The Little Rock School District has announced the appointments of two department managers, a special assistant to the superintendent and five elementary school principals.
Cassandra Steele is the new director of the special programs division, which provides special education services to students with disabilities. Rhonda Langrell Benton is the district's new director of human resources. Barbara Halford is the special assistant to the superintendent.
Steele, a speech-language pathologist, most recently served as a co-director on the leadership team for the district's special programs division. From 1999 to 2012, she was coordinator of speech and hearing services for the district.
Steele earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Arkansas and a master's degree in communicative disorders from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Her annual salary will be $109,062.
Benton, who will be paid an annual salary of $102,747, moves to the district from Arkansas Children's Hospital, where she was director of employee relations for nearly 10 years. She previously worked for 10 years for the city of Little Rock in different jobs.
She has bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Halford, who will earn an annual salary of $101,760, previously worked as a leadership member in the district special programs division and was coordinator of the district's occupational and physical therapy services. She is a former chief physical therapist at Arkansas Children's Hospital.
She has a bachelor's degree in physical therapy from the University of Central Arkansas and is working toward the executive master of business administration degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
The new principal appointments are:
• Geyer Springs Elementary School Principal Cynthia Collins to Meadowcliff Elementary, replacing Ada Keown, who retired.
• Dunbar Middle School Assistant Principal Clifton Woodley to Wilson Elementary, replacing Eleanor Cox, who retired.
• Fulbright Elementary School Assistant Principal Anna Lloyd to Pulaski Heights Elementary, replacing Lillie Carter, who retired.
• Otter Creek Elementary Assistant Principal Wendy Minor to Otter Creek Elementary, replacing Donna Hall, who retired.
• Chicot Elementary School Assistant Principal Tina Greenwood to Gibbs Elementary, replacing Felicia Hobbs, who retired.
Metro on 06/08/2016