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Mashburn Center for Learning

Graphic featuring a large, faded purple and grey bear head logo in the background. In the foreground, black text reads "Welcome to" in a large cursive script, followed by "MASHBURN CENTER FOR LEARNING" in a bold, sans-serif font. The University of Central Arkansas College of Education logo is positioned in the bottom-left corner.

The University of Central Arkansas Mashburn Center for Learning (BT天堂MCL) creates partnerships with educators to provide resources and high-quality professional learning opportunities that encourage them to promote a sense of purpose, hope, academic achievement, and resilience for all learners, specifically those who struggle and experience barriers to learning.

Mashburn Center for Learning Director:
Mashburn Hall Room 127Dr. Renee Calhoon
University of Central ArkansasPhone: 501.852.0282
201 Donaghey Avenuekcalhoon@uca.edu
Conway, AR 72035

Congratulations to the 2026 – 2027 Co-teaching with the Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) Project Schools!听

Monticello School District
  • Monticello Intermediate School
  • Monticello Middle听School
  • Monticello High School
Greenwood School District
  • East Hills Middle School
Cabot School District
  • Cabot Junior High North
  • Cabot Junior High South
Siloam Springs School District
  • Siloam Springs Middle School South

SNAP and SLANT:听Cracking the Student Engagement Code

June 25th, 9:00 AM 鈥� 11:00 AM
Presented by: Dr. Renee Calhoon (BT天堂鈥� Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education) & Mallorey Jones (BT天堂鈥� Department of Teaching and Learning)
Zoom Registration Link:听

This session will provide instruction on two student engagement strategies designed to enable students to participate in class in appropriate and productive ways.

The above session is part of the CoE Summer PD Series. You can visit听/education/coe-pd/ to see more sessions.

Dr. Renee Calhoon, Director of the BT天堂Mashburn Center for Learning, and Mallorey Jones, BT天堂Clinical Instructor I and Xtreme Reading Professional Developer, presented at the Arkansas Association of Special Education Administrators Conference hosted at the Benton Convention Center. The presentation titled 鈥淕PS for Teaching and Learning: The Arkansas Adolescent Literacy Intervention鈥� focused on how the Strategic Instruction Model and co-teaching can work in synergy to support planning and leading learning for all students.

The BT天堂Mashburn Center for Learning was thrilled to welcome 36 ELSE students for an intensive professional learning opportunity focusing on the Fundamentals of Sentence Writing, a Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) strategy. This professional development focused on the essential grammar vocabulary and foundational skills required to help students master the art of the simple sentence.

 

A big thank you to our expert presenters for sharing this research- and evidence-based strategy from the Kansas Center for Research on Learning: Dr. Renee Calhoon, Dr. Patty Kohler-Evans, Mallorey Jones, and Gia Taylor.
By mastering these proven techniques now, UCA鈥檚 teacher candidates are adding another tool to their teacher toolbox that will help their future students build the strong writing foundations they need to succeed!

Educators Gather at BT天堂for Arkansas Strategic Instruction Model Update
Hosted by BT天堂Mashburn Center for Learning

Nearly 70 educators from across the state gathered at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) for the Arkansas Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) Update, hosted by the BT天堂Mashburn Center for Learning and the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning. Additionally, the BT天堂College of Education, the AR Department of Education, the Special Education Unit, and the Bailey Education Group provided financial support for this event. The event provided an opportunity for participants to deepen their understanding of the SIM with a strong focus on the Smarter Instructional Cycle, Unit Organizer Routine, and Concept Mastery Routine. In addition, the Arkansas SIM Professional Developers were able to renew their certification for facilitating SIM professional development for another two years.

Participants engaged in two days of interactive professional learning designed to strengthen instructional practices and support student success. Educators explored key tools and components of the SIM, aimed at promoting more purposeful planning, clearer content organization, and deeper student understanding.

Participants expressed interest in continued learning and coaching, highlighting the value and relevance of the instructional methods introduced. The BT天堂Mashburn Center for Learning will be offering follow-up opportunities and additional support in the coming months to extend the impact of this professional development.

The Arkansas SIM Update reflects the BT天堂Mashburn Center for听Learning’s mission of creating partnerships with educators to provide resources and high-quality professional learning opportunities that encourage them to promote a sense of purpose, hope, academic achievement, and resilience for all learners, specifically those who struggle and experience barriers to learning.

 

A collage of five photos from an educational professional development event. Top left: A group of nine smiling women standing together in a classroom. Top right: Participants sitting at round tables engaging in a group discussion with laptops and notebooks. Center left: A wide shot of a large conference room filled with attendees seated at tables. Bottom left: A presenter standing at the front of the room next to a projection screen displaying an award slide. Bottom right: Three women posing together as the woman in the center holds a plaque; a screen behind them reads, "Congratulations, Ms. Thomas!!!"

Collaborative Teaching with SIM PD – Searcy School District

A collage of four photos showing educators participating in a collaborative workshop. In each image, small groups of people are gathered around posters taped to doors and walls in a modern building. The posters are covered in colorful sticky notes, and participants are seen discussing, pointing, and reading the responses. The top two photos focus on a poster titled "What Surprises (unexpected positives or learning moments) have you and your partner experienced?" while the bottom photos show different groups engaging in similar breakout activities in a hallway and a classroom setting.

A Word from the Director:

Dr. J.D. Mashburn:A black and white studio portrait of an older man with a kind expression. He is wearing a suit jacket, a collared dress shirt, and a dark tie. He has a high forehead with thinning hair and is looking directly at the camera against a dark, out-of-focus background.

Dr. and Mrs. J. D. Mashburn had never heard of learning disabilities until two of their four children children struggled with reading from an early age. According to Dr. Mashburn, the children鈥檚 struggles with reading nearly devastated their lives as teachers mistook their disabilities for a lack of trying.听Dr. and Mrs. Mashburn decided to establish the Christine Greenhaw Mashburn Institute named in honor of Dr. Mashburn鈥檚 mother. The institute was designed to bring authorities on learning disabilities to BT天堂to educate teachers about students with special needs. The Mashburn Center for Learning partnered with Dr. Don Deshler, a nationally recognized authority on learning disabilities from the University of Kansas.

In 1991, the University of Central Arkansas used the cash value of a $1 million life insurance policy the Mashburns purchased to host the Mashburn Center for Learning for the purpose of providing classroom teachers and administrators with research-based instructional strategies for use with students at-risk to fail or fall behind.

 

BT天堂Mashburn Center for Learning Professional Learning Opportunities:

The word "Co-Teaching" in bold white, sans-serif font centered on a solid purple background.听 听 听The word "Collaborative Teaching" in bold white, sans-serif font centered on a solid purple background.听 听 听The word "Mentoring for Teachers and Administrators" in bold white, sans-serif font centered on a solid purple background.

The word "Social & Emotional Learning and Classroom Management" in bold white, sans-serif font centered on a solid purple background.听 听 听

BT天堂Mashburn Center for Learning Professional Partnerships:

  • Advisory Board Members
  • 听
  • Arkansas Educational Cooperatives
  • Arkansas School Districts and Schools听
  • Bailey Education Group
  • Siloam Springs School District
  • 听

 

听 听 听The word "Testimonials" in bold white, sans-serif font centered on a solid purple background.

A testimonial graphic with a purple rounded background and a large grey quotation mark icon at the top. The text inside a white box reads: "The support I received from my BT天堂mentors were my lifeline throughout my student teaching experience. They went above and beyond to help me excel in the classroom by providing resources and their time. They also were there as emotional support throughout the whole process. I have them to thank for making me the teacher I am today. - Lindsey Davis, BT天堂Graduate"听 听 听A testimonial graphic with a purple rounded background and a large grey quotation mark icon at the top. The text inside a white box reads: "Dr. Calhoon and Dr. Kohler鈥檚 professional development on co-teaching was exceptionally valuable. Our teachers were enthusiastic about the practical suggestions, modeling, and resources provided. The workshop left them feeling inspired and equipped to implement co-teaching strategies in their classrooms as early as the following day. We are excited about their follow-up coaching and support for our teams. Our staff stated it was one of the best days they had attended and asked if we could send more teachers through this training. - Natalie Gosdin, Special Education Supervisor, Searcy Public Schools"听 听 听A testimonial graphic with a purple rounded background and a large grey quotation mark icon at the top. The text inside a white box reads: "Through BT天堂MCL and SIM, Dr. Renee Calhoon and Dr. Patty Kohler-Evans truly embody Dr. Mark Cooper鈥檚 statement years ago, that went something like this, 鈥楧on鈥檛 wait for someone to come and make a difference. Be the difference maker.鈥� The training I have experienced with them has positively changed not only my life and my work, but the lives of many teachers and the children they touch each year. SIM gives Teachers methods to think through and organize their work, so that high-quality instructional strategies become high-quality, lifelong learning strategies for EVERYONE. THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE! - Dee Davis, SIM Professional Developer"听 听 听Alt Text: A testimonial graphic with a purple rounded background and a large grey quotation mark icon at the top. The text inside a white box reads: "I have been in education for 8 years and have received consistent support and mentorship from the Mashburn Center for Learning at UCA. As a novice teacher, I was able to participate in learning opportunities that allowed me to increase student engagement, participation, and growth in my classroom. The leaders from Mashburn Center for Learning have always been eager to share best practices with me, which helped me build a true culture for student-centered learning in my classroom. Now that I am in administration, I can still utilize the support given by the Mashburn Center for Learning. In fact, their advice has been critical in my support of novice teachers, teacher coaching opportunities, and my overall leadership style. The Mashburn Center for Learning is a true asset to educators in Arkansas. - Mallorey Jones, MSE, Assistant Principal, Cabot Junior High North, 7-12 English Curriculum Coordinator"