Photo Release: Second Lady Usha Vance and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders Visit Central Arkansas School and Host Reception for Merit Pay Recipients

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Second Lady Usha Vance joined Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders at several events in Central Arkansas today to promote childhood literacy, hear from state education stakeholders, and emphasize the importance of excellence in education.

To begin the day, the Second Lady and Governor Sanders visited Glenview Elementary School in North Little Rock, where they toured several classrooms and observed the school's ongoing efforts to improve childhood literacy. They then hosted a roundtable with state education leaders, and the Second Lady read aloud to an all-school assembly.

In the afternoon, the Second Lady and Governor Sanders met privately, examining both the progress Arkansas has made in strengthening childhood literacy and the work that still lies ahead. They then hosted a reception at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion to honor fifty Arkansas educators who had previously earned a bonus through Governor Sanders' Merit Teacher Incentive Fund.

"I want to thank Governor Sanders for her leadership and welcoming me to Arkansas. Today I saw the progress that is possible when a state and school community commit to achieving excellence," said Second Lady Usha Vance. "These efforts reflect an important truth: children make progress when the adults around them work together. I look forward to continuing to work with Arkansas educators and families to strengthen literacy, support our teachers, and ensure every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential."

"It was an honor to host the Second Lady in Arkansas today and show her all that we are doing to improve childhood literacy and incentivize excellence in the classroom," said Governor Sanders. "Since becoming Second Lady, Mrs. Vance has used her platform to emphasize the importance of literacy in a child's development, and I am incredibly grateful for her dedication because we know that the ability to read is a critical benchmark that determines future educational success. Together, we can ensure that no child in America grows up without access to a quality education and an opportunity to thrive."

Second Lady Usha Vance has made child literacy one of the centerpieces of her agenda, establishing the Summer Reading Challenge to encourage students in kindergarten through the eighth grade to read 12 books during summer break. Students who completed the challenge this year received a prize, a personal letter from the Second Lady, a certificate for completion, entry into a nationwide Kindle raffle, and a chance to visit the White House. This year's Summer Reading Challenge drew readers from all 50 states, D.C., and four territories, and participation in the reading challenge more than doubled from the previous summer.

The Second Lady also hosts the Storytime with the Second Lady podcast, which showcases special guest readers including musicians, world-class athletes, and more to share special stories for children around the globe.

Governor Sanders signed Arkansas LEARNS in 2023 to overhaul Arkansas' education system and establish a laser focus on student success. LEARNS deployed more than 120 literacy coaches to every D- and F-rated school across the state and provided tutoring grants for struggling students. Since 2024, the percentage of students proficient in reading in the third grade increased from 35% to 43% in 2026, a more than 18% increase. English language arts proficiency in kindergarten alone has grown by 31% in just the last year, from 50.2% to 66%

The Merit Teacher Incentive Fund Program was created under the LEARNS Act to elevate the teaching profession by rewarding excellence in the classroom. Over the last three years, the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund Program has awarded more than $50 million in merit pay for over 12,000 educators statewide. Additionally, thanks to the LEARNS Act, Arkansas has increased minimum teacher pay from $36,000 to $50,000, provided every teacher at least a $2,000 raise, and become one of two states in the nation to expand paid maternity leave to 12 weeks. Arkansas now leads the nation in teacher satisfaction with a rate of 89%.

Second Lady of the United States Usha Vance and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders visit a classroom at Glenview Elementary School in North Little Rock alongside Glenview Elementary Principal Dwight Kelly on Tuesday, October 20. Photo Credit: Will Newton.

Second Lady of the United States Usha Vance, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, First Gentleman Bryan Sanders, and Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva are led on a tour of Glenview Elementary School in North Little Rock by Glenview Elementary Principal Dwight Kelly on Tuesday, October 20. Photo Credit: Will Newton.

Second Lady of the United States Usha Vance, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, First Gentleman Bryan Sanders, and Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva participate in a roundtable discussion on literacy at Glenview Elementary School in North Little Rock on Tuesday, October 20. Photo credit: Will Newton.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders participates in a school assembly at Glenview Elementary School in North Little Rock on Tuesday, October 20. Photo credit: Will Newton.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders meets with the Second Lady of the United States, Usha Vance, at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion on Tuesday, October 20. Photo Credit: Will Newton.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders delivers remarks at the Merit Teacher Appreciation Reception at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion on Tuesday, October 20. Photo Credit: Will Newton.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and First Gentleman Bryan Sanders greet guests at the Merit Teacher Appreciation Reception at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion on Tuesday, October 20. Photo Credit: Will Newton.

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