PRAIRIE GROVE -- The principal of a Fort Smith elementary school will become the next assistant superintendent for Prairie Grove School District.
The School Board last week approved a recommendation from Superintendent Allen Williams to hire Leslie Sharp, who lives in Prairie Grove, to replace Missy Hixson. Hixson has resigned the position, effective June 30.
Sharp has 24 years of education experience in Arkansas and Oklahoma school districts.
Williams said the school district received 31 applications or resumes for the open position and brought in seven candidates for interviews. Of these, four were interviewed a second time.
According to her resume, Sharp has experience as a first- and second-grade teacher, interventionist, assistant principal and principal.
She started her educational career as a classroom teacher in Watts, Okla., from 1993-1996, and then worked in Stilwell, Okla. She taught kindergarten and first grade in the Springdale School District for several years before becoming principal at Decatur Northside Elementary School from 2006-2012.
Since 2012, Sharp has worked for Fort Smith Public Schools as an interventionist at Tilles Elementary, assistant principal at Fairview Elementary and then as principal at Carnall Elementary for the past year.
Williams said Sharp has an excellent background in curriculum instruction and is especially strong at the elementary level. He said her elementary experience will complement his strengths and those of Assistant Superintendent David Kellogg, who both are stronger in upper grades.
"She's a hard worker and is good at working with data and coming up with solutions," Williams said.
In addition, Williams said, Sharp's references gave excellent reports and her interview went very well.
"She's worked in all size schools and has a well-rounded background for the position," he added.
The district received applications from many strong candidates, most with advanced degrees and administrative experience, Williams said.
Besides Sharp, the top candidates for the position were Jonathan Warren, co-principal at Prairie Grove Elementary School, Melissa Braddy from Fort Smith and Merle Dickerson, who had recently retired from Van Buren School District.
Though it was not a factor in his recommendation, Williams said it is a plus that Sharp already lives in Prairie Grove. It is not a requirement for staff to live in Prairie Grove but Williams noted it helps in being readily available.
In a telephone interview, Sharp said she is excited about working for Prairie Grove School District. She and her family moved to Prairie Grove eight years ago because her husband's family has lived in the area since before the Civil War. Their youngest son, an eighth-grader, has attended Prairie Grove schools since he was in kindergarten. Her husband works in Oklahoma.
"I'm just really excited about working with Prairie Grove School District because it's growing so rapidly and is stepping out and doing progressive things," Sharp said. "I think it's a wonderful opportunity for me to practice my skills and learn the district and help the district move forward."
According to Sharp's resume, she is working toward a doctorate in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Arkansas. She holds a master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Arkansas and a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla. She achieved her educational leadership district licensure from the University of Arkansas in May 2016.
She also is a National Board Certified Teacher.
Her resume lists numerous certifications, multiple leadership positions, experience in coaching, mentoring and grant writing, and training from many professional development programs.
In other personnel action at the April 25 special meeting, Prairie Grove School Board hired Amanda Allen as a teacher for the high school health professions program and Jessica Hardy as elementary music teacher. Stephanie Mitchell will serve as volleyball assistant coach next year; Dana Froud will be tennis coach; Carla Elder will be junior high pom coach.
General News on 05/03/2017