Lead Professional Educator Designation

Overview

Because the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) recognizes the impact that teacher leadership has on school reform, the Lead Professional Educator designation was created to provide exceptional teachers with a way to lead from within the classroom.

Districts are encouraged to utilize teachers with the Lead Professional Educator designation to fulfill various leadership roles, tailored to the school’s culture and climate. DESE has approved several competency-based pathways that provide job-embedded professional learning to obtain the designation.

When the Designation Is Required

The Lead Professional Educator designation is a licensure requirement for teachers aspiring to be an experienced mentor teacher to novice teachers in the following three groups:

Group 1

Teachers on Aspiring Teacher Permits

Group 2

Arkansas Registered Apprentices

Group 3

Merit pay eligibility for teachers completing a year-long residency through an approved educator preparation program

How to Earn the Designation

To receive the Lead Professional Educator designation, a teacher must meet all four requirements below and attach supporting documentation to their application in the Arkansas Educator Licensure System (AELS).

Complete an Approved Pathway

Complete one approved Lead Professional Educator pathway. The approved pathways are listed in the “Approved Pathways” section below.

Document Three Years of Licensed Teaching Experience

Provide documentation of three years of licensed teaching experience. This experience may include time spent teaching with a provisional license; however, the teacher must hold a standard Arkansas teaching license to be eligible to add the designation. Use the Teaching Experience Verification form to document this experience.

Provide a Qualifying TESS Evaluation Rating

Provide evidence of an “effective” or “highly effective” rating on the Teacher Excellence and Support System (TESS) from the applicant’s most recent summative teacher evaluation, conducted within the previous four years.

Please note: The Office of Educator Effectiveness no longer has access to ratings in EdReflect. The only rating that can be retrieved is from the Educator Effectiveness System.

Submit Documentation Through AELS

Submit all required documentation through the Arkansas Educator Licensure System (AELS). DESE reviews the application and, once approved, adds the designation to the teacher’s license. Please allow 10-14 days once correct documentation is uploaded for the designation to be added to your license.

Step-by-Step: Applying for the Designation

Step 1 — Confirm You Are Eligible

You hold a standard Arkansas teaching license, have at least three years of licensed teaching experience, and have a qualifying TESS rating.

Step 2 — Choose and Complete a Pathway

Choose and complete one approved pathway from the “Approved Pathways” section below.

Step 3 — Gather Your Documentation

Gather proof of pathway completion, your Teaching Experience Verification, and your most recent qualifying TESS summative rating.

Step 4 — Submit Your Documentation

Submit all documentation through the Arkansas Educator Licensure System (AELS).

Step 5 — DESE Reviews Your Application

DESE reviews your application and adds the Lead Professional Educator designation to your license once approved.

Approved Pathways

Complete one of the approved pathways below. Each pathway shows what it involves, the typical cost to the teacher, and where to learn more.

The providers set costs and are subject to change; confirm current pricing directly with each provider.

Arkansas Leadership Academy — Teacher Leader Program

What It Involves

Requires 6 face-to-face days and submission of a portfolio of evidence.
ALA training completed before 2022 is not eligible for the Lead Professional Educator designation.
Completers must provide evidence of a DESE-recognized coaching model to be an Experienced Mentor Teacher.

Cost to Teacher: No cost.

Learn More: Teacher Leader Program (opens in a new window)

BloomBoard — Lead Professional Educator for Arkansas

What It Involves

A stack of 6 micro-credentials requiring submission of artifacts and evidence to determine proficiency.
Self-paced and can be started at any time.
No release time required.
Coaching model included.

Cost to Teacher: $1,939.

Learn More: Lead Professional Educator for Arkansas (opens in a new window)

National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) — Arkansas Lead Pathway

What It Involves

7 training days — classroom release required.
Both synchronous and asynchronous meeting times.
4–8 months to complete.
Participants are placed in cohorts through Educational Cooperatives.
DESE-recognized coaching model included in program.

Cost to Teacher: $2,200.

Learn More: Arkansas Lead Pathway (opens in a new window)

Contact: Regional Director, Amy Gayle — arleadeducator@niet.org

Modern Classroom Project

What It Involves

Complete the free online course, Modern Classroom Essentials, OR the Virtual Mentorship Program.
Become a Distinguished Modern Classroom Educator by completing all application requirements.
Become an Expert Mentor by completing the virtual Mentor Academy.
Completely self-paced; training can be completed in one school year.

Cost to Teacher: No cost, or purchase Premium Support (opens in a new window).

Learn More: Modern Classroom Project (opens in a new window)

Arkansas Universities — Instructional Facilitator Programs

What It Involves

These universities offer an instructional facilitator program of study leading to an instructional facilitator licensure endorsement and the Lead Professional Educator certificate.
Completers must provide evidence of a DESE-recognized coaching model to be an Experienced Mentor Teacher.

Cost to Teacher: University enrollment and credit fees vary.

Programs:

Kids First Education

What It Involves

6 online, asynchronous modules combined with job-embedded, face-to-face coaching support.
Completed over a 6-month timeline.

Cost to Teacher: $3,000.

Learn More: Kids First Education (opens in a new window)

Bailey Education Group

What It Involves

6 hours monthly of online and face-to-face sessions, delivered every other week in three-hour increments.
Performance-based activities to translate theoretical knowledge into practical classroom skills.
Coaching component embedded in program.
Approximately 4 months to complete.

Cost to Teacher: $1,500.

Learn More: Bailey Education Group (opens in a new window)

Public Impact — Multi-Classroom Leader (MCL) Pathway

What It Involves

For current or newly hired MCL educators in eligible Arkansas school districts; runs July to May.
Uses interconnected Opportunity Culture Summer Professional Learning sessions and School-Year Professional Learning courses.
A rigorous, practice-based experience aligned with the core team leadership responsibilities of an MCL educator and the Teacher Leader Model Standards (TLMS), with an emphasis on Domain 3: Promoting Professional Learning for Continuous Improvement.

Cost to Teacher: Starting at $2,845.

Learn More: Multi-Classroom Leader (MCL) Pathway (opens in a new window)

Public Impact — Instructional Leadership Lab+: Complete Instructional Cycle

What It Involves

A series for educators stepping into or strengthening teacher-leader roles.
Eight sessions focused on observation, coaching, planning, and data-driven instruction, followed by a capstone project demonstrating proficiency.
Sessions held virtually from 5:05–7:00 p.m. ET (4:05–6:00 p.m. CT); no release time required.
Participants receive ongoing expert feedback from Public Impact consultants.

Cost to Teacher: $2,000.

Learn More: Instructional Leadership Lab+: Complete Instructional Cycle (opens in a new window)

Contact

For more information, please contact:

Lori Bush

Program Manager

Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Office of Educator Effectiveness
Four Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201

Phone: 501-683-1417

Email: Lori.Bush@ade.arkansas.gov