Mallory Dingler, a fourth grade teacher at Salem Elementary School, has been selected for the 2026–27 Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship, joining a selective cohort of 30 outstanding public school educators from across the state. The nine-month paid fellowship celebrates top-performing teachers while offering opportunities to grow as teacher leaders. Read more below.

The Arkansas Department of Education announced the second cohort of fellows on Sept. 10. Members of the new class were officially recognized by Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva during the September meeting of the Arkansas State Board of Education.

Throughout the 2026–27 school year, fellows will participate in exclusive professional learning opportunities and collaborate with peer educators across Arkansas. Program goals include strengthening classroom practice, elevating the teaching profession, and building awareness for the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund, a LEARNS initiative created to reward high-performing educators.

“Mrs. Dingler’s dedication to her students, commitment to excellence, and passion for teaching make a difference every day at Salem Elementary,” Bryant Superintendent Dr. Karen Walters said. “We are proud to see her excellence recognized at the state level and look forward to the ideas, experiences, and best practices she will bring back to her classroom and share with educators across our district.”

The Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship was launched during the 2025–26 school year with an inaugural class of 23 teachers. The program is designed to empower effective teachers to share best practices, enhance leadership capabilities, and act as ambassadors for the teaching profession.

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