Taryn Echols

Taryn Echols

Taryn Echols, EdD, serves as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction at Hot Springs School District (HSSD). She oversees streamlining curricular opportunities for teachers and students to build innovative practices across the district. She is responsible for all professional learning community (PLC) and High Reliability Schools (HRS) initiatives, leading the district through processes to gain Model PLC at Work® district status by 2025. Prior to her role as assistant superintendent, Dr. Echols had 16 years of experience as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, and principal at the K–12 level.

Her passion, focus on students, dynamic personality, and commitment to education are qualities that make her an effective leader. She believes in the success of all students and engages in collaborative work with the entire school community to achieve success. Her goal is to always contribute wherever she serves through dedication, integrity, and hard work. She commits to fostering innovative practices to streamline the K–12 curriculum and strengthen a continued culture of growth for the district through PLCs. She is excited to continue working to empower HSSD staff to lead servantly and create the best educational experience for students.

Dr. Echols serves on the Arkansas Association of Curriculum and Instruction Administrators (AACIA) Board. She was awarded the AACIA Administrator of the Year Award for the 2020–2021 school year. She also serves on the National Park College Foundation Board, is a member of Hot Springs National Park Rotary, and is attending two executive leadership cohorts through Leadership Hot Springs and the Arkansas Leadership Academy.

Dr. Echols earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Harding University, a specialist degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Central Arkansas, and a doctoral degree in educational leadership P–20 from Harding University.

PLC at Work^®

PLC at Work® experts have proven success in leading the PLC at Work process in a school or district. Work with them to implement a focus on learning, build a collaborative culture, and create a results orientation that leads to sustained, substantive school improvement.

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Presentations by Taryn Echols

• Building the Foundations of PLC: Moving Your School from PLC Lite to PLC Tight
• The Framework: Unpacking Essential Standards
• Creating Systems for High-Functioning Teams from the District Level to the School Level
• HRS and PLC: How to Leverage Systems and Protocols to Impact Student Learning and Teacher Effectiveness
• Tools for Engaging Families in Your PLC at Work®