11 May 2025 Arkansas PBS Executive Director and CEO to depart in May

Arkansas PBS announced on April 18 that Executive Director and CEO Courtney Pledger will leave her position in May. Pledger, who joined the statewide public media network in 2017, leaves behind a legacy of transformative leadership and innovative growth across content, education and community engagement.

During her more than eight-year tenure, she led Arkansas PBS through a period of dramatic evolution, positioning the network as a national leader in public media. 

Drawing on her extensive background in media management, organizational strategy and storytelling, she brought a bold vision to Arkansas PBS that enabled it to thrive amid a rapidly shifting media environment.

“I have had more than eight extraordinary years at Arkansas PBS, building a phenomenal team eager to take on new challenges and collaborating with some of the very best independent creators and community partners in Arkansas,” Pledger said in a statement. “It has been my great honor to lead Arkansas PBS through a transformative time that points to the limitless potential of our statewide public media network.”

Under Pledger’s leadership, Arkansas PBS expanded its K-12 educational programming, launching “Arkansas AMI” when schools closed during the pandemic. She also developed original curriculum-based children’s programming for national PBS KIDS distribution, including the live-action series “Mystery League” and an upcoming series being developed to celebrate America 250.

Pledger significantly increased the reach and impact of ArkansasIDEAS, the state’s most-used online professional development platform for teachers. She has prioritized authentic Arkansas storytelling, leading to critically acclaimed programming that resonated with both local and national audiences.

Pledger introduced live high school sports coverage to Arkansas PBS and spearheaded “ArkansasLIVE,” a platform offering multi-camera, broadcast-quality live arts and cultural programming across the state. She expanded government transparency through AR-CAN – the Arkansas Citizens Access Network – providing accessible coverage of state government proceedings.

“Courtney was and is the catalyst of our success,” said West Doss, commission chair for Arkansas PBS. “Her leadership has elevated Arkansas PBS to unprecedented heights, with 34 of the network’s 47 Mid-America Regional Emmys being awarded during her tenure, a number of Public Media Awards from the National Educational Telecommunications Association and several original programs now broadcast nationwide by PBS. She will be greatly missed.”

Her tenure marked a deepening of Arkansas PBS’s community relevance, with an expanded multi-platform presence, robust social media engagement and popular in-person events, such as Arkansas PBS Family Day and “Arkansas Treasures,” an ongoing program that brings Arkansans together around their family heirlooms and collectibles, according to Doss.

The commission will meet as expeditiously as possible to consider Pledger’s replacement, Doss said.