Administrator Spotlight

Kelli Cypert

Career and Technical Education Coordinator, Arkansas River ESC

Kelli Cypert, Career and Technical Education Coordinator at the Arkansas River Education Service Cooperative, says she had no desire to teach or be involved in the career of education. She received her Bachelor's in Accounting from the University in Central Arkansas and worked first in the banking industry. However, she left her job after the birth of her first child to become a homemaker and invest in her children. She says, "I began to volunteer daily at our local elementary school when our youngest child entered kindergarten. My husband told me, 'If you’re going to be at the school all day, you may as well get a job there.'" So, she applied for and accepted a paraprofessional position as a math tutor.

When her district discovered that she had a degree in accounting and aptitude in computer science programming, they offered her a position as a high school Business Education instructor. Kelli spent seven years in the secondary classroom while accomplishing a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification in Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood and a Master’s Degree in Education. In 2007, she accepted a position as the Director of School Improvement and Technology at the district level. During that time, she obtained an additional Master’s degree in Educational Administration, licensure as a building administrator, and certification as an Arkansas School Business Official (ASBO). Her current position as Career & Technical Education Coordinator allows her to further develop skills and invest knowledge within the scope of fiscal, administrative, and service-oriented job responsibilities. When asked to describe her position to non-educators, she says, "The summation of my job responsibilities is to help others." Helping others also happens to be her favorite part of the job, aside from working with fiscal applications, spreadsheets, and databases, of course. She says "I suppose God chose to give me delight in work-related tasks that other people don’t enjoy. That capacity has created a niche in every workplace in which I have been employed."

Kelli tries to remind others that educational careers do not pertain only to classroom teachers, and she enjoys encouraging individuals with varying interests to consider a pursuit within the educational environment as a career. "The educational environment houses mechanics, nurses, physical therapists, accountants, speech therapists, statisticians, and multiple other facets of our community workforce. Many times in Arkansas, the educational institution(s) within the town are the largest employer." As a non-traditional educator, she thinks her perspective may be unique in comparison to many educators. She says, "My hope is that some of the major changes in education reflect a growth in understanding of the educational backbone of our society. My concern is that we have watered down some of the fundamental components of our educational system’s initial purpose and intent: to teach character, integrity, reading and mathematics to our children through qualified competent instructors in a safe and structured local environment."

Kelli says she continues to strive daily to remain knowledgeable about changes to federal and state compliance. "As a veteran educator, the importance of not only being knowledgeable about our educational environment, but also understanding how the waves of change effect our practice is invaluable. My most important goal is to ensure that each interaction, whether virtual, in-person, or through digital means, is kind. My goal, and life responsibility, is to help people, and endeavor to aid individuals so that they are in a better situation after our interaction than before."

?Q&A! with Kelli Cypert

What is the best advice you have ever received?

Almost every time I would leave our home as a child, my father would tell me, “Remember who you are.” The phrase didn’t mean to remember that I was David Joslin’s daughter, or even that I was a ‘preacher’s kid.’ The intent was to remind me that I was a child of God, and that I should act accordingly in private and in public.

What might other administrators be surprised to know about you?

Working in dual occupations is a standard for our family. I serve, not only as a CTE Coordinator for ARESC, but also as a Pastor’s wife. My husband, Steve, founded New Life Fellowship in Sheridan, Arkansas, in 1999. I have worked at his side, supporting and teaching our community’s children about biblical foundations while serving as a musician, and in any other capacity needed to help make the church successful. Teaching and helping others is my life’s calling.

What is the most daring thing you’ve done?

The most daring activity I have ever done was to climb the mountains bordering the Mākaha Valley of O’ahu. Originally, the excursion began with my older brother who was stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Pearl Harbor, in Honolulu. Due to his strength to climb, and my lack of stamina, we were separated midway on a cliff. My brother climbed up the cliff; I climbed back down. That’s when I learned the importance of being directionally oriented, no matter where you are. Exploring nature gains a whole new meaning when you’re lost. A number of hours later, after trekking through various environmental dangers, I was able to find my way. It’s an island, so I knew I would reach the ocean at some point. I just wasn’t sure where.

What have you done that you are most proud of?

With the birth of our first child, it became evident that the investment in our children would far outweigh any other asset. You see, if your children are blessed and successful, then you as a parent are in turn blessed and successful. In spite of much professionally oriented advice against the decision, I spent eight years as a homemaker, until our youngest child entered kindergarten. It is by far the most rewarding occupation I have ever undertaken. During that time, we sowed and cultivated our belief in integrity, morals, and Christ-centered character in our children. Time has proven that the investment in our children was a wise choice.

What do you enjoy doing during your time off?

Steve and I enjoy spending time with our five grandchildren playing outside or simply riding ATVs in the bountiful woods that surround our home, enjoying God’s created beauty. Gardening, tending animals and playing the piano are also favorite past times.

What do you see as the biggest benefit of AAEA membership?

Professional organizations each have their own distinct purpose and intent. AAEA is an organization that encompasses the attributes of numerous educational administrative job responsibilities from district-level to building-level. The opportunity to develop state-wide relationships with individuals that share various components of administrative responsibilities and the training opportunities sponsored by AAEA are dynamic. AAEA has been an important element of training for me in every educational job capacity in which I have served.