School Board Interviews State Official For Superintendent Post

Kimbrell Spends Three Hours In Conversation With Officials

Friday, January 31, 2014

FAYETTEVILLE — State Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell spent about three hours Thursday with the School Board in what he described as a “great conversation” about the superintendent’s post he’s interested in.

Tim Hudson, board president, said the conversation covered “the gamut” of school issues. He said it was a “productive conversation. He asked great questions.”

Profile

Tom W. Kimbrell

Age: 52

Employment: Arkansas education commissioner

Education: University of Arkansas, bachelor’s degree; Arkansas State University, master’s and doctoral degree

Family: Married. Wife, Tina. Two children, Kason, high school senior, and Gracie, seventh grade

As Kimbrell departed the meeting to return to his home in Cabot, the board returned to executive session to continue discussing the superintendency and Kimbrell’s interest in the job. No job offer was made and no decision was to be made Thursday, Hudson said. The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m. after starting at 5:15 p.m.

Kimbrell, 52, contacted Hudson on Jan. 20 to express interest in the job that will be vacated June 30 with the resignation of Vicki Thomas.

Kimbrell was appointed the chief executive of the Arkansas Department of Education by Gov. Mike Beebe in 2009. He was the executive director of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators at the time of his appointment. He has served as a superintendent in Paragould and North Little Rock as well as a director of fiscal services, assistant principal, teacher and coach, during his 30-year career as an Arkansas educator.

Before the interview, Kimbrell said he has never planned to retire as the education commissioner, calling the job the hardest one he has ever had. He serves as the pleasure of the governor.

He said he felt he could transition to a superintendent easily after serving as the head of the Department of Education, where he earns just more than $228,000. Thomas’ annual salary is $207,000.

The job as the commissioner required constant reaction to situations on a daily basis, he said. A superintendent has more time to be proactive and to plan.

A possible move to Northwest Arkansas was a decision his family discussed and embraced, he said. “I loved living here when I attended the University of Arkansas,” he said. “This is an interesting school district, a sought-after school district.”

The experience he brings to the table includes leadership, experience with building relationships and making school improvements and other skills, he said.

The board decided a week ago during an executive session at its regular meeting to proceed with interviewing Kimbrell but waited until Thursday to announce the special meeting and interview. State law allows interviews to be done behind closed doors in executive session.

He also has been a key voice in the state’s implementation of the Common Core State Standards. He represents Arkansas on the board of the Partnership for Assessment of College and Career Readiness which is developing the assessment aligned to Common Core.

Before Thomas was hired, the board interviewed finalists for the post in executive session but also held meetings to allow patrons to meet the finalists. No such plan has been discussed yet for Kimbrell or any other applicant for the post.