As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen student academic performance, the Marion School District will add a new District School Improvement Specialist for the 2026–27 school year. The position will be filled by Betsy Laughter, who has served as principal of Marion Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School since 2020. The moves were approved during Thursday’s meeting of the Marion School Board.
According to Mandi Edwards, the district’s Director of K–12 Curriculum, Instruction & Professional Development and K–6 Elementary Education, the new role is designed to provide targeted, strategic support to all campuses. The specialist will focus on strengthening schoolwide systems -- such as instructional planning, data use, intervention structures, and progress monitoring -- to ensure improvement efforts are intentional, aligned districtwide, and sustainable.
“This role serves as a connective layer within our broader academic improvement strategy,” Edwards said. “While we have adopted high-quality instructional materials, strengthened assessment practices, and expanded intervention supports, the District School Improvement Specialist ensures those efforts are implemented effectively and continuously refined at the campus level. The specialist works alongside principals, instructional facilitators, and district leaders to analyze data, identify root causes, and support action planning.”
Edwards said Laughter’s deep instructional expertise and strong understanding of school improvement processes make her an ideal fit for the position.
“Mrs. Laughter understands our district’s priorities, expectations, and accountability measures, which allows her to quickly support campuses in meaningful, results-driven ways,” Edwards said. “Her collaborative leadership style and focus on capacity-building position her well to help schools implement improvement plans that lead to measurable gains for students.”
Laughter brings a broad range of experience to the new role. Before becoming principal at VPA in 2020, she served as an assistant principal at both VPA and Marion Intermediate School. Earlier in her career, she was a librarian at Marion Elementary School and a teacher at Marion Junior High School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English, a master’s degree in Reading and Library Media Science, and a specialist degree in Educational Leadership.
“In my new role, my goal is simple: to ensure that every child in our district benefits from the strong literacy framework already in place across our schools,” Laughter said. “We have talented facilitators, dedicated teachers, and knowledgeable improvement specialists doing powerful work every day. This position allows me to help bring those strengths together into a cohesive, districtwide framework grounded in what we know about how children learn to read.”
Laughter said her experience at VPA has prepared her well for the transition, even as leaving the school brings bittersweet emotions.
“Growth often asks us to step into something new, even when that means stepping away from a place that is deeply loved,” she said. “For eight years, VPA has been more than a workplace -- it has been where I’ve seen firsthand what’s possible when instruction is aligned, teams collaborate deeply, and we collectively refuse to accept ‘good enough’ for our students. This next chapter allows me to carry those lessons forward in a broader way. Everything VPA has taught me about systems, literacy, equity, and heart will guide the work ahead. I’m deeply grateful for the students, families, and staff who make this school what it is, and I firmly believe the best days of VPA are still ahead.”
The Marion School District is an innovative and growing district that ensures an equitable, engaging learning community where every student is empowered to achieve academic excellence and personal growth. With more than 150 years of experience serving families in Crittenden County, the district offers a high school, a junior high, a seventh grade academy, and three award-winning magnet schools. For enrollment information, including information on school choice, visit https://www.msd3.org/ or call 870-739-5100.