GENTRY -- Terrie Metz, the Gentry School District's federal programs and curriculum coordinator, will take over as superintendent July 1.
She will succeed Randy Barrett, who is retiring from the position at the end of the school year after serving as Gentry's superintendent for nearly 25 years.
Metz was one of eight applicants. They included Jay Chalk, principal of Gravette High School, and Christopher Ferrell, assistant superintendent of the Manila School District, said Gary Dunlap, a board member and chairman of the committee screening the candidates.
The district consists of four schools and has an enrollment of about 1,400 students.
Metz has spent nearly 30 years in education. She is in her 12th year with Gentry and her second year as the district's federal programs and curriculum coordinator. She spent five years as assistant principal at Gentry High School and taught math at the intermediate and middle school levels before that.
Metz earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Wyoming and she is working on an advanced degree from Harding University. She and her husband live in Gentry, and her two children are graduates of Gentry High School.
Dunlap said Metz's familiarity with the district and the impact she's had on students during her time in Gentry made an impression on the committee.
The school board appointed a nine-person committee to screen candidates for the job after Barrett said in November he planned to retire as superintendent at the end of the school year.
Barrett, 61, is Benton County's longest-serving school superintendent. He started in 1992 after working for five years as a junior high school principal in Dumas.
As superintendent, Barrett has overseen the addition of several facilities, managed seven successful millage campaigns and almost doubled the beginning teacher's salary from what it was when he started, according to a list of accomplishments he provided. The board rated him as proficient during his most recent annual review in December.
Whereas he's spent much of his time focused on improving the district's facilities, Barrett said he believes Metz will focus more on teaching and learning.
"I think that's her strength. She will be a different superintendent than what I've been. I'm not saying that's good or bad, I'm just saying it's different. I believe what she will bring to the table in her leadership is what the district is needing now."
Metro on 02/16/2017