Siloam Springs School District

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week 🍎✨ Teachers hold a special place in all of our hearts. Most of us can think back and remember that one educator who made a lasting impact on our lives—the one who encouraged us, believed in us, challenged us, or simply made us feel seen.

This week is a wonderful opportunity to remind our teachers just how much they are valued and appreciated for all they pour into our students every day.

Looking for ways to say “thank you”? Here are a few meaningful ideas your child can do:
❤️ Write a kind email
✏️ Go old school with a handwritten note or letter
🎨 Make a drawing or card
📝 Write a poem
📚 Create a homemade book by writing and illustrating a few pages about an adventure or a favorite memory shared with their teacher

No matter your child’s age, something heartfelt and from the heart is always meaningful to our educators. A simple act of kindness can go a long way in making a teacher feel appreciated. Join us this week in celebrating and thanking the incredible teachers who make a difference in the lives of our children every single day! 🍎 #TeacherAppreciationWeek

Today is National Lunch Hero Day, and we’re celebrating the incredible members of our Child Nutrition team! 🍴🦸 Our cafeteria crews are some of the kindest, hardest-working people around. They show up every day with one important mission: making sure our students are fed, cared for, and ready to learn.

If you’ve ever stepped into one of our kitchens while the team is prepping for the day, you know it’s a whole experience—groovy music playing (every kitchen has its own vibe 🎶), plenty of laughter, and a team full of people who genuinely love what they do.

These wonderful men and women do so much more than serve meals—they help create a welcoming part of each student’s day. Please take a moment today to show our Child Nutrition teams some love and appreciation! 👏
#NationalLunchHeroDay

Athlete of the Week - Mesa Broquard 🏅 HAWGS Illustrated highlights top athletes across Arkansas, with a focus on standout performances from Arkansas Razorbacks and Northwest Arkansas high school athletes. Each week, this recognition spotlights individuals who are making an impact—and Mesa’s recent performance has earned that honor. Congratulations, Mesa, on this well-deserved recognition! #Limitless #PantherPride

It’s National Administrative Professionals Day, and we’re proud to recognize the more than 35 individuals across our district who help make everything possible. 👏

Our administrative professionals are often the first face you see and the steady presence that keeps each campus/department organized, informed, and running efficiently. Their work may happen behind the scenes, but its impact is felt in every classroom, office, and interaction throughout the day.

Our district is stronger because of you! #Limitless

We are proud to announce the hiring of our new Director of Communications! Please join us in welcoming Aaron Russell to the Siloam Springs School District community.

Aaron brings extensive experience in school and crisis communications, along with a strong commitment to community storytelling. He previously served as the Communications Officer for Wynne Public Schools, where he built and led the district’s communications program during one of the most challenging periods in its history. In the aftermath of a devastating tornado in March 2023, he played a key role in managing crisis communications, strengthening community engagement, and leading recovery messaging efforts. He worked closely with local, state, and national media to maintain transparency, build trust, and keep stakeholders informed throughout the rebuilding process. His work during the disaster earned praise from the governor’s office and NBC’s TODAY Show.

Aaron also led strategic communication initiatives, managed media relations, and developed content that highlighted student achievement, staff excellence, and community spirit. He is active in professional organizations, including the National School Public Relations Association and the Arkansas School Public Relations Association, where he has presented on crisis communication and the development of effective school communications programs.

Aaron holds a Master’s degree in History and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. He looks forward to sharing the stories of the Siloam Springs School District and supporting its continued growth, achievement, and service to the community. 🐾

It's time to 🌸Spring🌸 into wellness! Are you looking for a way to kick off your wellness? Sign up for a local community activity! The Dogwood Run is a 5K-10K Fun Run. Student rate is $15. There are limited scholarships available for students. Contact parks@siloamsprings.com for more information.

Panther Health and Wellness Clinic is also excited to welcome Sara Johnson, APRN, to our school-based medical team, and we are glad to welcome her to the Panther Nation.

For an appointment, please call 479-524-8145 or schedule online at communityclinic.net. Available for all primary care needs for both insured and uninsured patients.

🚨 We’re Hiring at the SSSD! 🚨 At Siloam Springs Schools, we are committed to changing lives through educational excellence—and we’re looking for passionate individuals who want to make a real difference.

We’re proud to share that 4 out of 6 of our buildings were recently raised to “B” ratings, a reflection of our focus on what matters most: student growth, strong teaching, and a brighter future for every child. 📈

If you’re looking to join a district that is moving forward, improving, and investing in students and staff alike, this is your opportunity.

✨ Current Open Positions:
• Girls Head Soccer Coach
• High School Agriculture Teacher
• High School Administrative Assistant
• District Instructional Coach
• 6–8 Grade Science Teacher
• High School Health Care & Human Services Instructor
• Assistant Band Director / Director of Percussion
• Pre-K Professional
• Pre-K Teacher
• Elementary Teachers (K–5) – 4 openings
• High School Special Education Teacher
• Speech Language Pathologist
• High School School Nurse
• Dyslexia/Reading Interventionist
• High School Child Nutrition Manager
• Registrar – Allen Elementary
• High School English Language Arts Teacher
• High School Social Studies Teacher
• Bus Drivers
• Substitute Bus Drivers
• Special Needs Bus Aide Substitute
• Crossing Guard Substitute
• Child Nutrition Worker (6-hour shift)
• Child Nutrition Staff Substitute
• Nurse Substitute
• Permanent Guest Teacher

Join a team that is dedicated, supportive, and driven to help every student succeed. To apply, visit our website at siloamschools.com and click "Join Our Team" at the top of the page. #Limitless

Tomorrow is our next Guest Teacher Orientation—also known as substitute teacher training! 🥳 This is a great opportunity for anyone looking for a flexible work schedule, whether you're between jobs, exploring a transition into education, a retiree, a stay-at-home parent, or simply someone who enjoys working with students and helping them succeed. It’s also a perfect way to “test drive” a career in education.

The orientation will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, April 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at our Administration Building. To sign up, please email Holly Marion at marionh@gosiloam or call 479-524-3191 ext. 10123.

As we share this month’s Inside the Boardroom recap, we want to highlight an important resolution approved at Thursday’s board meeting. Over the past several months, we’ve had ongoing conversations about our growing meal debt and how school meal funding works. We understand that families across our community are facing financial challenges, regardless of income level. Our focus has been on identifying a thoughtful, long-term solution—one that addresses our current needs while continuing to support the well-being of our students and families.

With that in mind, we are pleased to share that the Board of Education has approved a resolution to apply for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Program. This program would allow us to provide lunch to all students at no cost, regardless of income. We are planning for implementation beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.

To read more about Superintendent Patrick’s remarks and other positive updates across our district, please visit the link below: https://app.smore.com/n/8kdmw

At tonight’s board meeting, we had the privilege of approving the hire of our new Assistant Principal for Allen Elementary for the 2026–2027 school year. Please join us in welcoming Stephanie Alkire to the Siloam Springs School District community.

Stephanie brings more than a decade of experience in education. Most recently, she served in Fayetteville Public Schools as an Administrative Intern, Special Services Designee, and Site Coordinator for a 21st Century Community Learning Center extended learning program.

She holds a Master’s degree in Instruction and Curriculum, a Specialist degree in Principalship, and an ESOL Endorsement. Stephanie is passionate about fostering a strong sense of belonging for both students and staff, while building meaningful partnerships with families to support every child’s success.

She is excited to join the Allen Elementary community and looks forward to helping every student feel supported, valued, and empowered to thrive. #Limitless

As we continue our transition to neighborhood schools, planning for the upcoming school year is already underway. 🎒 We remain committed to keeping school supply lists short for families—a practice we began last year and are proud to continue. For the 2026–2027 school year, Kindergarten through 8th grade students will once again only need 3–4 items. We will share the official list as soon as it is finalized. Stay tuned!

Please note: High school students will receive a list of required supplies from their teachers in the first week of school. In the meantime, we recommend high school students bring basic items such as a backpack, a notebook with paper, and writing utensils.

It’s National Assistant Principals Week, and we want to take a moment to recognize the incredible impact our assistant principals make every single day. 👏 Their unwavering support of their principals helps keep our schools running smoothly, but even more importantly, they are true champions for our students. From building relationships and supporting staff to guiding students and celebrating their successes, they play a vital role in creating a positive and thriving school environment.

Their dedication, leadership, and heart do not go unnoticed. We are beyond grateful for all they do to support our schools and our community. ❤️ Join us in thanking our assistant principals for the difference they make each and every day! #Limitless

Happy School Librarian Day to all SSSD Media Specialists. We appreciate ALL that you do! 🥳 They spend long hours keeping the library organized, helping our children find the resources they need to keep learning, and are dedicated to creating an environment where they can learn every day of the year. Their work is an impressive accomplishment.

Media Specialists provide guidance and expose our youth not only to texts, print media, and literature but also to digital resources and the technology to connect them to libraries around the world. A Media Specialist’s ability to manage scores of media and a library full of students with numerous projects and schedules astounds us. #Limitless

REMINDER ❗ The School Board meeting will be NEXT Thursday, April 9th, at 5:30 pm inside the admin building board room (3050 Cheri Whitlock Dr).

🟢Click here to watch live: https://www.youtube.com/@siloamspringspublicschools8802/streams

Today we celebrate National Paraprofessional Day! 🎉 Paraprofessionals are the heart of our schools—providing essential support to both students and teachers every single day. A paraprofessional is an individual who works alongside teachers to help students succeed, whether that’s offering one-on-one assistance, supporting small groups, helping manage the classroom, or meeting the unique needs of every learner.

To our incredible paraprofessionals (we have over 65 of them): thank you for your patience, your dedication, and the difference you make in the lives of our students. We appreciate you today and every day! #Limitless

📢 The April edition of Supt’s Scoop is now live! Click here to see what Superintendent Patrick has to say: https://app.smore.com/n/xhk5w

Check it out and stay connected with what’s happening across our district! #Limitless

The Siloam Springs School District is launching our “Erase the Debt” Campaign to help families resolve outstanding student meal balances (per the School Board of Education's directive). Districtwide, unpaid meal balances are approaching $500,000. These unpaid balances must ultimately be covered by the district, which limits resources that could otherwise support student programs and services.

Families with negative balances will receive reminders, payment links, and information about payment plans over the next several weeks via texts, emails, and letters home, so we can work together to clear accounts by May 1st.

Accounts may be referred to a third-party collection agency beginning May 1st only if the balance exceeds $100, is 90+ days past due, and multiple contact attempts have been made. Most importantly, NO student will ever be denied a meal. Even if they have significant meal debt.

If you need help with payments or applying for free or reduced meals, please contact our Child Nutrition Department ⬇️

Director, Joanna Trimble at 479-524-3191 ext. 10134 or trimblej@gosiloam.com.
Assistant Director, Louise Thomsen at 479-524-3191 ext. 10133 or thomsenl@gosiloam.com.

Don’t forget! The Chamber’s First Friday Coffee event is happening THIS Friday, April 3rd at 7:30 a.m., hosted by your very own SSSD 🐾

This is a great opportunity for local businesses to connect, build relationships, and engage with other hardworking members of our community. We also warmly welcome the public—whether you’ve never visited our Administration Building before or just want to stop by and say hello, we’d love to see you! Enjoy hot coffee, cinnamon rolls, and plenty of friendly smiles while you’re here.

Please take note of the designated parking for this Friday. We’ve recently laid new sod behind the building that we’re working to preserve, so we kindly ask that you park in the highlighted green areas. Thank you for helping us take care of our space!

The Siloam Springs School District is launching our “Erase the Debt” Campaign to help families resolve outstanding student meal balances (per the School Board of Education's directive). Districtwide, unpaid meal balances are approaching $500,000. These unpaid balances must ultimately be covered by the district, which limits resources that could otherwise support student programs and services.

Families with negative balances will receive reminders, payment links, and information about payment plans over the next several weeks via texts, emails, and letters home, so we can work together to clear accounts by May 1st.

Accounts may be referred to a third-party collection agency beginning May 1st only if the balance exceeds $100, is 90+ days past due, and multiple contact attempts have been made. Most importantly, NO student will ever be denied a meal. Even if they have significant meal debt.

If you need help with payments or applying for free or reduced meals, please contact our Child Nutrition Department ⬇️

Director, Joanna Trimble at 479-524-3191 ext. 10134 or trimblej@gosiloam.com.
Assistant Director, Louise Thomsen at 479-524-3191 ext. 10133 or thomsenl@gosiloam.com.