BENTONVILLE -- School Superintendent Michael Poore has shifted some familiar faces to new places within his administrative team while also tweaking the team's structure.
Poore reorganized the upper level of his team with the departure of three senior administrators this summer. He downgraded the communication position from executive director to director and elevated two positions from director to executive director. He now has five executive directors.
At A Glance
The New Team
These are the executive directors in the Bentonville School District’s central office. All report to Superintendent Michael Poore.
• Dena Ross, human resources
• Sterling Ming, finance and business
• Tanya Sharp, student services
• Tammy Gibson, instruction leadership, prekindergarten through sixth grade
• Judy Marquess, instruction leadership, seventh through 12th grades
Source: Bentonville School District
Overall the moves save the district about $40,000, he said. The School Board approved the changes last month.
"I am trusting it's the right thing and it will make everything work even better," said Wendi Cheatham, board president. "I wouldn't say the previous way (Poore) had it organized was ineffective, but any ways we can improve, I'm all for that. He feels it will make things flow a little better."
Tammy Gibson and Judy Marquess oversee instruction for grades prekindergarten through six and grades seven through 12, respectively. Poore elevated them from directors to executive directors. They received small raises because they are being given more responsibilities, Poore said.
Mary Ley was the district's executive director of communications from July 2011 until this month. She recently was named superintendent of the Arkansas Arts Academy, a charter school in Rogers.
Poore hired Ley for the communication job without advertising the position when he became superintendent in 2011. He knew her from their time working together in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The communication position previously paid $105,000 per year. Now that it's being downgraded from executive director to director, it will pay between $70,000 and $80,000, Poore said. He hopes to fill the position by the end of this month.
Poore also is seeking a coordinator of professional development.
In another change, Dena Ross was named executive director of human resources. She replaces Galen Havner, who retired last month.
Ross has been with the district for more than 20 years, Poore said. She most recently served as executive director of instructional services.
About 15 people applied for the human resources job. Ross was one of two internal candidates. Her knowledge of what it's like to be a teacher and a principal made her stand out, Poore said.
"She's an excellent communicator," he said. "She did a great job on her interview. She came in with a detailed plan."
Tanya Sharp, who had been director of special services, was promoted to executive director of student services. She replaces Brad Reed, who left for a superintendent job in Kansas.
The district's other executive director is Sterling Ming, who manages finances.
Rebecca Powers, a board member, said she appreciates the administrative restructuring not only as a way of saving some money, but also for making full use of the district's talent.
"As our district grows and we're presented with new challenges to try to meet all the needs of the students, I think it's wise to look at job responsibilities and who has what," Powers said. "That's something that probably had to be done for some time."
She said she worries, however, about how many administrators the district is losing.
"We have great, strong people leaving and those are always hard positions to fill. So I think by restructuring, (Poore) can use the talent of the people we have to make up for the talents of those we're losing," Powers said.
NW News on 07/12/2014