Join us at UACCB for a Free Education Freedom Accounts (EFA) Workshop! Thursday, August 28 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

This session is specially designed for homeschool families interested in learning how EFAs can help fund and enhance their child’s education.

Dr. Darrell Smith will lead the workshop, covering:

• EFA eligibility requirements
• The application process
• Allowable expenses
• How to select approved vendors
• Tips for navigating the EFA portal

Dr. Smith will also be available to answer questions and provide hands-on guidance.

Don’t miss this opportunity to discover how EFAs can support your homeschool journey!

Meet Our Speaker

Dr. Darrell Smith began serving the people of Arkansas as the Assistant Commissioner for School Choice and Parent Empowerment in April 2023. He oversees the Education Freedom Accounts, Charter Schools, Homeschool, and the Community and Family Engagement program in this role.

His 30+ year educational career began in Arkansas, where he served as a teacher, principal, and administrator at Little Rock Christian Academy helping one of the largest private schools in the country achieve National Blue Ribbon status. He has recently led schools in Texas and Oklahoma and three international schools to greater academic achievement and enrollment success. He has also served and led national accreditation teams, helping schools nationally and internationally achieve quality within a continuous improvement model.

Smith received his bachelor's degree in Finance/Economics from Baylor University, a master's in Counseling Psychology, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Liberty University.

Attention nature lovers, families, educators, homeschool groups, and anyone interested in wildlife conservation! Bats are a protected species, and local populations are declining due to White-nose Syndrome. This class is your chance to take action and help them survive.

In this session, Jacob Richards, Park Interpreter at Jacksonport State Park, will lead an engaging and hands-on community education program all about bats. You’ll discover fascinating facts about two of our area’s most prominent species — the Little Brown Bat and the Big Brown Bat. Learn about their unique adaptations, what they eat, how they benefit our environment, and ways to help protect them.

After the presentation, roll up your sleeves and help assemble bat boxes that will be installed in downtown Batesville. Building these shelters is not only fun, but also a meaningful way to support local bat populations. All materials will be provided, and participants will have the chance to take part in a giveaway for a completed bat box!

This class is offered in partnership with the Independence County Library and made possible by the generosity of The Home Depot.

Youth Participants

Children are welcome to join this fun and informative class, but they must be accompanied by an adult.

Meet Our Instructor

Jacob Richards is a Certified Interpretive Guide and Park Interpreter at Jacksonport State Park. He earned his Certificate of Interpretive Guiding from the National Association for Interpretation and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Williams Baptist University. Now in his second season of interpretation, Jacob is passionate about inspiring others with the park’s rich history, diverse wildlife, and natural beauty.

Register now >>

Discover the graceful and expressive language of sign language and learn to communicate with anyone, anywhere, just by using your hands! With this American Sign Language (ASL) course, you can unlock this rewarding ability and master communicating with Deaf people.

Throughout your online sign language training course, you will learn to fingerspell the alphabet, sign colors, numbers, objects, and family members. You will acquire a wide range of useful, everyday vocabulary that will enable you to engage in meaningful conversations with members of the Deaf community. Using video demonstrations, you will understand how to form correct signs and incorporate facial expressions to communicate beautifully in sign language.

Explore the history and usage of American Sign Language (ASL) and how to navigate the culture and social customs of the Deaf community. By the end of this sign language course, you will be confident and ready to participate in a conversation using the power of sign language.

Learn more about this online course >>

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Teaching students with disabilities is a rewarding challenge, and this course gives you the tools you will need to succeed. No matter what grade you teach—from preschool through high school—you will learn powerful strategies you can put to work immediately in your classroom. In addition, you will gain the knowledge you need to understand and cope with the most common disabilities you will encounter.

You will start by putting yourself in the shoes of students with special needs as you explore a wide variety of disabilities ranging from autism spectrum disorder to cerebral palsy. Simulations and real-life stories will give you a firsthand look at what it's like to be a learner with special needs, and you will see how common disabilities affect classroom behavior and learning.

Then comes the best part: solutions! In each lesson, you will find dozens of tips for fostering the reading, writing, and math skills of students with special needs. In addition, you will master techniques for helping these learners behave appropriately and make friends in your classroom. You will also get the inside story on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and transition plans, and you will learn the most effective ways to collaborate with parents and professionals.

By the end of this course, you will feel confident in your ability to help any student who comes through your door. You will also discover that while the challenges can be big when you're teaching students with disabilities, the victories are big as well.

Learn more about this online course >>

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In this teacher professional development course, you will learn the secrets of technology integration in the classroom, gaining the skills educators need to use tools such as wikis, podcasts, and blogs effectively. You will discover simple ways to integrate technology to enhance your subject material and meet your Common Core standards and other course goals.

You will learn how to design presentations for auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning styles, how to teach keyboarding and word processing, how to develop standards-based lesson plans, and more. Whether you're new to the integration process or already use technology in the classroom, learning about emerging educational technologies is vital to your students' success. By the time you finish this online teacher training course, you will know how to integrate technology across the curriculum.

Learn more about this online course >>

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Why do some teachers enjoy peaceful, orderly classrooms while other teachers face daily discipline battles? The answer is that many teachers have not been taught the secrets to solving discipline problems. This course reveals those secrets and presents a step-by-step approach to effective, positive classroom discipline. Teachers continually rate this course one of the most valuable they have ever taken.

Learn more about this online course >>

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In this course, you will discover practical ways to help children with ADHD control their behavior and succeed in school. You will be learning from the real experts: the children themselves. You will find out how Kristi controls her behavior and how Wanda handles boredom. You will see how Adam jump-starts his thought processes, how Harry satisfies his need to move without bothering his teacher, and how Darren aces his homework.

In addition, you will hear from parents and teachers about the amazing benefits of simple adaptations in space, structure, rules, and expectations. You will also explore some myths and facts about ADHD and see how this condition affects motivation, activity level, attention, and memory. By the time you're done, you will have the skills and knowledge needed to help students with ADHD achieve their full potential.

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Build. Code. Create.

Every month, the Tween Robotics Club brings tweens together to take on exciting new engineering and programming challenges using LEGO® Spike Essentials robotics kits. Work with friends to design robots, program their movements, and put them to the test in friendly competitions.

From obstacle courses and races to imaginative problem-solving missions, each session offers a fresh challenge that blends creativity, teamwork, and STEM skills. No prior experience is needed—just bring your curiosity and a willingness to try something new!

The class is led by Scott Phillips, Director of Industry and Community Partnerships at UACCB, who is passionate about introducing kids to STEM. He believes the skills learned—like problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking—are tools they can carry forward and apply throughout their lives.

• Call the Library at 870-793-8814 to register
• View upcoming class dates on the Library’s event calendar
• Classes are typically held on the 3rd Monday of each month from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm at the Library

This program is made possible through a collaboration between the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) and the Independence County Library, working together to spark curiosity, inspire learning, and make STEM fun for the next generation.