The Arkansas Teacher Leader Advisory Group (TLAG) collaborated with the Office of Educator Effectiveness and Licensure to design an educator career continuum to recognize the hard work and dedication of the state’s outstanding teachers. Often the teachers making the greatest impact on students view administrative positions as their only avenue for advancement within the profession. Through the Educator Career Continuum, DESE hopes to create viable options for career advancement within the classroom and to encourage districts to reward exceptional teachers for the impact they have on students.

Districts might consider the following to establish a system of advancement, recruitment, and retention for Lead and Master Professional Educators:  

• The addition of a quality point(s) when applying for employment in the district, making teachers with a Master or Lead Professional designation highly competitive applicants. 
• The requirement of a Lead or Master Professional designation for teachers who serve in various teacher-leader roles within the school or district.
• Stipends for mentoring aspiring teachers or early-career professionals.
• A revised salary schedule to reflect designations on Arkansas’ Career Continuum. 

To learn more about the Educator Career Continuum, watch the video.

Several pathways are available for educators wishing to earn the Master Professional Educator or Lead Professional Educator designation, so take the next steps toward advancing your career today.

Become an Approved Pathway		Lead Professional Educator		Master Professional Educator		Micro-credentials

To learn more about Master vs. Lead Professional Designations, watch the video.

For more information, please contact: