Board of Directors

Meet our founding board members

The Institute for the Creative Arts, the first Performing & Visual Arts High School in Arkansas, is pleased to announce its Founding Board of Directors.

The five-member Founding Board includes Mrs. Jeannie Cole, Mr. David Cravens, Dr. Rick Foti, Ms. JoAnna Lever, and Ms. Kaylee Rainwater.  Each come with a wealth of experience in key areas including education, finance, public school board experience, and parent engagement.

Jeannie Cole

Jeannie Cole: Experience in Public School Boards

  • BA in Music Education, Harding University

  • Arkansas PTA President

  • National PTA Legislative Committee

  • National PTA Mentor

  • FSPS Board of Education

  • FSPS Board of Education President

  • ASBA President’s Award for 500+ hours of continuing education

  • NSBA Advocacy Institute delegate

  • Fort Smith Spirit of the Frontier award

  • Arkansas Times Public School Hero

  • Arkansas Leadership Academy

  • Leadership Fort Smith

Dr. Rick Foti

Dr. Rick Foti: Experience in Arts Administration & K-12

  • 40 years of experience in education

  • Served in elementary and special education in Missouri, Mississippi, and Arkansas

  • Director of Special Education for 4 years

  • Principal at Parker elementary for 4 years

  • Principal at Trusty elementary for 14 years.

  • Degree in music from Hendrix College

  • Doctorate of Educational Administration from UMKC

  • Served as Executive Director at Community Services Clearinghouse for 8 years and has served on numerous nonprofit boards

JoAnna Lever

JoAnna Lever: Experience in K-12 Charter Startup

  • Director of Community Relations, Rogers Public Schools

  • Education Consultant, Self-employed

  • Vice President of Education, Goodwill Industries of Arkansas

  • Director of Charter Development, Arkansas Public School Resource Center

  • Fayetteville School District

    o   Director of Personalized Learning

    o   Founding Principal of the Fayetteville Virtual Academy

    o   Instructional Facilitator

  • Fort Smith Public Schools, Teacher, and Literacy Coach

  • Master of Education Educational Leadership and Administration, U of A

  • Bachelor of Science Elementary Education and Teaching at ATU

Kaylee Rainwater

Kaylee Rainwater: Experience in Finance/Parent

  • Vice-President of Commercial Banking for Arvest Bank Fort Smith

  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at University of Central Arkansas

  • Master of Business Administration at Webster University

  • Currently earning her Graduate Degree in Banking from The Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University

ICA Board Meeting Minutes & Recordings