Arkansas Education Commissioner Johnny Key has announced staffing changes at the State Department of Education.
Eric Saunders -- the assistant commissioner at the department for fiscal and administrative services since 2014 -- will become assistant commissioner for research and technology, beginning July 1. Saunders will replace Cody Decker, who is leaving the agency to be director of the Office of Institutional Research at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Greg Rogers, who currently serves as the Education Department's chief fiscal officer, will take Saunders' place as assistant commissioner for fiscal and administrative services.
Anthony Owen, math and computer science curriculum specialist at the Education Department since 2011, will become the agency's new coordinator of computer science, effective July 1.
In his new role, Saunders will oversee the agency's data reporting systems, including its Data Center; the Data Quality Unit; technology initiatives and resources such as the StudentGPS Dashboards; and the agency's Technical Support Unit.
"Dr. Saunders' comprehensive background has prepared him for this new role," Key said. "Not only does he have extensive experience with financial matters, Dr. Saunders has a strong understanding of how to use research and technology to make data-driven decisions that lead to an increase in student achievement."
Saunders is a former three-year superintendent of the East End School District in Bigelow. From 2006 to 2011, he was principal at Lavaca High School. He is also a former math teacher and coach at Gentry High School.
Saunders earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education at Oklahoma State University and has master's and doctorate degrees in education from Harding University in Searcy.
Rogers, who joined the Education Department in 2012, will oversee the distribution of funds to public schools, as well as the daily operations of the child nutrition unit, school finance and student management software, and fiscal distress unit. He also will continue to be the agency's chief fiscal officer.
He started work in state government in 1997 as an individual income tax auditor for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. He later served as a revenue division manager, a senior budget analyst and then the assistant administrator for the Office of Administrative Services.
Key said that Rogers has strong relationships with several agencies and legislators.
"In addition, his background includes more than 10 years of experience with education funding matters, making him a great selection for the assistant commissioner position," Key said.
Rogers has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Southern Arkansas University at Magnolia and a master's degree in international business from Salem International University in Salem, W.Va.
Owen, who has a master's degree in educational leadership and a law degree, will work with Gov. Asa Hutchinson's Computer Science Task Force to identify the state's computer science and technology needs. He will assist schools with integrating new computer science standards and courses, coordinate with the Education Department's licensure unit on teacher certification matters and assist with recruiting computer science teachers.
Another task will be to develop a computer science network of teachers, higher education faculty and representatives of business and industry as a way to ensure that computer science efforts in public schools are relevant to current trends.
Owen started his education career as a math and science teacher at Sheridan High School in 2006. He later taught at Gurdon High School, Goza Middle School at Arkadelphia and England High School.
He earned a bachelor's degree in math with minors in education and computer science, and a master's degree in educational leadership from Henderson State University at Arkadelphia. He received a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's W.H. Bowen School of Law in 2013 and has been a member of the Arkansas Bar Association since April 2014.
Owen's salary in the position will be set by the state Office of Personnel Management, Education Department spokesman Kimberly Friedman said. The pay grade for the position is N902, and the 2014 pay range for that is $67,600 to $84,500.
Metro on 06/06/2015