Category Archives: Education

Yurachek cracks door on Hogs/A-State game

Education

By Steve Brawner, © 2019 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

At the Little Rock Touchdown Club last month, University of Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek was asked about playing Arkansas State, and his answer was … not exactly what former Athletic Director Frank Broyles used to say.

Yurachek’s appearance came two days after the Razorbacks’ embarrassing home loss Saturday to lowly San Jose State, and of course that’s what people wanted to hear about. He said it was a “step backwards” for a program struggling to gain momentum, and he continues to support Coach Chad Morris.

At this point, what else can he say? He can’t fire the coach after 16 games, despite a 4-12 record. That would be another step backwards, and Morris would be owed $12.25 million under his contract’s buyout terms. He’d be owed $9.8 million if fired after next year and $7.35 million if fired the year after that.

So no matter how bad it gets, Morris isn’t going anywhere for a while, which is fine. He needs a chance to build his program. And besides, who would take his place?

During Monday’s Little Rock Touchdown Club appearance, media personality David Bazzel asked Yurachek about playing Arkansas State. Yurachek replied, “Obviously, a game versus Arkansas State in any sport will have some interest across this state, so whether it happens or not, I’m not going to make any guarantees one way or the other as I sit here today.” Continue reading Yurachek cracks door on Hogs/A-State game →

Why one ex-con is ‘proud of the man that I have become’

Education, Inspirational, U.S. Congress, Uncategorized

By Steve Brawner, © 2019 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

Less than a year ago, Terrance Knowlton was in a Wrightsville prison for dealing drugs. Now, he says, “I’m proud of the man that I have become today.”

How did he get from there to here? Partly thanks to Shorter College.

Knowlton, 30, made bad choices in life and ended up selling drugs out of his house. While he was in prison, he met Stormie Cubb, a Shorter College staff member who works with inmates. The North Little Rock-based school is one of 67 institutions nationwide participating in the Second Chance Pell program, which offers government grants to educate prisoners. It teaches classes to 500 inmates in eight locations across Arkansas.

Knowlton enrolled in classes and made good grades. When he was released from prison 11 months ago, he was determined to continue his education.

“First day I came home, I went looking for Miss Stormie,” he said. “She said, ‘Mr. Knowlton, we’re happy to see you. You ready to get started? You ready to be successful? We’ll give you all the tools that you need.’ And she did that. She gave me that opportunity.”

Knowlton made that comment during a meeting Sept. 6 with Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., and representatives of Shorter College, Arkansas Baptist College and Philander Smith College. Continue reading Why one ex-con is ‘proud of the man that I have become’ →

Key right person to lead schools, but has tiger by the tail

Education, State government
Johnny Key speaks after Gov. Asa Hutchinson announces him as his choice as education commissioner in 2015.

By Steve Brawner, © 2019 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

Johnny Key is the right person to serve as education secretary for Arkansas’ 263 school districts including charters, but with one of them, he has a tiger by the tail.

Key was appointed education commissioner by Gov. Asa Hutchinson in 2015, a move that met with some disgruntlement in the education community. That disgruntlement was caused by Key not having a background in education, other than owning a day care.

Instead, Key had been a Republican representative and then senator based in Mountain Home who had chaired the Senate Education Committee. He had a party label, but he sought consensus and got along well with others.

His political background meant he could build bridges between educators accustomed to working with Democrats, and the Republicans who now control the Legislature – and will control it for a long time. He understands education politics as well as anyone. What he may not know about education technicalities – he can hire educators for that. Continue reading Key right person to lead schools, but has tiger by the tail →

So, Hutchinson’s coding push is a big deal for Arkansas

Education, State government

By Steve Brawner

© 2019 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

June 11, 2019

At first glance, Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s initiative requiring high schools to teach a computer science course seemed more like a single than a home run. It seemed nice, but small.

But the results have been big for Arkansas.

When the initiative started in 2015, fewer than 1,100 high school students were taking a computer science course, and fewer than 20 teachers were trained to teach it. This past school year, more than 8,000 students took a course – more than 2,400 of them females – and the state now has more than 370 trained teachers.

On June 10, education leaders from 30 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada met at the Governor’s Mansion for the National Computer Science Summit for State Leaders. Participants discussed increasing computer science education opportunities, and meanwhile sang Arkansas’ and Hutchinson’s praises. Continue reading So, Hutchinson’s coding push is a big deal for Arkansas →