Register Now For Upcoming 2020 Community Classes

Beginner American Sign Language. This Basic American Sign Language Series is for those who just need a refresher as well as those who want to learn for the first time. Instructor: Debra Wilson. The cost of $50.00 includes all 4 classes. 2020 Monday Dates: 3/16, 3/23, 3/30, 4/06. Class time is 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM. Class size is limited to 15. Class will meet at the SouthArk Center For Workforce Development, Room 110, 3696 E. Main Road, El Dorado.

Raised Bed Basics.  Class designed for those new to raised beds and those with experience. This class will cover Raised Bed Construction, Fill Options and Sources, Permaculture, Mound Construction, and Square Foot Gardening.  Instructor: Philip Shackelford. Date: Tuesday, March 24. Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM. Cost: $20.00 includes build handout.  Class will meet at SouthArk Library Auditorium, 300 Summit Avenue, El Dorado.

Basic Microsoft Excel. This Series is designed for those who have no experience with Excel as well as those who would like a refresher on the basics. Instructor: Zoey Lovejoy. Class Dates: Tuesdays, 4/07, 4/14, 4/21, 4/28.  Class Time is 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM. Cost: $40.00. Classes will meet at the SouthArk Center For Workforce Development, Room 105, 3696 E. Main Road, El Dorado.

Job Search Tips & Resume Writing. If you are searching for a job, this class can help you. This is a free class but registration is required for this limited-size class. Instructor: Monica Macon. Date: Thursday, April 9. Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM. Class will meet at the SouthArk Center For Workforce Development, Room 110, 3696 E. Main Road, El Dorado.

Intermediate American Sign Language. This Series is designed for those who have taken Basic American Sign Language classes and want to expand their knowledge of this language. Instructor: Debra Wilson. The cost of $55.00 includes all 5 classes. 2020 Monday Dates: 4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/04, 5/11 Class time is 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM. Class size is limited to 15. Class will meet at the SouthArk Center For Workforce Development, Room 110, 3696 E. Main Road, El Dorado.

CPR and AED Training.  In this FREE Hands-On Community Education Class you’ll learn Adult, and Child, CPR, how to use the AED, and what to do for a blocked airway.  You’ll also learn Infant CPR and how to help a choking infant. Instructor: Genevieve White. This is a How-To, not a Certification. Thursday, April 16, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM. Class size is limited to 20.  Cost is $30.00 and includes book.  Class will meet at the SouthArk Center For Workforce Development, Room 141, 3696 E. Main Road, El Dorado.

Nonprofit Essentials: Board Development. Get the best from your Board by learning to create strategies for Board Recruiting, Education, Training, and Assessment. Instructor: Ye Juanda Sargeant, EMPA. For your convienience choose the class date and time that best fits your schedule when you register: Thursday, April 23, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM, or Thursday, April 30, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM. Cost is $25.00 for 1 class. Register early as class registration closes 24 hours before class begins. Class will meet at the SouthArk Center For Workforce Development, Room 110, 3696 E. Main Road, El Dorado.

Watercolor Painting Class. Join local Artist and Instructor, Christy Stone, as she teaches students in this series to paint a starry night, sunset on the ocean, and more.  This three-class series has been designed for the Beginner and Intermediate level watercolor student.  2020 Tuesday Dates: May 05, 12, & 19. Class times are 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM. Cost: $60.00 includes all 3 classes and supllies. Class will meet at the SouthArk Center For Workforce Development, Room 121, 3696 E. Main Road, El Dorado.

Weekly - Line Dance Lessons. Instructor Mary Meadows teaches all types of Line Dance, not just country.   Cost is $15.00 per month. Every Tuesday & Thursday, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM. Classes meet at the SouthArk Center For Workforce Development, Room 119, 3696 E. Main Road, El Dorado.

SouthArk Community Education Classes are Instructional, Educational, and Fun. Created for community members.  Registration is easy at www.SouthArk.edu/ce then click the Community Education Calendar link and choose your class. Payment for classes to be made in person or by phone at the SouthArk Bookstore 870-864-7163. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 870-864-7192 for more information on classes.

Community Education Instructors are selected for their skills and expertise in a variety of areas.  They do not need a degree in what they teach.  Anyone interested in teaching, or wanting to submit community education class ideas, may email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

The South Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees is proud to announce Dr. Bentley Wallace as the next President of SouthArk.

Dr. Bentley Wallace has extensive experience with community colleges in Arkansas. He served as Director of Business and Transportation Technology at Arkansas State University – Newport for seven years.  In 2013, he became the Vice Chancellor for Economic Development at the University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College.   In 2018, Dr. Wallace was promoted to serve as the first Dean of the School of Technical and Professional Studies, one of three schools at UA-PTC.  He was recently elected to a second term as President of the Board of Arkansas Community Colleges. Previous professional experience includes healthcare administration, construction management, and transportation-related industries.

Dr. Wallace earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Arkansas State University – Jonesboro.  At the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, he earned a doctorate in Human Resource and Workforce Development Education, with research focused on the Arkansas Career Readiness Certificate.  Dr. Wallace was nominated by faculty, and received, the Outstanding Doctoral Student Award during his final semester at the University of Arkansas.

Through his work in higher education, Dr. Wallace has served in leadership roles related to student success initiatives, accreditation, and strategic planning.  Recent accomplishments at UA-PTC include:

• Provided customized workforce development options to CZ USA during negotiation phase of Project Precision, resulting in CZ locating their first North American manufacturing facility in central Arkansas, in partnership with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and multiple economic development entities
• Created the Workplace Essentials talent acquisition and training model, which was recognized by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, the Arkansas Division of Career and Technical Education, and Congressman French Hill as a replicable best-practice for workforce development
• Established the High Voltage Lineman Training (H-VoLT) Academy as part of the Arkansas Energy Workforce Consortium to address high voltage line worker shortages in Arkansas, in partnership with Entergy Arkansas, the Rural Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, and multiple high voltage contractors
• Developed partnership which allows all UA-PTC students, faculty, and staff to use the local public transit system at no cost to the rider, allowing for improved access to education, employment, shopping, and recreation

Dr. Wallace’s community service includes volunteer efforts with civic organizations and numerous appointments to boards and commissions.  He has helped establish and manage music and art festivals, has served on the boards of diverse community organizations, including arts councils, community theatres, the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, the Arkansas STEM Coalition, the Arkansas Aerospace and Defense Alliance, and was an Honorary Commander at the Little Rock Airforce Base.  He is also a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow.

Dr. Wallace was raised in Mountain View, Arkansas, and currently lives in North Little Rock with his wife, Darby.  Mrs. Wallace is a highly qualified educator with experience in K-12 and community college instruction and as executive director of a county library system.  She earned master’s degrees from UA – Little Rock and the University of Southern Mississippi.  They have two children, Natalie and Miller.  Natalie is married and lives in Harrison, Arkansas.  Miller is a sophomore and member of the golf team at North Little Rock High School.

Dr. Wallace is expected to begin his duties as President on February 1, 2020.

His efforts helped thwart a would-be act of terrorism on a Paris-bound train in 2015. Now Spencer Stone, one of the subjects and stars of Clint Eastwood's film "The 15:17 to Paris," will tell his story in person to local audiences at 7 p.m. on Oct. 10 at the El Dorado Conference Center. The event is free to attend as part of the annual South Arkansas Community College Lecture Series.

Then-Air Force Staff Sgt. Stone was vacationing in Europe when he boarded the train in Amsterdam with childhood friends Anthony Sadler and Alek Skarlatos. Nearing Paris, a 25-year-old terrorist armed with an automatic rifle left his seat and began firing the weapon, roaming the train cars with the intent of killing passengers. Stone and his two friends were unarmed but physically apprehended the terrorist.

Stone, in turn, was bestowed the Knights of the Legion of Honor—the French nation’s highest such decoration—as well as an Air Force Airman’s Medal and a Purple Heart.

Just weeks after returning stateside, Stone was in an altercation and became the victim of attempted murder by an ex-convict who, it was determined, did not know or recognize Stone and was not connected to terrorist activities. Stone recovered after treatment.

The three friends wrote a book about their experiences that became the basis of Eastwood’s film.

SouthArk’s Department of Workforce and Community Education has created three new community education classes that will be starting soon.

Do-it-Yourself-Marketing is designed for small business owners and will cover flyer design, basic graphics, smartphone photography, Facebook Page management, blogging and podcasting. The series cost is $60 which includes all five classes (6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Mondays Sept. 9-Oct. 1 at the SouthArk Library Auditorium, 300 Summit Ave.). The classes also may be purchased individually for $15 each.

Introduction to Beekeeping is a series comprised of an introduction to beekeeping, bee biology, seasonal management, pests, diseases, and advanced topics. The cost is $70 for the six classes (5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays Sept. 12-Oct. 17 in Room 121 of the SouthArk Center for Workforce Development, 3696 E. Main Road).

Fall Fruit Tree and Berry Care will cover fruit-tree basics, back-yard berries, fruits, and pest management and unusual fruits. The cost is $20 for the four classes (5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on each Monday of October in Room 121 of the Center for Workforce Development).

SouthArk’s community education classes are designed to be instructional, educational and fun. They do not carry college credit. Register at www.southark.edu/ce at the “community education” calendar link. Payment can be made in person at the SouthArk Bookstore inside the El Dorado Conference Center, or by calling (870) 864-7163.