The intent of the Governor’s School is to give gifted and talented students a challenging opportunity to experience a broad array of concepts and theories that emphasize twentieth and twenty-first century thought. The curriculum focuses on conceptual or abstract intelligence in contrast with practical or concrete intelligence. The school is designed to provoke curiosity and inquiry from students, not as an acceleration of high school nor an anticipation of college, but as a pure learning experience for Arkansas’ best and brightest rising juniors.
Classroom instruction is open, exploratory, and experiential, and seeks deep rather than procedural learning. Students do not receive grades. It is an honor for students to be chosen for the school, and those selected will have demonstrated significant talent, academic achievement, and a desire to learn.
Location and Duration:
Arkansas Governor’s School is a four-week program hosted on the Russellville campus of Arkansas Tech University.
Selection of Faculty:
All faculty positions are open each year. Educators in all Arkansas public and private schools as well as all Arkansas institutions of higher education and all state directors of gifted programs are invited to apply for faculty positions. Faculty selection is made by a committee of five to ten members from Department of Education Personnel, members of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Gifted/Talented Education, public school and higher education personnel, and the Governor’s School Program Director and/or area coordinators of the Governor’s School. The Director of the Department of Education approves the committee. Applications are previewed by the Governor’s School Program Director and the Administrator of Gifted Programs, ADE to determine interviews. The selection committee votes on the applicants that are then approved by the Assistant Director of School Improvement and Professional Development. Background checks are required of all faculty.
Faculty Positions Available:
Area I Faculty – We anticipate the need for 19-20 Area I Faculty in nine fields of special talent: Visual Art, Choral Music, Drama, Instrumental Music, English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Science, and the Specialty Area - Development Engineering. Area I Faculty will collaborate with the Area I Coordinator in developing curriculum in their field of special talent according to the general frameworks outlined in the ADE Rules and by the host site institution. Area I faculty will serve as principal instructors and course administrators in their field. Instruction will include daily 2.5 hour class periods, Monday through Friday, for the duration of the school. Class sizes typically vary from 20-35 students. Area I faculty also will be required to deliver at least one, one-hour, late afternoon lecture on a subject within their expertise. The lecture will be open to the general student population. Funds will be available to Area I Faculty for guest lecturers, consultants, and/or course materials as needed. Faculty will be expected, on occasion, to participate in other school activities.
Area II Faculty – We anticipate the need for 10-12 Area II Faculty. Area II focuses on the nature of knowledge and epistemology. Typically, Area II instructors have backgrounds in philosophy, history, the behavioral sciences, English, Communications, and Education; however, anyone with a background in the traditional arts and sciences is encouraged to apply. Area II Faculty will collaborate with the Area II Coordinator in developing and delivering Area II curriculum. Area II faculty will be responsible for two fifty minute classes daily, Monday through Friday, with approximately 20 students per class. Faculty also will be required to deliver at least one, one-hour, late afternoon lecture on a subject within their expertise. The lecture will be open to the general student population. Area II instructors are expected to attend impact speaker events each week. Faculty are also expected, on occasion, to participate in other school activities.
Area III Faculty – We anticipate the need for 10-12 Area III Faculty. Area III focuses on personal and social development. Typically, Area III instructors have backgrounds in the behavioral sciences, English, and Education; however, anyone with a background in the traditional arts and sciences is encouraged to apply. Area III Faculty will collaborate with the Area III Coordinator in developing and delivering Area III curriculum. Area III faculty will be responsible for two fifty minute classes daily, Monday through Friday, with approximately 20 students per class. Faculty also will be required to deliver at least one, one-hour, late afternoon lecture on a subject within their expertise. The lecture will be open to the general student population. Area III instructors are expected to attend impact movie viewings each week. Faculty are also expected, on occasion, to participate in other school activities.
Compensation:
Area I faculty will receive $4000. Area II and III faculty will receive $3500. Faculty also receive free, on-campus room and board. Family members and pets are not allowed to stay on-campus with faculty members.
