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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