Arkansas Communication & Theatre Arts Association

10/16/2026

If you missed NPR All Things Considered yesterday, here is the interview with filmmaker Jennifer Tiexiera and student competitor Mfaz Mohamed Ali on the new speech and debate documentary, “SPEAK” (2026).

The documentary follows students competing in Original Oratory at the NSDA National Tournament, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the ideas, preparation, and personal stories behind their speeches.

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Jennifer Tiexiera and Mfaz Mohamed Ali, filmmaker and original oratory competitor, about their documentary, Speak, and the importance of speech clubs in schools.

10/05/2026

This November, ACTAA invites teachers, students, schools, and communities to celebrate the importance of communication education.

We’ve created resources to help you get involved—including lesson plans, sample proclamations and resolutions, a letter to invite your local legislator to the Arkansas Student Congress (Nov. 1–3), posters, social media ideas, and more.

👉 Visit ACTAA.org/month to get started!

And we want to hear YOUR speech and debate story. How has communication education made a difference in your life?

Share your story with ACTAA and help us tell the story of communication education across Arkansas.

ACTAA invites teachers and students to participate in Arkansas Spee...

09/17/2026

ACTAA announces 2026-2027 Student Advisory Board for Speech & Debate in Arkansas.

Seven high school student leaders from across the state have been selected to serve on the Arkansas Speech & Debate Student Advisory Board for the 2026-2027 academic year. The seven juniors and seniors were chosen for their outstanding leadership skills, achievements in academics and activities, and commitment to positively impacting their communities. The group will attend several meetings throughout the 2026-2027 academic year, being provided the opportunity to work with adult leadership of the Arkansas Communication & Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA) to grow leadership skills, bring youth perspectives to speech & debate, and support inter-program camaraderie and community within the Arkansas speech & debate high school circuit.

“Promoting student involvement and leadership training within our learning community is one of the organization’s most important initiatives,” shared Zackery Tucker, ACTAA President. “As ACTAA continues to support educators to invest and train Arkansas’ next generation of leaders through speech & debate, I am excited to gain the insight and perspectives of the students we ultimately serve on how speech & debate can be more than just competition but a valued experience in every school in the state.”

2026-2027 Student Advisory Board:
- Julia Beerman, Russellville High School
- Juliana Bridges, Cabot High School
- Kaden Buckner, Little Rock Central High School
- Reagan Hall, Bentonville West High School
- Layla Abdel-Karim, Jonesboro High School
- Avery Kvello, Fayetteville High School
- Vivienne Miller, Rogers Heritage High School

The Arkansas Communication and Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA) is a non-profit professional organization serving educators. Its purpose is to promote communication, debate, forensics and theatre as an essential discipline, life skill, and art form. Additionally, ACTAA is the official sanctioning organization authorized by the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) and National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to govern interscholastic speech, debate and theatre competition in Arkansas.

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09/10/2026

The ACTAA has selected Dustin Jackson, theatre and communication educator at Russellville High School, as the 2026 ACTAA Teacher of the Year.

“Dustin’s career represents the very best of our profession,” said Zackery Tucker, President of ACTAA. “His impact extends far beyond her classroom—he is shaping future leaders, communicators, and artists who will carry these skills throughout their lives. We are proud to recognize him with this award.”

Read more at: https://actaa.org/News/13688026

09/09/2026

If these walls could talk.👂 ACTAA was founded in this very building as the Arkansas Little Theatre Association in 1919.

The first state-wide theatre 🎭 festival - what is today the Arkansas State Forensics & Debate Championship tournament - was hosted here from 1919 to around 1932. 📚

We are incredible proud to be part of the historic mission of promoting “a future where every student in Arkansas has the opportunity to be transformed through participation in [communication, debate, and theatre arts].”

The historic Junior League of Little Rock building has been sold to a business that could bring up to 60 jobs downtown. Link in comments ⬇️

09/07/2026

This Labor Day, Arkansas must face a hard truth: our future workforce needs stronger communication skills.

Year after year, employers across Arkansas say the same thing: high school graduates are entering the workforce without the communication skills they need to succeed. In the latest Workforce Assessment Report from the Arkansas Department of Commerce, 7 of the top 10 gaps in employability skills are tied directly to communication course standards. Even more telling, 8 of the 10 skills that students themselves report feeling unprepared for relate to communication.

This isn’t new. For more than two decades, statewide workforce assessments have identified communication — interpersonal skills, active listening, critical thinking, collaboration, verbal communication — as the top soft skills missing in new hires. And this concern cuts across every industry, from manufacturing to healthcare, from education to technology.

As we reflect on Labor Day — a day to honor the value of work and those who perform it — we must also reflect on the education we provide to prepare Arkansas students for life beyond high school. Communication and theatre education are not extras to be tacked onto an English class or absorbed in passing through a concurrent course. They are essential disciplines that should be intentionally taught, practiced, and valued in our schools.

Arkansas needs more communication education. If we want to build a workforce ready to think critically, collaborate effectively, and lead with confidence, communication must be at the center of our curriculum — not pushed to the margins.

Together, we can lead Arkansas to think, speak and act for a bright future.

09/06/2026

Catch ACTAA members Jenny Moses & Dariane Mull in Actors Theatre of Little Rock’s production of “Come From Away” Sep. 23 - Oct. 10.

09/06/2026

🎭 That’s a wrap on the ACTAA Fall Conference!

The final day brought members together for the association’s General Business Meeting followed by our Awards & Recognition Luncheon, celebrating the dedication, accomplishments, and contributions of communication and theatre educators across Arkansas.

As members headed home, they left recharged, inspired, and reminded that the work we do matters. Every day, Arkansas communication educators equip students with the skills to think critically, communicate confidently, find their voice, and engage with the world around them.

Together, we can continue to inspire Arkansas to think, speak, and act for a brighter tomorrow. 🌟

Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Fall Conference a success. We’ll see you next time! 🎤🎭📚

09/05/2026

🎭 Day Two of the ACTAA Fall Conference!

Day Two was an amazing day of collaboration with an exciting morning tour of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, offering attendees an opportunity to experience art, explore new perspectives, and find inspiration that can connect back to communication and theatre education.

The day continues with an Advisory Forum, opportunities for lesson plan sharing, engaging professional development sessions, and meaningful conversations with colleagues from across Arkansas.

It’s another full day of learning, sharing, creativity, and collaboration! 🎨🎤🎭

09/04/2026

🍂 Day One of the ACTAA Fall Conference!

Day One of the ACTAA Fall Conference was a great start to the conference! Members gathered for committee meetings, connected with colleagues, and participated in professional development sessions designed to share ideas, strengthen our programs, and support communication and theatre arts educators across Arkansas.

We’re looking forward to another great day of learning, collaboration, and connection! 🎭🎤📚