Committee and the leadership that was changed last year following Board recommendations and votes by the body. 

Recap of Summer Workshop TAC discussions:

• Inconsistencies between ballots and what was written in the qualifying document in terms of practices/rules (e.g.--in the qualifying document, Words and Music saying that costumes were not allowed to be used, which is incorrect)

• • Ballots were updated and republished 

  • Lead to updates in the qualifying document

• Security at tournaments

• • Interested in further discussion post Fall Conference when TAC might issue guidance/suggestions on tournament security. 

• Calendar/timing of submitting tournaments

Current Discussion:

• DSL ballot– really want it to be SLI instead, but it is named DSL in the qualifying document. Per the governing document rules, we have to wait to change the name. Discussed correct ballot options. 

• Concern over too many events being offered at tournaments creates complications at tournaments

• • Concerns about Jr. High being treated differently

  • Concerns over lack of judges, lack of entries in events, kids entered in too many events, etc

  • Could there be an online group/way to communicate with alums, people in areas to recruit judges? 

  • Suggestion to track numbers for state and see where we are and reevaluate

Aug. 28-30, the Arkansas Communication & Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA) hosted its annual Fall Conference which included the organization’s annual General Business Meeting and regular meeting of the Board of Directors. The following outlines approved proposals of policies and programs that hope to advance the association's ability to better serve its membership and ensure continuity.

Membership Action:

The ASC Qualifying Tournament Document was amended to clarify incorrect language, update practices, require open invitationals, and establish a Junior High Conference Championship tournament and related administration.

Support document(s): Updated ASC Qualifying Tournament Document 

The ACTAA Constitution & Bylaws were amending the Constitution and Bylaws to create flexibility in Student Congress Dates

Support document(s): Updated ACTAA Constitution & Bylaws

The Student Congress Bylaws were amended to add NSDA rules for use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other minor edits for clarification. 

Support document(s): Updated Student Congress Bylaws

The Arkansas Tournament Tabroom Shell was approved by the membership and is now required to be used for all ASC-qualifying tournaments. Rules about the use and disclosure about making alterations to the shell for individuals tournaments are found in the ASC Qualifying Tournament Document, as approved by the membership at the 2024 Fall Conference. 

Support document(s): Updated ASC Qualifying Tournament Document 

A Second Vice President was elected for a 2026-2028 term, Antha Johnson of Fayetteville. Johnson will assume the role of Second Vice President after the Arkansas State Championship in April 2026. She will serve an successive term as the First Vice President position (April 2028-April 2030), then President position (April 2030-April 2032) and finally the Past President role (April 2033-April 2034).

As the summer draws to a close, we start to look toward a new school year, and before the worry and dread about not being prepared for parents, enduring a week of administrator planned-PD, and the return of email demands without boundaries start to creep in our minds,  I wanted to take a few moments to remind you that despite the initial worry, dread, and anxiety, you are about to walk into a classroom ready to inspire the next generation of change makers and leaders of our state.

I know this because, that is what we do in our disciplines of communication and theatre arts. I know that without you in your school, the students in your community wouldn’t have opportunities to learn how to express themselves, communicate effectively and engage in their communities.

You don’t have to think for long to recall a moment when a student delivered their first speech or performance, when you coached an anxious student through an introduction, or watched a naturally gifted performer command the stage during their first audition. In every case, you are not just teaching a skill—you are encouraging the next generation to discover their voice.

And, you are not alone in this work!

Since 1936, when our association was reorganized as a speech and drama teachers’ organization, ACTAA and our members have been dedicated to advancing Arkansas through communication, debate, and theatre arts—not only as an academic discipline, but as a vital life skill and a transformative art form.

This work continues today through every classroom lesson, every stage performance, and every competition hosted by our members across the state. Whether it’s debate, forensics, acting, or public speaking—our mission remains clear: to provide students with a platform to positively and professionally formulate their independent ideas, and to communicate those ideas respectfully and effectively.

And, you have a critical role in this work.

Two years ago, ACTAA adopted our current core values under the banner Think. Speak. Act. Arkansas. Last fall, we took the next step by launching the ACTAA in Action Strategic Plan—our shared roadmap to ensure those values come alive in meaningful ways. The plan is built around four action themes:

Over the past year, we have seen real progress in each of these areas.

We reflected on our purpose by strengthening new member support, developing intentional mentorship pathways, and recommitting ourselves to the mission first laid out in 1936: to unite schools, raise standards, and ensure speech and drama thrive across Arkansas.

We increased our impact through the development of a sponsorship packet, using it not just as a fundraising tool but as a storytelling piece to engage new partners and secure resources for our mission.

We expanded our voice with the launch of Arkansas Speech and Debate Month this past March, celebrating our state’s rich tradition of communication education and amplifying the stories of our students, alumni, and educators.

And we began the work to increase our ability to adapt, collaborating as a statewide professional learning community to ensure our communication studies curriculum remains relevant and responsive to the rapidly changing needs of Arkansas students and the workforce.

But our work is not finished. Looking forward to 2025–2026, our association has set four clear priorities:

Colleagues, the truth is clear: communication education cannot be treated as a secondary subject. The Arkansas Department of Commerce Workforce Report reminds us that seven of the top ten employability gaps are directly related to the skills we teach—interpersonal communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and active listening. If we want Arkansas graduates to be prepared to lead, to contribute, and to thrive, then communication and theatre education must be front and center in our schools.

This is not just about preserving our programs. It is about preparing a generation to be successful and to lead in a future fully ingulfed in the communication economy. Our work and curriculum will prepare them to be leaders and practitioners of ethical communication in a world of  misinformation and AI.

Friends, as graduation requirements shift, as the demand for concurrent and career-tech pathways grows, and as pressures mount to reduce classroom hours, we must ensure communication education is not crowded out. Our students deserve more than a “fluff” elective. They deserve the tools to think critically, to speak confidently, and to act with integrity.

The future of ACTAA—and of Arkansas—depends on us answering that call.

So before to return to the classroom, I ask you to join me in recommitting to our mission:

Together, we will continue to inspire Arkansas to Think. Speak. Act. for a brighter tomorrow.

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Following the Summer Workshop, July 20-22, the Board of Directors convened and approved several proposed policies and proposals aimed at advancing the association's ability to serve its membership better and ensure continuity.

2025-2026 Priorities

At the Summer Workshop, President Zackery Tucker presented on progress made on the association's strategic plan - ACTAA in Action. The document was adopted by the Board of Directors at the 2024 Fall Conference in September after six months of feedback from the membership. The document outlines potential initiatives of the association guiding our work with achieving our vision of a “future where every student in Arkansas has the opportunity to be transformed through participation in communication, debate, and theatre arts” in four themed areas: (1) REFLECT on our purpose; (2) increase our IMPACT; (3) EXPAND our voice; and increase our ability to ADAPT.

At the Summer Workshop, the Board approved the President's recommendation for the 2025-2026 priorities for each area to be: (1) New Member Support; (2) Building Strategic Partners; (3) Advocacy & Public Engagement; and (3) The Future of the Curriculum.

2025-2026 Strategic Priorities Presentation

Committee Assignments

• Arkansas State Championship (ASC) Committee - Jenny Moses requested permission to forgo serving as Chair of the ASC this academic year and solely support the ASC as Treasurer, as filling both roles would be difficult. The Board accepted Moses's resignation as ASC Chair and approved the appointment of Tiffany Tucker (Member 1) to Chair and the appointment of Jessica Skordal (outgoing chair) to the Member 1 position. Additionally, the Board accepted the ASC Committee's recommendation to appoint Casey Griffith of Conway High School in the Member 3 position.
• Advocacy & Public Engagement (APE) Committee - The Board accepted Leigh Walters' resignation as APE Chair due to her leaving the classroom to serve the Little Rock School District as an ESL administrator. The Board accepted the President's recommendation to appoint Beck Greenway of Bentonville High School as APE Chair.
• Belonging & Inclusion Advocacy (BIA) Committee - The BIA Committee was new established in March 2025. The Board accepted the President's recommendation to appoint Dariane Mull of Pinnacle View Middle School as BIA Chair, and Jas Dysmas of Cabot Junior High South in the Member 1 position.

Arkansas Student Congress

Last year, with a change in the administrative leadership of the Arkansas House of Representatives, ACTAA was informed that the Arkansas State Capitol Building would no longer be available to host the Arkansas Student Congress over the Veterans’ Day Holiday. The Board of Directors proposes that the language in the ACTAA Constitution outlining the ACTAA Calendar, specifically regarding the timing of the Arkansas Student Congress, be amended to create more flexibility in scheduling. Replacing “in November on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday over the officially scheduled Veterans Day Holiday” with “over three days in November.”

Additionally, the Board of Directors has amended the ACTAA Bylaws to remove language regarding the timing of the Arkansas Student Congress and the Arkansas State Championship from the committees’ descriptions, leaving these references to appear only in the ACTAA Calendar section of the ACTAA Constitution, as referenced above. The Board of Directors is seeking endorsement of this change from the membership.

Proposed Constitutional and Bylaws Amendments to create flexibility in Student Congress Dates.

Nominating Committee Handbook Updates

The Board of Directors approved language to insert in the ACTAA Organizational Handbook outlining the work and responsibilities of the Nominating Committee.

Proposed Nominating Committee Handbook Updates

Organizational Finances

At each Summer Workshop, the Board of Directors must adopt an annual budget for the upcoming academic year and consider changes to the membership dues structure. The Board approved the Treasurer's proposed annual operating budget of the association, consisting of approximately $26,500 in operating expenses, with no recommended change to the membership dues structure.

Proposed 2025-2026 Operating Budget

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