About Us

Welcome to Pine Bluff Lighthouse Charter School!

Since 2011 Pine Bluff Lighthouse Charter School (PBLCS) has been putting the needs of scholars first. We are a tuition-free, open-enrollment charter school investing in the individual growth of every scholar. Our campus launched serving grades K-4 and has grown to now serve grades K-8. Located on the southeast side of Pine Bluff, we have extended our reach and programs to meet the needs of not only our scholars but also our community.

PINE BLUFF LIGHTHOUSE CHARTER SCHOOL HAS BEEN HONORED BY THESE AWARDS:

Office for Education Policy 2019

"Beating the Odds" High Math Growth: Middle Level (Central Region)

"Beating the Odds" High ELA Growth: Middle Level (Central Region)

Our approach to developing our scholars as complete, well-rounded individuals means we offer children opportunities to develop academically and socially. Every year we look forward to hosting the Back to School Block Party and annual events such as science and math fairs, the Valentine’s Ball, and an art exhibit. Our scholars also have the opportunity to participate in clubs and extracurricular activities.

Pine Bluff Lighthouse Charter School receives public funding from federal and state resources. We operate under an open-enrollment charter approved by the Arkansas Department of Education.

There are approximately 270 students enrolled at our campus who we are proud to serve. More than 90% of our scholars identify as students of color and more than 90% are recipients of the Arkansas School Breakfast and Lunch Program. We are committed to opening doors to opportunities to underserved children whose families benefit from our approach to developing the total child.

Please feel free to contact us at any time to learn more about how our experienced and caring team’s commitment to supporting Every Student, Every Voice, Every Day can help your child excel.

Our Mission

The mission of Pine Bluff Lighthouse Charter School is to prepare students with the academic and social-emotional skills necessary to succeed in college, career, and life.

A Culture Committed to Serving the Whole Child

Our Culture

We understand that our scholars have unique needs and interests. Pine Bluff offers programs that foster more than just the academic success of our scholars. Our culture offers the social and emotional support that our scholars need to ensure that Every Child in our schools is given the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty and succeed.

Pine Bluff’s unique culture includes:

Creating a Family-like Environment
Each educator is focused on creating a family environment in the classroom. Our school day begins with a time for scholars to share and discuss things that are important to them individually and as the class as a whole. We also believe education is a family matter and sponsor many annual events in addition to monthly Parent University Nights.

Fostering a Safe and Nurturing Classroom Environment
Deep and creative thinking are accomplished when scholars feel safe and nurtured in their surroundings. We create campus and classroom environments that are predictable, orderly, and physically and emotionally safe. In order to achieve this, we adhere to the following practices:

  • We maintain a constant pulse on scholars’ social-emotional well-being so we can support their growth and help them proactively work through any challenges they face at school, or in the real world.

  • We employ an operations team to ensure that our facility is exceptionally clean and safe from hazards and outside threats. We conduct drills each month to ensure our students and staff members are well prepared in the event of an emergency.

  • We warmly welcome parents and guardians visiting and being involved in the school. When you arrive at the school, please go directly to the main office to sign in and obtain a visitor’s pass. When you are ready to leave the school, please go to the main office, return the visitor’s pass, and sign out.

Building Social and Emotional Character
We follow a Restorative Practice disciplinary system which focuses on developing positive behaviors and changing negative behaviors, with the overall goal of restoring relationships and keeping our scholars engaged in the classroom.

Utilizing Restorative Practices
We provide a comprehensive counseling program for all students through our partnerships with The P.A.T. Center (Social Workers, therapists, counselors).

Previous Slide
Next Slide
Who We Are as a School

Our Leadership

Great leadership is at the heart of every great school. At Pine Bluff Lighthouse Charter Schools, our scholars are surrounded by caring, committed leaders who embody the character traits we teach every day. They are positive role models in the development of our scholars in addition to being great educators.

Gabriel Jackson

Dr. Gabriel Jackson

Education Director

Rebecca Newby

Rebecca Newby

Assistant Education Director

Donald Warren

Donald Warren

Interventionist

Skyra Franklin

Skyra Franklin

Family and Community Engagement

Gloria McKissic

Gloria McKissic

Nurse

Charneise Turner

Charneise Turner

School Operations Manager

Russell Carnes

Russell Carnes

STEM Specialist

Monique Williams

Kieria Allen

Food & Nutritionist Manager