District Insider Newsletter

Dear LISA Family,

This was a special month as LISA Academy celebrated our 20th anniversary at the Statehouse Convention Center. This was a wonderful program that showcased student performances and several friends from the community who were able to share inspiring messages about our district. I would like to share a portion of my closing remarks from the event with you all:

The last 20 years have seen wonderful growth for LISA Academy academically, professionally, and in enrollment. We are full of pride for the journey we have experienced so far.

We offer the deepest gratitude to each student, parent and caregiver, teacher, administrator, staff member, and vendor who contributed to the success of LISA Academy so that this monumental year has been made possible. Our success can be largely credited to our wonderful partners: the Arkansas Department of Education, WFF, APSRC, and the dedication of the first educators, leaders, and board members who started this journey.

Our goal is that students feel they have received the top STEM-C focused, college preparatory education in the state and that they enter the world prepared for the 21st Century and its challenges. The demand for jobs in the STEM-C field is growing, and also paying very well. LISA scholars and alumni are going on to do amazing, world-changing things and it is an honor to be part of so many students' journeys to success!

LISA Academy is implementing the LISA 2.0 Model in the coming years to launch the district to the forefront of charter schools in the state. This program includes higher expectations for students, with middle school students taking advanced courses so they may focus on college credit courses in high school and be better prepared for STEM-C studies and careers post-graduation.

LISA 2.0 features a tiered graduation system, where at minimum, students must have a 2.3 GPA and at least a 19 on the ACT to graduate. By implementing these requirements, students will be able to achieve their full potential.

May the future 20 years be even more incredible than the former. Thank you for being a member of the LISA Academy family, you are deeply appreciated.

Best Regards,

Dr. Fatih Bogrek

College Board announced that LISA North High has been named to the 2024 Advanced
Placement® Program (AP®) School Honor Roll, earning the Silver distinction, and that LISA West High has been named to the 2024 Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) School Honor Roll, earning the Bronze distinction.

The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening access. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.

LISA North High offered 19 AP courses, taught 21 sections, and had 12 teachers teaching Advanced Placement courses.

College Board’s Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) enables students to pursue college-level studies—with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both—while still in high school. Through AP courses in 38 subjects, each culminating in a challenging exam, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue—skills that prepare them for college and beyond.

In a groundbreaking initiative, LISA Academy has signed a direct admission agreement with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, streamlining our students' path to higher education! Our students will receive a waived application fee and a streamlined admission application. The students will automatically be considered for the Trojan Guarantee Scholarship, a last-dollar scholarship that covers the cost of tuition and mandatory fees after federal, state, and institutional aid is applied, resulting in a no-cost bachelor’s degree for eligible students, as well as UA Little Rock’s Half-Off Scholarship, which covers half of the tuition and course fees for eligible freshman for up to two years.

Students and staff across the district wore orange on October 16 to show kindness, acceptance, inclusion, and take a stand against bullying.

Springdale

Please expect an email in the coming days to be able to view your child's ATLAS test scores. It is time sensitive, so please create your account within 7 days of reciept. The email should appear as the one below:

Congratulations to these students for being selected to serve on U.S. Senator John Boozman's Youth Cabinet! This is a remarkable achievement that showcases their leadership skills and commitment to their community and these students represent LISA West High, North High, and Hybrid campuses.

The Youth Cabinet is an initiative by Senator Boozman aimed at empowering young leaders across Arkansas. It provides an opportunity for students to engage directly with the legislative process, voice their opinions on issues affecting youth, and contribute to meaningful discussions that can impact our state. Members will have the chance to collaborate on projects, attend meetings, and gain invaluable experience in public service.

We are proud of their accomplishments and look forward to their contributions as representatives of our community.

College Sophomores and Juniors, Bravenx is about giving you the tools you need to land that dream internship or job. And guess what? It’s working for students just like you! In 2023, 777 Braven Fellows walked across the graduation stage - and they were 17% more likely to be walking into a strong job out of college. Plus, 76% of Braven grads make more in their first job out of college than either their parents did at the same age! Interested in the Winter Cohort? Contact delkan@lisaacademy.org or rogers@lisaacademy.org to get started!

View this video to hear from a Braven Fellow.

🎓 LISA Academy Alumni, We've Got Great News! 🎓

Did you know that as a LISA Academy alum, your children receive priority in our lottery process?

Here's how to secure their spot:

1) Create an application for your child.

2) Make sure we know you're an alum – this helps us prioritize your application!

3) Questions? Reach out to us at: lisaacademy@lisaacademy.org

We're excited to welcome the next generation of LISA scholars! 🌟

Quinton K. from West High was recently selected as a College Board's BigFuture Ambassador for Fall 2024. BigFuture Ambassadors help other students connect with colleges and get career guidance.

Congratulations to Ms. Betul Ensari! Her paper "Enhancing Student Development with AI: A Case Study of Code Monkey in Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)” was accepted by the SNAS conference and she was able to present at the Western Connecticut State University Campus.

In her presentation, she discussed how AI can transform traditional Social Emotional Learning (SEL) by reducing paperwork for teachers and freeing up time for more targeted interventions. AI also allows for a more personalized approach to SEL. Using the CodeMonkey app as a case study, she highlighted its Digital Citizenship courses, which are closely related to SEL. AI-powered SEL platforms not only save time but also offer more engaging, personalized content through gamification, making them more effective in tracking student progress compared to traditional SEL methods.

High school students from North High, West High, and Hybrid were able to attend a college fair at Pulaski Tech to explore future opportunities.