Schools to build leaders

Building leaders from the earliest ages is what school officials plan to do with the implementation of The Leader in Me at Pea Ridge Primary and Pea Ridge Intermediate schools.

"What we saw, blew us away. We saw student leaders ... who talk about a principle-centered life, who set goals for themselves, who could plan," Tracy Hagar, lead teacher, said. "It's a win-win. They learn to be proactive.

School Board members approved superintendent Rick Neal's recommendation to implement the program and spend $180,000 over three years on a contract with the Covey Foundation which will provide all the professonal development training, books, materials and everything for the students. School staff will receive two days training in the program, Hagar said.

"We've worked on a lot of things in really building leadership capacity creating leaders throughout the district," Hagar said. "We want to build this all the way down to the kindergarten level."

During a presentation, Hagar told board members she and other school personnel had visited several schools, including one in Rogers and in Bentonville, that had already begun the Leader In Me program.

Hagar said discipline referrals decrease dramatically, the program increases staff morale and integrity and increases the students' academic sense of responsibility and sense of community.

"We want our students to come to school to learn to be awesome," Hagar said.

"It's such a big commitment," Neal said.

"It really needs to be embedded and integrated in everything you do," Ann Cato, board president, said. "Otherwise, it's just another program ... just a leadership flavor of the month."

Hagar said that when she and Primary School principal Aaron Gaffigan took the teachers on a tour of Pea Ridge Manufacturing and Business Academy, they saw the outcome of preparing students for individualized learning. "It was like a light bulb went off for them," she said.

In other business, the board:

• Approved retirements of Debbie Ruff, Karen Johnston and Nancy Hill;

• Hired Kevin Hume, band director; Casey Connier, ALE lead teacher; Cody Alexander, Junior High football coach; Jennifer Decelle, Middle Special Education teacher; Sara Beth Eubanks, choir/vocal music; Amy Hume, third-grade teacher; Amanda Childs, mental health counselor; Dustin Bratzler, Intermediate/Middle School Special Education teacher; and Jena Anderson, counselor.

• Approved creation of two new positions: mental health counselor and special education for Intermediate/Middle School and hired persons to fill those positions.

• Approved transfers of Cindy Snow, cafeteria manager to High School instructional aide; Stephanie Rosser, Intermediate School teacher to pre-kindergarten; Breanne Snow, cafeteria manager to primary computer lab/library aide; and Tisha Jordan, cafeteria to cafeteria manager.

• Accepted the resignation of Linda Littrell, cafeteria worker.

• Approved two out-of-state trips.

• Approved Voice over Internet phone lines to be installed in all schools.

• Approved agreement with Rogers public schools for the Regional Educational Alternative Program (REAP).

• Approved converting the lighting in the high school gym to LED high bay for $22,604.

General News on 05/13/2015