This weekend (August 2–3) is Tax-Free Weekend in Arkansas—a perfect time to purchase school supplies, clothing, and other back-to-school essentials without paying sales tax!
All of our grade-level school supply lists are posted below. 📝✨ We will see you soon, Blackhawks!
New teachers jumped into onboarding, and our leadership team deepened their CHAMPS strategies.
PD continues tomorrow—and next week, all staff return for prep week as we count down to welcoming students back! #StartStrong #PeaRidgeReady #PRSD
Peyton Wright, Lilly Dunn, Cruz Porter, Boston Powell, and Hailey Westin were nominated to be State Officers for SkillsUSA at the state conference this spring.
They attended SOLA (Student Officers Leadership Academy) in early June, where they spent four days learning leadership skills and meeting state leaders (politicians, shareholders) at Arkansas Tech.
Later in the month, the five traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, and participated in more classes on leadership as well as advocated for state and national changes to SkillUSA and CTSO programs in general. They also got to participate in TECHSPO, which is where all the big Skill and Trade companies come together and showcase the future of the industry.
Way to represent the Ridge, Skills USA! 🌟
Can't wait to meet our youngest Blackhawks!
Each summer Arkansas Governor’s School takes time to honor the remarkable educators who have helped shape and inspire the students.
It is a cherished tradition that celebrates the lasting impact teachers have on their students’ lives. Teachers receiving this award are nominated by students who credit the recipient as a meaningful influence in their academic and personal journey.
Way to go, Mrs. Elmore!
#BeTheOne
Our primary, intermediate, and middle school counselors would love for you and your children to join us this Thursday at the Pea Ridge City Park! Come cool down with popsicles and get the chance to meet and interact with your school counselors! See you there!
We're so happy to have you in the Ridge!
#GOHAWKS
We're excited to welcome the new team members of Pea Ridge Junior High!
Top Row (left to right) :
Michael Schelkopf- Math Teacher
Kristen Johnson-Science Teacher
Sarah Reed- Asst. Band Director
Drake Snyder- Coach/Health Teacher
Bottom Row (left to right):
Kristin Below- Art Teacher
Samantha Hines- English Teacher
Claire DeYoung- Math Teacher
Kassidy Feemster- Business Teacher
Shawn Sparks- English/Dyslexia Teacher
We're so happy to have you in The Ridge! 🥳
We want to introduce you to our new team of Special Education Coordinators!
Haley Hatch joins Pea Ridge as Special Education Coordinator after 10 years in special education administration in the Hot Springs area, most recently in the Lake Hamilton School District. Prior to becoming an administrator, she was a speech-language pathologist for 14 years. Last year, Haley served as the president of the AR Association of Special Education Administrators and is active in statewide initiatives.
She is excited about leading the Blackhawk SpEd team and says, “One of my favorite parts of my job is working with families to meet the needs of their unique learners.” Haley’s daughter, Nola, will be a sophomore at PRHS and her son, Caleb, will be a sophomore at UofA.
We are so excited to have you Haley!
Our Assistant Special Education Coordinator is a familiar face...just serving in a new role! Mrs. Angie Day
Mrs. Day grew up in South Arkansas and began her educational career as an early childhood director for a preschool serving students with special needs. Over the course of 19 years in that role, she developed a deep understanding of the importance of early intervention and the transformative impact it can have on young learners. After relocating to NWA 13 years ago, she served as an instructional specialist for the NWAESC Early Childhood Program and also taught in Springdale. In 2020, she joined the Pea Ridge School District, where she has spent the past five years serving as both Assistant Special Education Coordinator and Assistant Principal at Pea Ridge Primary.
She is excited to return to the role of Assistant Special Education Coordinator, a position that aligns with her passion for building strong relationships with students, families, and educators. Her commitment lies in creating inclusive educational environments where all students are empowered to thrive, learn, and feel valued as essential members of their school community.
She is married to Robert Day, a teacher at Harber High School in Springdale. Together, they have three children—Coby McDonald, Carter McDonald, and Carly Day—a daughter-in-law, Keely, who serves as an assistant principal at Lakeside High School in Hot Springs, and a cherished grandson, Luke Allen.
Outside of school, the family enjoys walking, biking, and riding scooters along the Lake Fayetteville trail, attending football games to support the Hogs, Wildcats, Rams, and Blackhawks, and spending time with Carly in Florida.
More introductions for our other schools are still to come...stay tuned! 😊
We’re excited to welcome students and families back for the 2025-2026 school year with our annual Open House on Thursday, August 7th! 🏫✨
Each school in the district will be open to greet families, meet teachers, tour classrooms, and get ready for a successful year ahead. Check out the attached graphic for the time and location details for each campus.
We can’t wait to see you there!
#GOHAWKS #BackToSchool #OpenHouse #PeaRidgeSchools
Pea Ridge School District is proud to announce the addition of Kevin Downing as our new AD. With more than 30 years of experience in education and 17 years leading athletic programs, Kevin brings a proven track record of leadership, relationship-building, and student-focused service.
A highly respected figure in Arkansas athletics, Kevin was honored as the 1999 Arkansas High School Baseball Coach of the Year and named Arkansas Athletic Director of the Year in 2015–2016. His career includes leadership as Athletic Director at:
Pulaski County Special School District (5 years)
Siloam Springs (6 years)
Bentonville West (5 years)
Kevin believes in developing students not just as athletes, but as individuals. His approach emphasizes character, stability, and success both on and off the field/court. He’s committed to fostering strong relationships with coaches, students, and families throughout our district.
“I'm excited to join the Pea Ridge School District and look forward to working with all stakeholders.” – Kevin Downing
Kevin has been married to his wife, Annick, for 29 years, and they have two children: Madeleine (21) and Alex (19).
Please join us in welcoming Kevin to the Pea Ridge Blackhawk family!
We’re excited to announce that we’ve partnered with ESS to manage all of our substitute hiring for the upcoming school year. Whether you’re looking to make a difference in education, enjoy a flexible schedule, or gain classroom experience, we want you on our team!
Apply today and take the first step toward making an impact in our schools:
https://jobs.willsubplus.com/jobs?districtIds=2798
Arvest associates in Benton, Carroll, McDonald, and Barry counties raised over $50,000 for their 12 local food partners during this year's Million Meals Campaign.
Thank you, Arvest, for your ongoing commitment to supporting local communities and addressing food insecurity.
A few words from Ms. Goins! "I’m beyond excited to officially join the Pea Ridge Primary family! It’s truly an honor to support and lead such an amazing team of educators who are deeply committed to their students. Thank you for trusting me with this opportunity. I can’t wait to grow, learn, and celebrate all the incredible things we’ll do together."
We're excited to have you. Welcome to the Ridge!
