GUY — Guy-Perkins Interim Superintendent Brian Cossey is one of 21 applicants for the permanent position.
Cossey, who lives in Greenbrier, has been filling the role since January, when Superintendent David Westenhover was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges.
Westenhover was charged in Faulkner County Circuit Court with theft by receiving and aiding consummation of offense, both felonies, and hindering apprehension or prosecution, a misdemeanor.
He allegedly had a stolen gun in his possession on school grounds, according to an article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. His son, Joshua Westenhover, was arrested the next day and charged with felony theft by receiving.
The Guy-Perkins School Board voted to accept Westenhover’s resignation, effective June 30, and place him on paid administrative leave, Cossey said.
The school board will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday with a “short agenda,” Cossey said.
“I think Saturday they’ll review the applications and set up interviews,” he said.
Cossey said that during the past few board meetings, there have been portions of executive sessions in which he has not participated.
Cossey, 35, is a native of Bradford. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Central Arkansas. He received his superintendent’s certification through Harding University in Searcy.
He has been Guy-Perkins High School’s principal for four years. Prior to that, he served as assistant principal at Greenbrier Middle School; basketball and fast-pitch softball coach in the Atkins School District; basketball and baseball coach in the Marshall School District; and principal at England High School. He is married to Pamela Cossey.
Other applicants are as follows:
• Randall Betts of Conway, principal of Berryville High School.
• Danny Jack Broach of Rison, human resources recruiter for the Arkansas Department of Correction.
• Laura Burris of Greenbrier, special-education supervisor and federal-programs coordinator for the Mayflower School District.
• David Clark of Cherry Valley, principal of Cross County High School.
• Rhonda Dickey of Little Rock, director of secondary education for the North Little Rock School District.
• Martha Dodson of Paris, principal at Paris Middle School.
• Bruce Evans of Piggott, English teacher at Douglas MacArthur Junior High School in the Jonesboro School District.
• Bradley Gist of Benton, principal at Central Arkansas Christian School.
• Chris Goodin of Searcy, principal of Rose Bud High School.
• James Kevin Hancock of Hermitage, sixth-grade teacher at Hermitage Elementary School.
• Ben Lewis of Fort Smith, superintendent and secondary principal at Union Christian Academy.
• Ricky McCullough of Miami, Okla., science department chairman in the Jay Public Schools.
• Gary Lee Rhinehart of Scranton, principal of Scranton Elementary School.
• Larry Sorrells of Harrison, high school science teacher for the Jasper School District.
• Danny Thomas of Junction City, superintendent of the Junction City School District.
• William “Bill” Tietz of White Hall, facilities director for the Watson Chapel School District.
• Don Patrick Travis of Hot Springs, high school English teacher at Prescott High School.
• Dewayne Wammack of Beebe, principal of Bigelow High School.
• Rick Wood of Searcy, high school principal in the Bradford School District.