# Week 13: Learning from Success and Aiming Higher

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/bearcat-wrap-up-podcast-5611618/week-13-learning-from-success-and-aiming-higher
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/bearcat-wrap-up-podcast-5611618/week-13-learning-from-success-and-aiming-higher.md
Podcast: [Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/bearcat-wrap-up-podcast-5611618)
Published: 2025-11-07T21:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://bearcatwrap.substack.com/p/week-13-learning-from-success-and
Audio file: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/177982519/0fd14f4c379c91dfe04335cd9fafb4d1.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/bearcat-wrap-up-podcast-5611618/episodes/week-13-learning-from-success-and-aiming-higher
Duration seconds: 633

## Resource

Happy Friday! As we move deeper into the fall semester, I want to thank everyone for the steady, day-by-day effort that defines Mena Public Schools. Whether you are teaching, driving, feeding, cleaning, supporting, or leading, the work you do matters. It matters to the children who look forward to seeing you each day, to the families who trust us, and to the community that counts on us to help shape its future. This has been a week of reflection and recognition, and there is much to celebrate. Our district’s progress is evident in both the data and the daily examples of professionalism I see across our campuses. We have also received more state accountability results, and they tell a story of progress, perseverance, and opportunity for continued growth. District Report Card Results – A “B” for Mena This week, the Arkansas Department of Education released the 2024–2025 District Report Cards, and I am pleased to share that Mena Public Schools earned a “B” rating. Only thirty-six percent of districts statewide reached that level, which reflects the strong, sustained effort of our teachers, support staff, and leaders in every building. This system was created through Act 474 of 2025, legislation passed in the most recent General Assembly that now requires all public school districts and education service cooperatives to receive an A–F letter grade based on student achievement, growth, graduation and readiness, and equity. The change aligns with the LEARNS Act and provides a more complete picture of each district’s performance. Mena’s results reflect steady, measurable improvement. In Achievement, our students scored above the state average in all tested areas—35 percent in English Language Arts, 43 percent in Math, and 44 percent in Science. In Growth, which measures indiv…

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## Transcript

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