Ronnie Kissier

New superintendent looking forward to growth, challenge at Poyen

Ronnie Kissier was recently hired as the new superintendent for the Poyen School District. He replaces Jerry Newton, who has served in the role for the past 39 years. Kissier has been the superintendent for the Ouachita School District for 12 years.
Ronnie Kissier was recently hired as the new superintendent for the Poyen School District. He replaces Jerry Newton, who has served in the role for the past 39 years. Kissier has been the superintendent for the Ouachita School District for 12 years.

As a young boy, Ronnie Kissier struggled to read. He had no desire to even pick up a book. It wasn’t until he was introduced to comic books that he began to read almost every day. That collection of comic books has now grown to an estimated 600, with his favorite superhero being Batman.

But while his tale of coming to enjoy reading may be similar to that of others, it is that kind of hopeful and positive message with which he hopes to inspire his students.

“My goal is to always help kids succeed,” Kissier said, “and success is whatever a student wants to do with their life. We all have different skills.

“It matters what each student wants to do and that they can support themselves and have an enjoyable life.”

Kissier was recently named the new superintendent for the Poyen School District. He replaces former superintendent Jerry Newton, who is retiring after 39 years of service.

“Jerry is the real story; he has been there 39 years,” Kissier said. “That’s a good place to go in — where someone has done so much.

“I told my board, if I retired from Ouachita, I would be blessed. But I have to consider my ultimate goal of my retirement, and with Poyen, my goal is to continue to do what Jerry has already put into place.”

Kissier said that too often, people want to come in and try to make a name for themselves and change things. He said that is not good for the community or the district.

“My ultimate goal for Poyen is to sustain what Mr. Newton has done,” Kissier said.

He did say that one of his hopes for Poyen is to renovate or replace the cafeteria and make adjustments to the facilities.

Kissier is in his 12th year as superintendent for the Ouachita School District. He has about 20 years in education altogether, having worked for the Ouachita Job Corp., teaching at Lake Hamilton High School and Hot Springs High School.

“I think he is a really good school administrator and is very knowledgeable,” Newton said. “I think he has done an outstanding job for the Ouachita School District.”

Newton said the two have a professional relationship but said they are also friends outside of work. He said he has known Kissier for close to 15 years and believes he is a very honest and trustworthy man.

“I think he will do an outstanding job,” Newton said. “Our school and community are excited to have him. I think he is going to lead us to great things at Poyen.”

Newton said the Poyen School Board received about 30 applications for the position and narrowed it down to five potential candidates, but he said Kissier hit all the right boxes.

“He was someone with a background with buildings and construction and a financial background,” Newton said. “He met those things. He has had success at Ouachita. He was the best option for the Poyen School District.”

Kissier will officially start as superintendent July 1.

“I just want to spend time with my family and work on my farm,” Newton said. “I will continue to work with the school and help him a little bit in an advisory-type capacity.”

Newton said he is still going to help Kissier and the board any way he can.

“The big thing is the continued stability that Mr. Newton has set into place,” Kissier said. “He’s had a great community, and it has always been a great school. He has done great things.

“I am going in just to learn what Poyen does, and I am not going in there to do what I do. I just want to make adjustments that continue the vision the board and Mr. Newton have set over the years.”

Kissier graduated from Lake Hamilton High School in 1987 and earned his bachelor’s degree from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia in 1997. He also earned a master’s in educational leadership in 2004 and an education specialist degree in 2007. He said he switched to Poyen because he felt it was a better district in which to retire.

“Ouachita has been great, but Poyen is a little bit larger district, so they can do a little more,” Kissier said. “I am kind of limited on places that I am willing to work, after being at Ouachita for so long.

“It is a good school and I liked the setting. Poyen is another great school that is compatible settingwise, versus going up to some of the larger schools. I enjoy working in the community-type atmosphere that the smaller-type schools have.”

He said he has about six years before he can receive his full retirement benefits but estimated he would work longer than that. His wife, Susan, is the superintendent for the Bismarck School District, and he said she has about 12 years before she can retire.

“So I don’t think I am going to get off the hook in six,” he said with a laugh.

He said he has enjoyed his time at Ouachita, especially working with the community, the faculty and the board.

“It has been an amazing place,” he said. “All three of my kids graduated from Ouachita. It is a great school. I think my biggest impact on the district has been the facilities that we have built.”

He said he has been fortunate to see student growth throughout his time, which has allowed the district to update the facilities. He said they have built a career tech building, a safe room and an art-music building and made an addition to the elementary school.

“As far as I am concerned, I have done nothing,” he said. “It is based on our board, our community support and our faculty.

“It takes everyone working together to make anything happen. I consider myself the least important person here. It is the other people.”

When Kissier served as high school principal, the Ouachita School District had about 373 students enrolled. Since then, enrollment has increased to 500 from kindergarten to the 12th grade. There are also 40 students in the district’s pre-K program.

Kissier said school choice played a big role in the increase of students.

“The Legislature finally allowing choice, it benefits districts of our size in particular,” Kissier said. “With the small square-mile area — we are only about 78 square miles — we have a lot of surrounding people who couldn’t come here.

“We had students who were just 3 miles down the road who had to go 14 or 15 miles to other districts. With the opening of choice, it allowed people to go to school closer to their homes.”

Kissier said it allowed parents to have the choice to send their kids where they thought they would thrive. He said his three children originally went to Lake Hamilton, but he said they thrived more in the smaller district.

“I enjoy working with students. I enjoy working with the faculty, the community and the board,” Kissier said. “As superintendent, it is a new challenge all the time. It is some of the best times and worst times of your life. That’s all part of the challenge.

“It is our job to try to solve problems, and that’s what we do.”

Lyn McDade, who has worked for Kissier for seven years as an administrator, said Kissier has never been too busy to help her with anything, and at the same time, he has always backed her decisions.

“I credit the financial stability of our small school to his careful deliberations on spending taxpayers’ money,” she said. “Through his planning, along with our board of education, we have seen many facility upgrades throughout the district.

“In my opinion, our campus looks better than ever. I will miss him. I know he spent much time in making his decision to leave Ouachita. We wish him the very best with his new tribe.”

Staff writer Sam Pierce can be reached at (501) 244-4314 or spierce@arkansasonline.com.

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