Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – Two local educators will represent Craighead County in the 2026-2027 Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship.
Joseph Beck, of Brookland Public Schools, and Desiree Stokes, of Jonesboro Public Schools, were among the 30 high-performing public-school teachers from across the state for the fellowship’s second cohort, which was announced on Sept. 10.
According to a press release, during the 2026-2027 school year, Beck, Stokes, and the rest of the cohort will participate in exclusive professional learning opportunities and peer-to-peer collaboration. The program is designed to enhance classroom practice and raise awareness of the teaching profession.
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In exchange for their participation and sharing their experiences as merit pay recipients, the teachers will receive ongoing training, support, and a $1,500 stipend.
“Now in its second year, this program’s goals are two-fold: rewarding excellence and encouraging more teachers to enter and stay in our classrooms,” Arkansas Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva said. “We are excited to announce this new cohort of fellows, who are leaders for their students, local communities, and our state.”
The fellowship was launched in 2025 in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education to increase understanding of the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund. Implemented through the LEARNS Act, the initiative recognizes and retains high-performing educators.
The release said that over the last three years, the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund has awarded more than $50 million in merit pay to over 12,000 educators statewide.
The 30 teachers selected for the 2026-2027 fellowship represent nearly every region, grade, and subject area in Arkansas’s public K-12 education system.
Alongside Beck and Stokes, the full list of this year’s recipients includes:
- Deja Avery, Estem Public Charter School
- Jessica Baggett, Russellville School District
- Hannah Baxter, Batesville School District
- Jason Campbell, Conway School District
- Amanda Cardenas, Southside School District
- Sara Carr, Cabot School District
- Chae Coan, Haas Hall Academy
- Tracy Craft, Rogers School District
- Landon Davis, Palestine Wheatley School District
- Mallory Dingler, Bryant School District
- Susan Eichenberger, Clarksville School District
- Stephanie Fiori, Fouke School District
- L. Allyse Gibbons, North Little Rock School District
- Erin Green, Benton School District
- Allison Heffington, Cabot School District
- Matthew Jimerson, Pine Bluff School District
- Chelsea Johnson, Mena School District
- Lauren Landers, Searcy School District
- Chip Martin, Fayetteville School District
- Jennifer McFarland, Midland School District
- Mackenzie Oliver, Lisa Academy
- McKenzie Outlaw, Drew Central School District
- James Perry, Greenwood School District
- Jessica Roush, Maynard School District
- Kiera Scott, Exalt Academy Of Southwest Little Rock
- Jennifer Stoesz, Lakeside School District
- Becky Turnbough, Salem School District
- Taylor Webb, Van Buren School District
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