The ISEP Mission Statement:

To provide Arkansas public education agencies with the necessary resources to enhance student healthcare, school performance, and streamline financial responsibility by establishing accountable partnerships between public and community based programs as well as the private sector. 

Who We Are

Laurie McDowell, B.S.E., M.S., Building Level Licensure in Administration, Director of ISEP. Thirty-Two years experience working in education, 22 in the classroom, and 10 years at the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) as Director of Coordinated School Health (CSH). Ms. McDowell was instrumental in working with ADE and Arkansas legislators in establishing guidelines for schools to begin to be able to bill for Medicaid services being provided in schools. She also worked directly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local school districts to help build capacity at the state and local level to address the health needs of their students. She has been Director at ISEP for almost 15 years.

Kathleen Courtney, B.S.E., M.S.. Medicaid/Education Consultant, Grant Writer. Thirty -Three years experience working in Education (11 Classroom, 22 ADE). As a Program Advisor at ADE, Ms. Courtney worked directly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assist school personnel to build the capacity of districts at the state and local level to address the health needs of their students. She worked closely with many school nurses across the state as well as counselors, teachers, and administrators. She has provided numerous trainings at the state and national level and has 26 years of grant writing experience. Ms. Courtney is a Johnson & Johnson School Health Fellow. She has been working with ISEP for five years.