As we return to the classroom for the 2024-2025 school year, I want to take this opportunity to remind our members and Arkansas’ communication and theatre teachers how important your work is to the students you serve and the future of the state of Arkansas. 

Without your hard work and commitment to communication and theatre education, the students of Arkansas wouldn’t have opportunities to think critically, interpret their feelings and opinions healthily, express themselves, communicate effectively and engage in their communities.  The unique opportunities our profession is afforded through hours of extra contact with your students open the door for students to grow and learn from each other and for them to have a trusted mentor in you.

As we look at the world around us, it is easy to see that our communities need communication and theatre education now more than ever. Our students face mounting generational and societal pressure locally in their communities and globally through technology. Whether the activity is debate, forensics, acting or public speaking, whether it’s hosting a competition or supporting local educators in a communication and theater classroom, whether it's constructing an argument or discovering a piece of literature, you are providing your community’s students a platform to learn how to positively and professionally formulate their independent feelings and thoughts and how to communicate or express said thoughts to others respectfully. Equipping your students to be confident, independent, intentional communicators is one of the more powerful gifts they will receive in their lifetime. Research shows Arkansas students who have mastered your curriculum’s communication skills (e.g., interpersonal communication, active listening, critical thinking, verbal communication, collaboration, teamwork, etc.) are more employable right out of high school, more successful in college and more likely to advance out of poverty. You positively change lives.

The next time the bell rings, and you are tired or discouraged, remember Arkansas needs you in the classroom, and our students need opportunities to be transformed through participation in your communication, debate, and/or theatre arts classroom.

Thank you again for your work with students and for helping teach the next generation of Arkansas leaders in your classroom and ACTAA. Together, we are working to inspire Arkansas to think, speak and act for a brighter future.

Yours for better discourse,

Zackery A. Tucker, ACTAA President

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 2024-2025.

ACTAA Leadership Opportunities:

·        Arkansas State Championship Committee

·        Arkansas Student Congress Committee

·        Ethical Practices Committee

•   Newsletter Coordinator

·        Professional Standards Committee

·        Publicity & Promotion Committee

·        Recruitment & Mentoring Committee

·        Scholarship Committee

·        Student Advisory Board Sponsor(s)

Share your interest in serving. 

Following the Summer Workshop, July 21-23, the Board of Directors convened and approved several proposed policies and programs that hope to advance the association's ability to better serve its membership and ensure continuity.

Board & Committee Reform

To better lead the organization and be more responsive to the membership needs, the board approved increasing its regular meeting schedule from three times a year to bi-monthly. Additional action included adopting a board attendance policy, a requirement to publish board agendas three days before the meeting, standardizing board reports, procedures for asynchronous board votes via email.

Board Document(s): Proposed Board of Directors Reform.

Fundraising Initiative

In December 2023, the association was granted its 501(c)3 tax-exempt status. As ACTAA enters its new fiscal year on August 1, the board adopted a Strategic/ Corporate Partners Program. The initiative provides a structured program for soliciting financial donations through sponsorships for ACTAA core activities (e.g., Arkansas Forensics and Debate State Championship Tournament (ASC), Arkansas Student Congress (STUCO), Annual Fall Conference, Annual Summer Workshop, Scholarships). With the program, ACTAA Leadership will develop partnerships with external individuals and businesses to financially support the growth of the association’s programs. In addition to a three-level recognition program (e.g., Partner ($500.00-$999.99), Advocate ($1,000.00-$2,999.99), & Champion ($3,000 <), the initiative allows for naming rights to sessions, events, and meetings based on a financial contribution.

Board Document(s): Proposed Strategic/  Corporate Partners Program.

Website Policies

In February, Wild Apricot, Inc., our association’s website and membership management platform provider, advised its customers on new features to ensure compliance with recent data privacy laws adopted in areas of the United States. Although Arkansas does not currently require websites of businesses based in the state that collect user data and financial transitions to have a published privacy policy, cookie policy, and terms of services, state-wide media suggest that legislation proposed by the State Cybersecurity Office may be introduced this spring. Additionally, since Wild Apricot currently provides an affordable partnership with its preferred provider of non-profit web-based legal policies, Termly, Inc.,  the board approved several website policies.

Board Document(s): Website Privacy Policies, Website Cookie Policies, Website Terms of Service, & Website Design Guide.

ACTAA is seeking applications for the Student Advisory Board for the Arkansas speech & debate. Each year, ACTAA Leadership appoints eight students who have exhibited outstanding leadership skills, achievements in academics and activities, and a commitment to making a positive impact in their communities.

The Student Advisory Board is a team of high school students from diverse backgrounds who come together virtually to grow their leadership skills, bring youth perspectives to speech & debate, and support inter-program comradery and community within the Arkansas speech & debate circuit and the Arkansas Forensics & Debate State Championship.

Student Advisory Board Application Timeline:

Student Advisory Board Member Commitment:

Ready to apply to be a Student Advisory Board member?

Apply today

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June 10, ACTAA's website began a transition to a new look and organization that better supports the association's new branding and membership needs.

The site is undergoing a restructure in phases. In June, the design was updated and priority pages were reformatted and republished. As we approach Fall Conference, Sep. 19-21, at Petit Jean Mountain, additional pages will be republished to the site as they are reformatted in sections.

Members are encouraged to visit our site, actaa.org, over the summer to check out updates and the addition of several new functionally components of the site.

A few key items currently, available are:

• Welcome (landing) page with live feeds of upcoming events, organizational news and donation (income) goals.
• Updated Membership Application
• Membership Directory (Members Only)
• Governing Documents page
• Dynamic ACTAA Calendar
• Organizational News feed

Over the next month, there will be links to forms and content blocks that might not be complete at the time of publishing, as pages are updated and tandem items (i.e., digital forms, documents, etc.) are developed during this process.

One item we ask members to help verify is the ACTAA Calendar. We have transitioned the tournament calendar to the tool fully integrated in our website platform. Members are asked to help check the dates of events to verify the accuracy of the tournament schedule. The tournament schedule can be reviewed on the ACTAA Calendar or Tournament Calendar pages of the website.

Thank you for your input and collaboration during this process.

Captivating Community. As an organization, we must continue to grow by adapting to changing needs and environments. The focus of Fall Conference 2024 is to better engage as a community while learning in the rustic, natural surroundings of Petit Jean State Park. We will gather in different locations within a mile or two of one another. From Mather Lodge to the Visitor’s Center and finally to the Winthrop Rockefeller Center for our business meeting and luncheon. Fall Conference 2024 will be a rustic experience where we will rely on one another to know where we are going, literally and metaphorically.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

As with any event, there are multiple costs related. These fees cover facility rentals, meals, and other related costs to provide an enriching event. Register early to avoid fee increases. These must be passed along as vendors will charge us for late ordering.

LODGING AND RATES

Mather Lodge has reserved several cabins and rooms for us at reasonable rates. NOTE: the rooms at Mather Lodge are very ‘cozy’. Cabin rooms are more spacious and comfortable. This will encourage us to gather in the many scenic and social spaces at the lodge or one another’s cabins.

If staying at Mather Lodge, you must reserve by August 20th. Otherwise, a room cannot be guaranteed. They cannot book Group Reservations online. Group #833387 should be used to make confirmation with our Lodge at 501-727-5431 (open 24 hours, 7 days a week)

Learn more about Fall Conference. 

Other lodging options near the conference.

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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.

Middle School Theater Teacher

The Fayetteville Public Schools is seeking a Theater Teacher for the John L Colbert Middle School. Apply at: https://district.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=2800

Technical Facilities Manager (non-teaching)

The Cabot Public Schools is seeking a (non-teaching) Technical Facilities Manager for the High School. Apply at: https://www.applitrack.com/.../JobPostings/view.asp...

Teacher/Technical Theatre Teacher

The Cabot Public Schools is seeking a Teacher/Technical Theatre Teacher for the High School. Apply at: https://www.applitrack.com/.../JobPostings/view.asp...

Spanish/Oral Communications Teacher

The Palestine-Wheatley School District is seeking a Spanish/Oral Communications Teacher for the High School. Apply at: https://www.pwsd.k12.ar.us/page/employment-palestine

Professional Communication Teacher

The Cabot Public Schools is seeking a Professional Communication Teacher for the Freshman Academy & High School. Apply at: https://shorturl.at/RoR2h

Oral Communications/Drama Teacher

The Vilonia School District is seeking an Oral Communications/Drama Teacher for the Vilonia High School. Apply at: https://vilonia.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=633

At Summer Workshop President Tucker released the draft "ACTAA in Action Planning Document;" which outlines a series of initiatives and action items to the Board of Directors to prioritize and guide with work of the membership on how each discipline, each community, and each member can contribute to 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."

The document is organized into four themes, or goals, of our action planning:

Please take time to review the "ACTAA in Action Planning Document" linked below to learn more about the action plan's themes and the type of strategies we can develop together. The action plan is designed to be a living document that is updated as members achieve strategies and needs shift. Members current and past have the opportunity through surveys, committee work, and forums to recommend strategies for each of the action plan’s four themes.

ACTAA in Action Planning Document

Submit an idea to the document.

15 Arkansas students advanced elimination rounds at the National Speech & Debate Tournament hosted in Des Moines, Iowa, June 16–21, 2024.

Rachael McCall from Cabot Junior High North won first place in the Original Spoken Word Poetry in the middle school, becoming the first student from Arkansas to earn a national championship title at a National Speech & Debate Association national tournament (middle or high school) in state history

More than 6,700 students from 1,500 schools competed in the tournament, which is the largest speech & debate competition in the nation.

In addition to McCall, the following students advanced to elimination rounds at the tournament:

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