Small, rural schools will be affected by a decrease in education co-op specialists

Lincoln High School in Northwest Arkansas is facing a significant challenge as the number of content specialists at the Northwest Arkansas Education Services Cooperative is decreasing. Emilianne Cox, Assistant Principal at Lincoln High School, expressed her concerns about the impact of this reduction on the school community.

Cox, who has been in public education for eleven years, highlighted the importance of the close-knit environment at Lincoln High School. She emphasized the support and guidance provided by the content specialists from the NWA cooperative, who have been instrumental in helping teachers navigate new standards and provide high-quality instructional materials.

However, Bryan Law, Director of the NWA Education Services Cooperative, revealed that the state’s grant funding cuts have resulted in a reduction of literacy, math, and science specialists. This has raised concerns about the level of support available to teachers in smaller and rural districts.

Carly McCollough, a science specialist at the NWA co-op, expressed her fears about the potential impact on teachers without access to content experts. The decision to cut funding for these specialists has sparked a debate about their effectiveness and the support they provide to schools.

Despite the challenges, school principal Stan Karber emphasized the positive impact of the specialists on staff and students at Lincoln High School. He stressed the need for a collaborative approach to address the changing landscape of education support services.

As the contracts of the specialists come to an end on June 30th, the school community is preparing for a new school year with fewer resources. The loss of these specialists will require schools to find alternative ways to support teachers and ensure student success in the upcoming academic year.