Recognizing Contributions in the Charter School Community

Spark Symposium 2025
Written By Marti Jo Hall

Submit Nominations to Recognize Impact in Charter Schools!

APSRC is excited to honor the incredible contributions of charter schools, their leaders, and supporters who are making a difference. We’ll recognize innovation, growth, and dedication with a variety of awards—some selected through community nominations and others chosen by APSRC staff.

Nomination-Based Awards: 

  • Changemaker Awards

  • Teacher of the Year

  • Trailblazer Award

APSRC-Designated Awards: 

  • School Growth Awards

  • Elevate Awards

  • Charter Leader

  • Hall of Fame

  • Lifetime Achievement


We are currently accepting nominations for the Changemaker Award, Teacher of the Year, and Trailblazer Award. If you know someone whose work has had a profound impact on the charter school community, now is your chance to recognize them. The deadline for submissions is April 20th, 2025.

The Arkansas Charter School Changemaker Awards will be presented annually to recognize outstanding individuals who are making positive changes in their school communities.

Changemaker Awards

The nominations should highlight the meaningful impact the candidate is making in their charter schools. Open-enrollment and district-conversion charter staff may be nominated.

Nominate your charter school staff members today and tell us about the impact they're making in their schools! 

APSRC is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Arkansas Charter School Teacher of the Year. Each public charter school campus in Arkansas may select one teacher as its Charter School Teacher of the Year and nominate that teacher for this award.

Teacher of the Year

Please read the candidate criteria before submitting your nomination.

Candidates must meet the following minimum criteria:

  • Must be skillful and dedicated teachers in grades kindergarten through 12.

  • Must be engaged directly in instruction in a classroom setting for more than 70 percent of the individual's contracted time.

  • Instructional Facilitators must be engaged directly in instruction with students in a classroom setting for more than seventy percent (70%) of the individual’s contracted time to qualify.

  • Librarians and Guidance Counselors are eligible to participate.

  • Administrators are not eligible.

This recognition is not tied to the DESE's Arkansas Teacher of the Year or the National Teacher of the Year programs.

The Arkansas Charter School Trailblazer Awards will be presented annually to recognize outstanding schools that are implementing innovative best practices.

Trailblazer Award

The schools nominated should be helping "blaze a trail" for charters schools across the State and Nation as they branch out and explore new strategies. Open-enrollment and district-conversion charter schools may be nominated.

Nominate your charter school today and tell us about the innovation that's occurring in your schools!

Haven’t registered yet?

Register now and secure your spot at the Spark Symposium today! Don’t miss your chance to spark ideas, connections, and growth!

Marti Jo Hall
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