Administrator Spotlight:
Dr. Taryn Echols
Assistant Superintendent, Hot Springs School District Dr. Taryn Echols, Assistant Superintendent at Hot Springs School District, says she absolutely did NOT want to become an educator. "My major in college was Biology and my original plan was to be a pharmaceutical sales representative," she says. "One sales job in the copier business and three months of door-to-door sales made me change my mind quickly and travel the pathway of alternative certification." From there, teaching became her passion, and she is now completing her fifteenth year in education, with ten of those as an educational leader. She states, "I have served in just about every role you can think of! I started off as a 7th-grade science teacher in Carrollton, Texas, then moved to Watson Chapel to teach alongside my husband who coached there. I have served as an assistant principal for grades 5-6 and 7-9, principal for grades K-4 and 9-12, and currently serve as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. I have done some adjunct teaching for Harding University in their Educational Leadership Department as well." Dr. Echols says her favorite thing about her job is the ability to impact students’ lives at a high level and getting to watch their progression over the years. She says, "I get the most joy from watching emerging readers become confident readers. The power we have as educators is truly unmatched. We are given the gift of shaping students into the best versions of themselves and that is a sparkle you can’t find anywhere else." One of the most challenging parts of her job is seeing the struggle some students and families face. "It motivates me to have the courage to stand up for all students, provide opportunities for families to build confident children, and look for innovative ways to support educating our students." The biggest change she's seen over her career is the focus on collaboration through the professional learning community process. "I have championed this work well before I knew it had a name. Beyond test scores, schools have to build a solid foundation of collaboration in order to make informed decisions to best support students. Schools should be filled with laughter, fun, and a desire to provide outstanding experiences for our students." In the future she sees herself continuing to serve the educational needs of families and supporting the needs of teachers and leaders, saying "I am a true believer in walking in faith. A title, location, or position won’t dictate who I am or what I do. Leadership is action and I believe in five years, I will still be leading and loving what I do.” She advises those embarking on a similar career path: "All roses don’t bloom the same way... If you truly believe in your leadership capacity, bloom where you are planted, whether that is classroom teacher, interventionist, or coach. Leadership doesn’t require a title, it requires a service." 9
