Virginia (Ginger) Lee Leslie

Virginia (Ginger) Lee Leslie, formerly of Springdale, died in Bigfork, Montana, at the age of 80. She was the daughter of Lee Roy and Ota Nail Hembree. The Hembree and Nail families were early settlers of Benton County. Ginger received BA, Masters, and Specialist degrees from the University of Arkansas and worked in education for 38 years. She started her teaching career at Springdale High but spent most of it in the Rogers Public School system. She taught high school math and developed and taught the first psychology course offered at Rogers High. She also served as a school counselor for many years. Ginger was widely known as a mover and shaker. Her energy, intelligence, and passion for education resulted in many classroom innovations, such as individualized learning, working in groups, and bringing community and nationally-known speakers into the classroom. She and colleague Faye Jeffery hosted personalities such as Rachael Carson, Ben Spock, Mary Morgan, a coal miner from West Africa, and 60 Minutes of Australia in their classrooms. She also traveled to the Women's Correctional facility at Tucker, Arkansas, and developed lesson plans from her visit. She brought her innovative spirit to the counseling office, where she helped establish the Elm Street Center, an alternative center for struggling students. She helped develop the first block schedule at Rogers High, and also initiated a program whereby older students mentored younger students. She was a passionate advocate for students. Ginger was also a passionate advocate for teachers. She was one of the founders of the Education Association of Rogers (EAR), a local affiliate of the Arkansas Education Association (AEA), and served as Co-Chairman of the first Rogers Public Schools Personnel Policies Committee. Ginger was devoted to her church, First United Methodist Church of Springdale, where she served for many years as a volunteer. She is survived by one son, Mark Chad Leslie, and his wife, Kathleen Janet (nee Bonnema) Leslie, of Bigfork, Montana; two sisters, Bonnie Darnell of Fayetteville and Donna Mitchell and her husband, Robert, of Fort Smith; nephews Aaron Mitchell and his wife, Margaret, of Dallas, Tyler Mitchell and his wife, Jessica, of Minneapolis, and Thomas Scruggs of Lowell; one niece, Kim Darnell, of Fayetteville and her longtime companion George Degn who passed away shortly after her. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, October 24, at 11 a.m. at Oakley Chapel, 203 S Promenade Blvd., in Rogers. Reception following service at 506 S. 3rd St., Rogers.