We’re excited to share that ALL FOUR Alma School District campuses have been nominated for 2025 Best of River Valley!
Let’s show our Airedale pride and support our schools by casting your vote!
✅ Vote here: https://www.votebestofrivervalley.com/
📅 You can vote once a day — every vote counts!
Please join us in welcoming Garrison Jensen to the Alma School District! Garrison is joining the team at Alma Intermediate School as a Special Education Teacher. A proud 2018 graduate of Alma High School, Garrison holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Ouachita Baptist University and a Master’s Degree from Arkansas State University, both in education. As a lifelong learner, he is passionate about improving education and making a positive impact wherever he can. Now beginning his fourth year in education, Garrison shared, “I’m happy to be back home and excited to see what the future holds!” Welcome back, Mr. Jensen — we're glad to have you!
We’re excited to introduce Nicole Holt as a new Special Education Inclusion Teacher at Alma High School! A proud 2005 Alma graduate, Nicole is thrilled to return and serve the community that helped shape her journey. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas and recently completed her internship at Alma Middle School, gaining valuable hands-on experience in a supportive, inclusive environment. Nicole and her husband, Billy, have been married for 18 years and have four amazing kids — Ashlyn 18, Faylyn 15, Eleanor 8, and Wyatt 4 — with three currently attending Alma Schools. Outside of work, she enjoys family time and staying active in the community. She’s eager to build strong relationships with students, families, and staff and looks forward to contributing to AHS’s culture of growth, connection, and success. Help us give Nicole a warm Airedale welcome!
Logan English, an incoming senior at Alma High School, was recently elected to a county office during the 84th annual session of Arkansas Boys State. English was chosen by his peers during county elections held Monday, May 26. As part of the program, participants form a mock government that includes eight simulated counties, each with its own county judge, sheriff, and justices of the peace. Well done, Logan! Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, and thank you for proudly representing Alma at the state level. Read the full story here: https://arboysstate.meritpages.com/stories/English-of-Mountainburg-elected-to-county-office-at-Arkansas-Boys-State-2025/159901371?
We’re excited to welcome Ms. Ashlen Hill to Alma Middle School as our new Language Arts teacher! A proud Van Buren native, Ms. Hill graduated from Van Buren High School before earning her degree from Arkansas State University. For the past three years, she taught at Greenland Middle School, and now she’s thrilled to bring her passion for reading and writing to Alma. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Hill enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and hanging out with her dog, Margot. She’s looking forward to a fantastic school year and can’t wait to get started with her students. Welcome to Alma, Ms. Hill!
Alma School District Jr. Trap Team Update: On May 9th, four of our Jr. Trap teams competed at Regionals. Alma Jr. Trap Team 1 placed 3rd and earned a spot at the State Competition, which took place last Friday. Last week, the team received their medals and trophy for their strong performance at Regionals. Great job, team!
Welcome Mr. Ben Holland to Alma School District! We’re excited to welcome Ben Holland to Alma High School! A graduate of Arkansas Tech University, Mr. Holland holds a degree in Agricultural Education and brings classroom experience from Newport High School, where he taught Animal Science, Plant Science, and Ag Mechanics. Raised on a dairy and cow-calf farm in Siloam Springs and with six years in the poultry industry, Mr. Holland has a strong passion for agriculture. This year, he’s already been involved in the Alma High School Ag program alongside his wife, Kisia Holland, and looks forward to providing students with hands-on learning experiences. Welcome to Alma, Mr. Holland!
Matthew Stout Shines at State Special Olympics! Fresh off his junior year at Alma High School, Matthew Stout brought home two medals from the State Special Olympics at Harding University in Searcy! Bronze – Javelin Throw. Gold – 100 Meter Dash. Way to go, Matthew! Your hard work and determination are an inspiration to us all!
Bookmobile Update! It’s the first day on the road, but we’ve hit a small bump! On the way to the intermediate school, we had a mechanical issue — five hoses in the undercarriage were damaged and the engine won’t run. We’re switching to a different bus for the day! While service will be limited, we will still be delivering meals and have a small selection of children’s books available. Thanks for your patience — and happy Monday! Check out the official schedule below!
We’re excited to welcome Chelsea Burdick back to Alma High School! A proud 2005 AHS graduate, Chelsea brings over 12 years of teaching experience, dual certifications in History and ELA, and a master’s in History from Arkansas Tech. After teaching at AHS for over a decade and taking a year off to welcome a new baby, she’s thrilled to return with fresh energy and a deep love for the Alma community. Chelsea and her husband, Daniel, have five children in the district, making her return extra special. Welcome back, Mrs. Burdick!
We are thrilled to announce that Mrs. Ashton Ogilvie is joining our Kindergarten team at Alma Primary School! Ashton is a passionate and energetic educator entering her second year of teaching. What makes this extra special? She completed her internship right here at APS — and now she’s back with the Airedale family! Here’s a little about her in her own words: "My name is Ashton Ogilvie, and I am a second-year kindergarten teacher. I completed my internship at APS, and I’m so excited to be coming back! My husband and I got married last June, and we love spending time outside, being with our families, and watching the Razorbacks!" Please join us in giving Mrs. Ogilvie a big Airedale welcome!
The Alma School District is proud to announce the hiring of Cody Vaught as the new Head Coach of the Alma High School Boys Basketball Team. Coach Vaught brings a wealth of coaching experience, a tireless work ethic, and a deep commitment to the growth and development of student-athletes. His strong leadership, clear vision, and pursuit of excellence make him a valuable addition to our athletic program. Coach Vaught and his family — wife Kimberly, and children Luke (4), Landry (2), and Elliot (9 months) — are excited to join the Alma community. We’re thrilled to welcome them to the Airedale family! We are confident that Coach Vaught will continue the proud tradition of Airedale Basketball while inspiring our student-athletes to succeed both on and off the court. Please join us in giving Coach Vaught and his family a warm welcome to Alma. We look forward to an exciting new chapter for Airedale Basketball under his direction!
We made it, Alma! The school year is officially over, and summer break has begun. A huge thank you to all of our amazing students, staff, and families for making this year one to remember. From classrooms to ballfields, concerts to competitions — you’ve all made us proud. Now it’s time to trade homework for sunshine, early mornings for late nights, and cafeteria lunches for cookouts and popsicles. Whatever your summer plans may be — vacations, staycations, or just soaking up the sun — we hope it's full of fun, laughter, and relaxation. Enjoy every minute, stay safe, and we can’t wait to see you back in the fall. Happy Summer from Alma School District!
Get ready, Alma — the Bookmobile is hitting the road again, and it's bringing the magic of reading right to your neighborhood! Starting June 2, our big green bus full of books will be making its way across the district with shelves stacked high with awesome reads for all ages. From laugh-out-loud chapter books to page-turning mysteries, epic adventures, and colorful picture books — there’s something for every reader on board. Let’s make this a summer full of stories.
Heads up, parents and students! As we wrap up the school year, the cafeteria will be serving a Manager's Choice menu during the final week. Menus may change, so stay updated by checking here: https://www.myschoolmenus.com/organizations/820.
Congratulations to the newly inducted Alma High School Student Council members! These students were recognized for their leadership, service, and dedication to making a positive impact on our school. We look forward to the role they’ll play in shaping student life and promoting school spirit next year. A special thank you to our graduating seniors for their outstanding leadership and lasting contributions. Your legacy will carry on, and you’ll always be part of the Airedale family!
We are proud to announce the graduation of the Alma High School Class of 2025. Please join us as we recognize and celebrate the achievements, dedication, and perseverance of our graduating seniors. Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025. Time: 7:00 PM. Location: Charles B. Dyer Arena This milestone marks the culmination of years of hard work and the beginning of new opportunities. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to each graduate and wish them continued success in all future endeavors. For those unable to attend in person, a live stream of the ceremony will be available here: https://youtube.com/live/_csALnIOBX0?feature=share
Today, the Alma Primary School cafeteria got a little extra fun — and a lot more badges! Several members of the Alma Arkansas Police Department stopped by to help serve lunch, bringing big smiles and even bigger excitement. Students loved chatting with the officers and seeing them in a whole new role — lunch servers! We're so thankful to our local heroes for taking time to connect with our kids and make lunchtime unforgettable.
On Monday, we celebrated our amazing winter and spring athletes at the Athletic Awards Night! Teams honored included basketball, bowling, swim, baseball, softball, track, soccer, cheer, and dance. Coaches handed out awards and shared heartfelt messages recognizing the dedication, leadership, and sportsmanship of their student-athletes. The stands were filled with proud family and friends cheering on their athletes, and the night was full of smiles, applause, and school spirit. A special shoutout to our seniors—you’ve made a lasting impact, and we wish you all the best in what’s next! It was more than just a banquet — it was a celebration of hard work, teamwork, and unforgettable memories.
There was plenty to celebrate at this month’s school board meeting! Julianna Tufts and Kacie Ramsey were recognized for their Chamber Choir’s achievement of Best Overall in the 5A Division at the state level. Congratulations on this incredible achievement! Erin Mills, Mary Joslin, and Stephanie Hall, along with a couple of their students, were honored for their leadership and dedication to History Day at Alma High School. Their hard work played a key role in making the event a success and supporting the students’ impressive accomplishments. The board also recognized outstanding staff across the district: Classified Employee of the Year: Ashley Dean, Belinda Bowen, Lauren Wakefield, Janet Camden, and Basil Kenner. Teacher of the Year: Danny Hobson, Debby Barrett, Emily Engelke, and Amanda Shores. Child Nutrition Employee of the Year: Gidget Goodwin. We’re proud to celebrate the talent and dedication of our students and staff who continue to make Alma Schools a place of excellence!
