Leadership Fort Smith

10/30/2026

🏀❤️🖤 NINE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. MORE THAN 800 COACHING WINS. ONE INCREDIBLE LEGACY! 🖤❤️🏀

FORT SMITH, YOU HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL RIGHT HERE IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD!

During our recent Leadership Fort Smith K–12 Education session, we had the opportunity to spend time with Coach Rickey Smith and his amazing coaching team and learn about the extraordinary history of the Northside Lady Grizzlies basketball program. And WOW...were we impressed! 🤩

🏆 LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT HISTORY!

The Lady Grizzlies have captured an incredible NINE Arkansas State Basketball Championships, including their most recent title in 2025! Under Coach Smith's leadership, the program has become one of the most successful in Arkansas high school basketball history.

Coach Smith himself has surpassed 800 career victories, an extraordinary accomplishment that speaks to decades of dedication, leadership, and developing outstanding student-athletes.

👟 THE LADY GRIZZLIES HAVE A NIKE CONNECTION!

Northside's success earned the program a coveted partnership with Nike, placing them among an elite group of just 20 high school basketball programs nationwide selected to receive Nike apparel and shoes. That's an incredible distinction and a testament to the reputation this program has built over the years!

🏀 AND THEY PUT US TO WORK!

One of the highlights of our visit was getting to participate in a few basketball drills ourselves! Coach Smith and his coaching staff gave our Leadership Fort Smith class a chance to experience a little of what these talented athletes do on the court.

Let's just say we gained an even greater appreciation for the skill, coordination, discipline, and hard work it takes to be a Lady Grizzly! 😂🏀

What a fun and memorable way to experience this outstanding program firsthand!

🌟 AND THE FUTURE LOOKS JUST AS BRIGHT!

This year's roster features an exciting combination of seasoned players and talented incoming freshmen. We learned that some of these young athletes are already attracting attention from college basketball programs!

The talent, dedication, discipline, and opportunities these young ladies are experiencing are truly impressive. We have a feeling the 2026–2027 season is going to be one to watch! 🏀🔥

❤️🖤 HERE'S OUR CHALLENGE TO THE FORT SMITH COMMUNITY!

You don't have to be a Northside parent, have a student attending Northside, or even be a Northside graduate to come out and support these incredible young women!

Grab your family, bring some friends, fill the stands, and CHEER THEM ON! 📣

And while we didn't have the opportunity to meet the Northside boys' basketball team during our visit, we certainly don't want to leave them out! We encourage everyone to come out and support Coach Cody Wilmath and his guys this season, too! Both programs deserve a gym full of enthusiastic fans cheering them on!

These student-athletes are representing our community, working hard, chasing big dreams, and building on a legacy of excellence. They deserve our support!

A huge THANK YOU to Coach Rickey Smith, his incredible coaching staff, and the Lady Grizzlies for welcoming our Leadership Fort Smith class, sharing your story, and giving us such a fun, hands-on experience!

We walked away inspired, impressed, and ready for basketball season!

📸 Enjoy a few photos from our visit—including some of our class members trying their hand at basketball drills!

🏀 LET'S PACK THE GYM THIS SEASON, FORT SMITH! GO GRIZZLIES! ❤️🖤 Northside High School (Fort Smith, Arkansas)

10/30/2026

📚🍎 BIG THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN FORT SMITH EDUCATION! 🍎📚

Yesterday, October 29th, our Leadership Fort Smith class had an incredible opportunity to go behind the scenes and see firsthand the amazing things happening in education throughout our community!

Each year, Northside and Southside High Schools take turns hosting our Leadership Fort Smith K–12 Education session. With Southside serving as our host last year, it was Northside's turn to welcome us this year! We are grateful to both schools for their continued partnership and hospitality.

Our day was filled with inspiring people, innovative programs, and some pretty impressive students!

🎓 Fort Smith Public Schools – We had the opportunity to hear from Superintendent Marty Mahan, who shared the mission and vision of Fort Smith Public Schools, along with exciting developments such as the new Global Innovation Academy and other initiatives shaping the future of education in our community. It was inspiring to learn about the district's commitment to innovation, student success, and preparing the next generation for the opportunities ahead!

🐻 Northside High School – We heard from Ines Robles Hough, ELL Coordinator, about the important work being done to support students facing language barriers and ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed. We also heard from Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Thomas Johnson, who leads the Grizzly Battalion JROTC program serving both Northside and Southside High Schools.

We also had the pleasure of hearing from Coach Rickey Smith about Northside's incredible Lady Grizzlies basketball program. To say we were impressed would be an understatement! 🏀 These young ladies and their program deserve a spotlight of their own, so stay tuned for a special post featuring the Lady Grizzlies and some great photos from our visit! 👀📸

Principal Marshall Hurst also gave us a behind-the-scenes tour of Northside, showcasing the many opportunities available to students.

🩺 Darby Middle School – Our next stop introduced us to the exciting work happening at the Health Sciences Academy, where students are exploring career pathways, developing valuable skills, and preparing for bright futures!

🐾 Sunnymede Elementary School – Principal Dr. Joana King welcomed us and shared the wonderful things happening with the Bulldogs! One of the highlights was being greeted by the enthusiastic 4th and 5th grade members of the Principal's Advisory Council, who served as our tour guides. What an impressive group of young leaders!

🌮 Lunch & Student Leadership – A huge thank-you to the FSPS Child Nutrition staff for a fantastic lunch! Chicken bacon ranch soft tacos and chef salads were a hit!

Even better was the opportunity to share lunch and meaningful conversations with members of the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council, representing both Northside and Southside High Schools. These students offered thoughtful perspectives on the opportunities and challenges they face while balancing academics, athletics, and life outside the classroom. Their insight was truly impressive!

🏫 Choices in Education – We wrapped up our day learning more about the diverse educational opportunities available to families in Fort Smith. Thank you to representatives from Trinity Middle School, First Lutheran School, Haas Hall Academy, and the Community School of the Arts for sharing how their organizations are helping students learn, grow, and thrive!

❤️ Our biggest takeaway? The future of Fort Smith is in GREAT hands!

From dedicated educators and innovative programs to talented, motivated students, it is clear that extraordinary things are happening in our schools. We are grateful for the opportunity to see the passion, commitment, and hard work that go into preparing the next generation for success.

👏 A heartfelt THANK YOU to Fort Smith Public Schools, every principal, teacher, staff member, student, and community partner who helped make this day such a memorable experience!

And a special thank-you to our generous Leadership Fort Smith sponsors for making experiences like this possible:

⭐ Session Sponsor: ArcBest
⭐ Presenting Sponsor: RightFiber
⭐ Partner Sponsors: BHC Insurance & Mercy

Leadership Fort Smith is about discovering our community, building connections, and developing leaders—and yesterday was a wonderful reminder of why that matters!

10/28/2026

📚✏️ Class is in Session! 🎓

This Thursday, Leadership Fort Smith is heading back to school! 🚌

Our class will get a firsthand look at K-12 education in our community, exploring the innovative programs, dedicated educators, and exciting opportunities shaping the future of our students and workforce.

Education is the foundation of a thriving community, and we can't wait to see the great things happening in our local schools!

🏫 A special thank you to Fort Smith Public Schools for opening their doors, sharing their expertise, and helping make this incredible day of learning possible! We appreciate their partnership and commitment to educating and inspiring the next generation.

👏 A BIG thank you to our sponsors for supporting Leadership Fort Smith!

🌟 Session Sponsor: ArcBest
🌟 Presenting Sponsor: Rightfiber
🌟 Partner Sponsors: BHC Insurance & Mercy Hospital Fort Smith

Here's to learning, leading, and investing in the next generation! 🎓

10/16/2026

What an incredible day of learning, inspiration, and discovering the opportunities that are shaping the future of Fort Smith and the River Valley!

Yesterday, our Leadership Fort Smith class explored the important role that education and workforce development play in the growth and success of our region. Our visits included Peak Innovation Center, UAFS Center for Economic Development, the UAFS main campus, and the Adult Education Center.

Throughout the day, we gained a greater appreciation for how these organizations are working to strengthen our community by preparing students for successful careers, connecting education with the needs of local employers, supporting businesses, and creating opportunities for lifelong learning.

From the innovative, hands-on career and technical education programs at Peak Innovation Center to the higher education, professional development, and business resources offered through UAFS, we saw firsthand how investments in education are helping build a skilled workforce and drive economic growth. Our visit to the Adult Education Center also highlighted the importance of providing individuals with opportunities to develop new skills, further their education, and create brighter futures for themselves and their families.

🌟 A special highlight of our day was meeting the student ambassadors at Peak Innovation Center who helped lead our tours! These bright, motivated, and impressive young people represent the tremendous talent and potential of our next generation. We have no doubt they will make a meaningful impact on our community!

We extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to welcome our class, share their knowledge, and show us the incredible work taking place throughout our region. Your passion and commitment to developing talent, expanding opportunities, and strengthening our local economy are truly making a difference!

👏 A huge thank you to our generous sponsors for making this day possible!

⭐ Session Sponsor: Mars Petcare US

⭐ Presenting Sponsor: Rightfiber

⭐ Partner Sponsors: BHC Insurance and Mercy Hospital Fort Smith

⭐ Lunch Sponsor: Express Employment Professionals

We are grateful for your continued investment in Leadership Fort Smith and the development of our community's future leaders!

The future of Fort Smith and the River Valley is bright, and it's exciting to see so many organizations working together to make it even brighter!

09/11/2026

🏛️ Past. Present. Future. Our Fort Smith.

Yesterday, the Leadership Fort Smith Class spent the day exploring the history, growth, and future of our community!

We would like to thank Crafton Tull for being our "Session Sponsor" for this first official session!

From the Fort Smith National Historic Site and Fort Smith Museum of History to the revitalized Bakery District and the Clayton House, participants experienced firsthand the people and places that have helped shape Fort Smith.

The class also learned how to become more engaged in their community through a presentation on voting, running for office, and getting involved, explored the return of the Lightning Over the Fort Airshow, a presentation from Discover Fort Smith, toured the United States Marshals Museum, and took a closer look at the Future of Fort Smith and the city’s Comprehensive Plan.

It was a day filled with history, ideas, and inspiration—and a reminder that understanding our past and present helps us all play a role in shaping Fort Smith’s future.

A special thank you to all of the speakers, organizations, and community leaders who helped make this an unforgettable day for the Leadership Fort Smith Class! 👏

Thank you to Rightfiber for serving as our Leadership Fort Smith Class of 2027 Presenting Sponsor. Also, we want to thank Mercy and BHC Insurance for being our Partner Sponsors! Our programs are not possible without the help of our sponsors.

We truly appreciate those who took time out of there busy day to present!
Fort Smith National Historic Site
Fort Smith Museum of History
The Bakery District
Sebastian County Election Commission
Discover Fort Smith
Association of Fort Smith
United States Marshal Service Museum
Future Fort Smith
The Clayton House

09/03/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19D2hYL6Vv/

08/24/2026

Leadership Fort Smith’s 2026–2027 class is officially underway! 🎉

Our class kicked off the Leadership Fort Smith experience with an Opening Retreat at beautiful Mount Magazine State Park, where participants stepped away from their everyday routines to connect, reflect and begin building the foundation for a strong, close-knit class.

Facilitated by Phillip McClure with McClure Professional Services, the retreat focused on developing key leadership skills, self-reflection, understanding team dynamics and learning how to work effectively with one another. Through interactive activities and plenty of opportunities to get to know each other, participants began discovering what makes each of their classmates unique—and how those individual strengths can come together to create a stronger team. And, of course, there was plenty of FUN along the way!

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Ritter Communications, and our Partner Sponsors, BHC Insurance and Mercy, for investing in the next generation of community leaders. We are excited to see where this incredible class goes over the next 10 months!

Welcome, Leadership Fort Smith Class of 2027! We’re glad you’re here! 👏

08/21/2026

Opening Retreat is underway!
It has been a great day #1!

07/29/2026

The Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce joins our community in mourning the passing of Dr. Sandi Sanders, a remarkable educator, mentor, and community leader whose impact on Fort Smith will be felt for generations. Dr. Sanders was instrumental in creating Leadership Fort Smith and served as its director for 10 years, helping establish a program dedicated to developing informed, engaged leaders who understand our community and are prepared to make a difference. Her vision for Leadership Fort Smith continues today as each class builds relationships, learns about the opportunities and challenges facing our region, and develops the skills needed to lead and serve.

Dr. Sanders' legacy is reflected in the hundreds of Leadership Fort Smith graduates who continue to serve our community through business, education, healthcare, government, nonprofits, and countless other organizations. We are grateful for the foundation she created and honored to continue the work she began by investing in the next generation of community leaders. Our deepest condolences go to her husband, former Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders, her family, friends, and the many people whose lives she touched. Fort Smith is a stronger community because of Dr. Sandi Sanders, and her legacy of leadership will continue through the people she inspired to serve.

Dr. Sandi Sanders, whose community involvement including being interim chancellor of Westark College, director of the Leadership Fort Smith program, and first president of the U.S. Marshals Museum, has died....

07/22/2026

We are thrilled to introduce the newest members of the Leadership Fort Smith Class of 2027! Join us in celebrating these exceptional individuals.🎉

See someone you know? Tag & share to help congratulate them!

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Ritter Communications / RightFiber, and our Partner Sponsors, BHC Insurance and Mercy Hospital Fort Smith