🏆🌟 STATE CHAMPION ALERT! 🌟🏆
Congratulations to Ziva Squires of Caddo Academy for earning 1st Place in Wood CNC at the State Girl Power competition!
Your hard work, precision, and creativity truly paid off, Ziva! We are so proud to see our students leading the way in skilled trades and advanced manufacturing. 💪✨
Way to represent DMESC & Caddo Academy at the state level!
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We’re growing our Early Childhood team! 🌟 DMESC is now hiring a Speech Language Pathologist to work with our preschool students. Join a supportive, family-friendly environment and make a lasting impact. Contact us today to learn more! #thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
🏆 Congratulations to our Senior High Quiz Bowl Winners! 📚✨
🥇 1st Place: Mena
🥈 2nd Place: Acorn
Way to go, students! We’re proud of your hard work and quick thinking! 👏
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🥇 1st Place: Mena
🥈 2nd Place: Acorn
Way to go, students! We’re proud of your hard work and quick thinking! 👏
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
♟️ Congratulations to our Grades 5–6 Chess Tournament winners and participants!
Your strategy and determination were impressive. Way to go! 👏
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Your strategy and determination were impressive. Way to go! 👏
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
Local Lead Captain Karen Garner completed the wonderful training better known as THE REGULATED CLASSROOM offered through SWAEC. This training focused on the importance of PLAY and the benefits it provides to a child’s brain development. Garner plans to facilitate this training for all early childhood providers and teachers/paras in the surrounding counties, including Howard, Sevier, Little River, Polk, and Montgomery. Thank you, Katlin Niemeyer, for making this great training available.
📚✏️✂️🍎
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📚✏️✂️🍎
#thinkcoop1st
#yourBESTsolution
♟️🏆 Chess Tournament Winners Announced!
Congratulations to our champions and all participants for their strategy, focus, and sportsmanship. Well done! 👏
DMESC Chess Tournament for grades 3 & 4
1st place - Liam Walker - Cossatot River
2nd place - Lawson Stone - Dierks
3rd place - AJ Lowrey - Cossatot River
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
Congratulations to our champions and all participants for their strategy, focus, and sportsmanship. Well done! 👏
DMESC Chess Tournament for grades 3 & 4
1st place - Liam Walker - Cossatot River
2nd place - Lawson Stone - Dierks
3rd place - AJ Lowrey - Cossatot River
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
🇺🇸Happy Presidents’ Day! 🇺🇸
Today, we recognize the leaders who have shaped our nation and reflect on the importance of civic responsibility, leadership, and learning in our schools.
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Today, we recognize the leaders who have shaped our nation and reflect on the importance of civic responsibility, leadership, and learning in our schools.
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
Happy School Resource Officer Appreciation Day 💙
DMESC thanks the School Resource Officers across all 12 districts for their dedication to keeping our schools safe, supporting students, and building strong relationships within our communities. We appreciate all you do!
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
DMESC thanks the School Resource Officers across all 12 districts for their dedication to keeping our schools safe, supporting students, and building strong relationships within our communities. We appreciate all you do!
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
❤️ Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at DMESC! ❤️
We’re grateful for our amazing educators, staff, and partners who share their passion and heart for students every day.
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
We’re grateful for our amazing educators, staff, and partners who share their passion and heart for students every day.
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
We realized we missed sharing this photo yesterday—and we definitely didn’t want to overlook these talented students! 💙
Congratulations to our Multi-Tool CNC 2nd Place winners from Girl Power 2026! 👏✨ We’re so proud of your hard work and creativity.
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
Congratulations to our Multi-Tool CNC 2nd Place winners from Girl Power 2026! 👏✨ We’re so proud of your hard work and creativity.
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
More exciting moments from DMESC’s Girl Power 2026! 💪✨
In addition to our winners, we’re proud to recognize our Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice award recipients—selected for their creativity, craftsmanship, and outstanding design. 👏🔥
And a huge congratulations to our Grand Prize Winner, who took home an amazing grill! 🏆🍔
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In addition to our winners, we’re proud to recognize our Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice award recipients—selected for their creativity, craftsmanship, and outstanding design. 👏🔥
And a huge congratulations to our Grand Prize Winner, who took home an amazing grill! 🏆🍔
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
What an incredible day at DMESC!!
Five years ago, Girl Power began right here at the De Queen–Mena Education Service Cooperative as a single local event. Today, it has grown into a statewide movement empowering young women across Arkansas to explore high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand career pathways. Watching that growth unfold firsthand on February 11 was something special.
The quality of this year's student projects was outstanding. From CNC Wood and CNC Metal to CNC Lasering and Multi-Tool, the craftsmanship, creativity, and confidence on display showed just how powerful hands-on learning can be. Even more inspiring was the way the girls celebrated one another’s successes!
Girl Power is about more than competition. It is about connection. We saw industry and education partners come together for students and for the future workforce of Southwest Arkansas. Teachers collaborated, shared ideas, and learned from each other. Students built relationships with industry leaders and local businesses that will grow into networks that do more than help them get a job. These connections will help them build, grow, and sustain successful careers.
I could not be prouder of our DMESC team. Our staff worked tirelessly behind the scenes and on the floor to make this event seamless. Once again, they demonstrated what an incredible support system they are for our students and districts!
We were also blessed to have the creator of Girl Power, Stacey Southerland, with us. Seeing her so happy, laughing with the girls, and enjoying the event she started five years ago was a full-circle moment for all of us!
Congratulations to all of the girls who competed and helped make the day such a great success!! Best wishes to our 1st and 2nd place winners as well as our Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice selections! All of these students will advance to the 2026 Girl Power State Competition at Saline County Career and Technical Center in Benton on February 24.
DMESC Girl Power 2026 was not just an event. It was a reminder of what happens when we raise expectations, build partnerships, and believe in our students' potential.
#thinkcoop1st
#yourBESTsolution
Five years ago, Girl Power began right here at the De Queen–Mena Education Service Cooperative as a single local event. Today, it has grown into a statewide movement empowering young women across Arkansas to explore high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand career pathways. Watching that growth unfold firsthand on February 11 was something special.
The quality of this year's student projects was outstanding. From CNC Wood and CNC Metal to CNC Lasering and Multi-Tool, the craftsmanship, creativity, and confidence on display showed just how powerful hands-on learning can be. Even more inspiring was the way the girls celebrated one another’s successes!
Girl Power is about more than competition. It is about connection. We saw industry and education partners come together for students and for the future workforce of Southwest Arkansas. Teachers collaborated, shared ideas, and learned from each other. Students built relationships with industry leaders and local businesses that will grow into networks that do more than help them get a job. These connections will help them build, grow, and sustain successful careers.
I could not be prouder of our DMESC team. Our staff worked tirelessly behind the scenes and on the floor to make this event seamless. Once again, they demonstrated what an incredible support system they are for our students and districts!
We were also blessed to have the creator of Girl Power, Stacey Southerland, with us. Seeing her so happy, laughing with the girls, and enjoying the event she started five years ago was a full-circle moment for all of us!
Congratulations to all of the girls who competed and helped make the day such a great success!! Best wishes to our 1st and 2nd place winners as well as our Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice selections! All of these students will advance to the 2026 Girl Power State Competition at Saline County Career and Technical Center in Benton on February 24.
DMESC Girl Power 2026 was not just an event. It was a reminder of what happens when we raise expectations, build partnerships, and believe in our students' potential.
#thinkcoop1st
#yourBESTsolution
A big congratulations to today's Reading Fair winners! 📚🏆
Your dedication and imagination truly stood out.
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
Your dedication and imagination truly stood out.
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
A big congratulations to today's Reading Fair winners! 📚🏆
Your dedication and imagination truly stood out.
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
Your dedication and imagination truly stood out.
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
📚✨ Congratulations to our Reading Fair winners!
📖Way to go, readers—keep turning those pages and chasing your dreams! 🌟
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
📖Way to go, readers—keep turning those pages and chasing your dreams! 🌟
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
We didn’t get a photo of everyone who helped make today a success, but there’s no doubt—Girl Power wouldn’t have happened without the incredible teamwork of everyone at DMESC. 💙👏
Thank you for showing up, pitching in, and making a difference for our students.
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
Thank you for showing up, pitching in, and making a difference for our students.
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
A huge thank-you to UA Cossatot for awarding a $500 scholarship today to one of our Girl Power participants!
Your support helps empower and inspire the next generation of leaders in CTE and beyond. We appreciate your partnership!
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
Your support helps empower and inspire the next generation of leaders in CTE and beyond. We appreciate your partnership!
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
Here are a few candid moments from today’s event—capturing the energy, focus, and fun! 📸✨
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#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
A special shout-out from Beau McCastlain to Stacey Southerland, the originator and creator of the “Girl Power” event, for laying the foundation for this amazing program that began at DMESC and has grown into a statewide event! 👏✨💪
He also recognized CTE Coordinators Katie Robertson and Shannon Puckett for their guidance and support as he hosted his first event.
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He also recognized CTE Coordinators Katie Robertson and Shannon Puckett for their guidance and support as he hosted his first event.
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
DMESC’s Girl Power 2026 is officially in the books! 💪✨
We had 40+ girls from 10 districts compete in Metal CNC, Laser CNC, Wood CNC, and Multi-Tool CNC divisions—showcasing incredible talent, creativity, and determination.
Stay tuned for winners and more photos coming soon! 📸🚀
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
We had 40+ girls from 10 districts compete in Metal CNC, Laser CNC, Wood CNC, and Multi-Tool CNC divisions—showcasing incredible talent, creativity, and determination.
Stay tuned for winners and more photos coming soon! 📸🚀
#thinkcoop1st #yourBESTsolution
