Atkins' Gotcher accepts state job
T. Mark Gotcher, superintendent of the Atkins School District since 2013, will become deputy commissioner of the Arkansas Department of Education, Education Commissioner Johnny Key announced Friday.
Gotcher will begin his new job July 1. He replaces Mike Hernandez, who was recently named the new superintendent of the Hot Springs School District, and Tony Wood, who will serve as the new superintendent of the Jacksonville/North Pulaski School District.
"Dr. Gotcher brings a wealth of experience, not only as an administrator but as a former teacher," Key said. "He has strong relationships with educators, legislators and the public, which make him exceptionally qualified for the position. I, as well as the rest of the ADE team, look forward to working with him."
Before his work in Atkins, Gotcher was principal at Crawford Elementary School in Russellville from 2007-13, assistant principal at Russellville Junior High School from 2005-07 and assistant principal at Russellville Middle School from 2001-05. He is also a former music teacher in the Hector, Dardanelle and Russellville school systems, starting that work in 1988.
Gotcher earned a bachelor's degree in music education in 1988, a master's degree in educational leadership in 2001 and an educator specialist degree in 2012, all from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. He received a doctorate in educational leadership this year from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.
Gotcher's experience and academic credentials are particularly important in light of Act 525 of 2015, which requires either the commissioner or the deputy commissioner to hold a master's degree and have 10 years of teaching experience, including five years of administrative experience.
Key, appointed to the commissioner's job earlier this year by Gov. Asa Hutchinson, has a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and is not a state-licensed educator, making it necessary that the person in the deputy position meet the legal requirements set in the act.
The salary for Gotcher's new job was not immediately available. Hernandez, his predecessor, earns $153,463.44, Education Department spokesman Kimberly Friedman said.
Association picks principals of year
Organizations under the umbrella of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators recently honored some of the state's school leaders.
Melissa Fink, the principal at Jones Elementary School in Springdale for seven years, is the Arkansas Association of Elementary School Principals' Principal of the Year.
Roger Ried, the principal of Southside High School in the Southside School District in Independence County for 10 years, is the Arkansas Association of Secondary School Principals' Principal of the Year.
Dion Stevens, principal of Southside Middle School in the Southside School District, is the Arkansas Association of Middle School Level Administrators' Principal of the Year. He has been a principal for nine years.
The Arkansas Association of Middle Level Administrators also named Edward "Ted" Whitehead, assistant principal at Fayetteville's McNair Middle School, as Middle Level Assistant Principal of the Year.
New district looks to add two to staff
The Jacksonville/North Pulaski School District is continuing to hire administrators for the new school system -- the latest two coming from the Arkansas Department of Education and the Little Rock School District.
On the agenda for the Monday meeting of the Jacksonville/North Pulaski School Board is a recommendation that Jeremy Owoh be hired as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, and Bobby E. Lester become the assistant superintendent for human resources and support services.
Owoh has been principal at Little Rock's J.A. Fair High School since 2011, and has experience in the Pulaski County Special and North Little Rock school districts.
Lester has been director of federal programs at the Arkansas Department of Education since 2010 and is a former assistant principal and principal in the Pulaski County Special district as well as federal programs coordinator in the system. He also is a former secondary science teacher in the Guy Perkins School District.
Lester is the son of Bobby G. Lester, the current interim superintendent of the Jacksonville/North Pulaski district.
Bobby G. Lester was hired to get the new district started. He will be replaced July 1 by Tony Wood, who will hold the job on a more permanent basis.
Metro on 05/31/2015