White hired as assistant SSHS principal

Krystal Wheat to serve as Panther Health and Wellness Center director

Ross White

Ross White

Sunday, July 1, 2018

Ross White, Siloam Springs School District's vocational coordinator, was hired to be the new high school assistant principal during a special school board meeting on Thursday.

White was one of 15 licensed staff members hired during the brief meeting. Other notable hires included Abby Ray, girls head soccer coach; Luke Shoemaker, boys head soccer coach; Kendra Woodlee, high school agriculture and Career Academy of Siloam Springs teacher; and Krystal Wheat, Panther Health and Wellness Clinic director. School board members also accepted resignations from eight licensed staff members.

Licensed staff hired:

• Amy Curtis, high school math teacher

• Paige Heffron, high school counselor

• Jillian Ellis, fourth-grade teacher

• Aubree Rogers, fourth-grade teacher

• Valerie Howe, high school counselor

• Tang Jones, high school math teacher

• Kendra Woodlee, high school agriculture/Career Academy of Siloam Springs teacher

• Jennifer Sadler, high school math teacher

• Skyler Teekell, high school family consumer science teacher

• Heather Wright, high school humanities teacher

• Jamie Tims, high school medical professions teacher

• Abby Ray, head girls soccer coach

• Luke Shoemaker, head boys soccer coach

• Ross White, high school assistant principal

• Krystal Wheat, Panther Health and Wellness Center director

Licensed staff resignations:

• Michelle Fegley, high school humanities teacher

• Brent Crenshaw, high school soccer coach and math teacher

• Ronnel Jeppsen, intermediate school math interventionist

• Benjamin Marcom, fourth-grade teacher

• Tracey Overton, high school special education teacher

• Alan Morgan, intermediate school art teacher

• Lindsay Crough, high school speech language pathologist

• Brandi Perkins, Allen Elementary School speech language pathologist

White has served as the district's vocational coordinator and as a high school business teacher for the past year, according to a recommendation letter from the interview committee, which consisted of Assistant Superintendent Jody Wiggins, and assistant high school principals Jerrie Price and Barry Hardin.

"In conversations with faculty, (White's) name was repeatedly mentioned as someone who should be considered for any administrative position in the high school," the letter states. "With the turnover in our high school leadership, he will bring a familiarity and consistency to the administrative team and to our focus on preparing students to be college and career ready."

Before joining the Siloam Springs School District, White worked for nine years in the Alma School District as a marketing education teacher, the letter states. He is fully licensed as a building administrator.

White will somewhat serve as a replacement for Vice Principal Kevin Snavely, who announced earlier this month that he has accepted a job as vice principal of the Springdale High School.

Snaveley's announcement followed the news that Siloam Springs High School Principal Jason Jones would be taking a job as principal of the Springdale High School. Anne Martfeld of Springdale was hired to fill his position during the June 14 school board meeting.

Superintendent Ken Ramey explained that the high school is going to try having three assistant principals -- White, Price and Hardin -- instead of two assistant principals and a vice principal.

"I think the skill set will be real strong for us and I think this is a good thing for the high school in terms of helping us stabilize our environment," Ramey said. "We've got so much turnover, it's good to still have three of our four that have been there and promoting from within after we have gone outside. I think there is a good balance there."

Panther Health and Wellness Clinic Director

Current high school counselor Krystal Wheat was hired to replace Sarah Jones, wife of Jason Jones, as the director of the Panther Health and Wellness Clinic. Sarah Jones resigned from her position at the school-based health center last month to accept a job in the Springdale School District.

Wheat had an active role in the development and growth of the clinic over the past three years, and is already a member of the district's coordinated school health committee, the letter states.

"Krystal brings a deep and broad knowledge base to the work of the clinic," a recommendation letter from the interview committee stated. "Her background in business will support the development of a comprehensive data collection system. Her years as a high school counselor inform the work of wrap-around services for students through collaborative teams. She also brings a well-developed network of community relationships."

"She's got a special heart, she's a special person all the way around," Ramey said. "I think we would be well served to have Krystal move into the coordinator spot."

Ramey said that the district still has six open licensed positions to hire for the upcoming school year.

General News on 07/01/2018