PRAIRIE GROVE -- After 22 years with Prairie Grove School District, Missy Hixson, assistant superintendent, will move into a new position about seven miles down the road.
Hixson recently submitted her resignation, effective June 30, to become assistant director and teacher center coordinator for Northwest Arkansas Educational Cooperative in Farmington.
Along with Hixson, Prairie Grove Middle School teacher Stephanie Miles also has submitted her resignation to be a literacy specialist at the co-op and Dustin Seaton, a former gifted and talented teacher with Prairie Grove, will join the co-op as gifted and talented coordinator.
Hixson is in her 34th year in education and has been with Prairie Grove since 1995.
During her years in Prairie Grove, she has taught second, third, fourth and sixth grades. She moved into an administrative role as transportation director and curriculum coordinator for one year and then was named coordinator for curriculum and federal programs in 2006.
Superintendent Allen Williams promoted Hixson to assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction in July 2014.
Hixson said her decision to move to the cooperative is a bittersweet one but is also one of timing. She will start her doctoral work in June with Arkansas Tech University and said in the back of her mind, thought she would be interested in the assistant director's position at the co-op when the current staff person retired, possibly five years away.
This person, Marcia Sanders, recently announced her retirement.
As the co-op's assistant director and teacher center coordinator, Hixson said she will help train staff and work with teachers. The cooperative serves 17 school districts in Washington and Benton counties.
"One of my favorite things to do is training adults," Hixson said. "I love doing professional development but I don't get to do it a lot here because of other responsibilities."
The co-op also serves as a liaison between schools in the region and Arkansas Department of Education and Hixson said she looks forward to working on that piece in her new position.
Hixson noted it is not easy to leave a job after 20 years.
"This job is wonderful," Hixson said. "It's the best job I've ever had."
One good thing with working at the cooperative, she said, is that she will only be a few miles down the road and will be able to help Prairie Grove if needed. She also will continue to see Prairie Grove teachers and administrators as they come to the co-op for professional development workshops.
Charles Cudney, director of Northwest Arkansas Educational Cooperative, said 46 candidates applied for the position from within Arkansas and outside the state.
"I think it's a very appealing position and a lot of people were interested in it," Cudney said last week.
He said the co-op staff is excited to have Hixson as a part of the team, adding she will be a great fit and a great partner to him.
Cudney said he is impressed with Hixson's personal skills and that she will be able to connect with the teachers and schools the co-op supports. In addition, he pointed to her knowledge base.
"She has 35 years of experience as an educator," Cudney said, including experience as an assistant superintendent and working with curriculum and federal funds.
Hixson is also active on the state level and was named administrator of the year for the Arkansas Association of Curriculum and Instruction Administrators in 2015.
"It tells you a lot when your peers recognize you," Cudney said.
The co-op serves 6,500 teachers in 16 school districts and four public charter schools in Washington, Benton and Madison counties.
Williams said Hixson will be missed.
"Missy's done a wonderful job," Williams said. "She's a great organizer and works well with teachers on all levels. She's very knowledgeable and very detail oriented. We have a lot of experience to replace with her leaving."
Prairie Grove School District is already advertising Hixson's job and has received applications in the double digits, Williams said.
He said the district will probably accept applications through spring break and then will begin to narrow them down for interviews.
Williams said he hopes to be able to recommend a candidate for the position at the School Board's April 17 meeting.
General News on 03/22/2017