Administrator Spotlight

Charles Warren

Chief Financial Officer, Fort Smith School District

Charles Warren says that despite coming from a family full of educators – his father, mother, brothers, and later even his children and their spouses all pursued the field of education – the teaching gene skipped him. He instead was drawn to accounting and business and worked for two CPA firms before joining the education field himself. He says, "During that time, to get closer to the 'family business,' I got very involved in PTA. I have served as the Treasurer and President at the district-level Fort Smith Council PTA and the state-level Arkansas PTA. When the CFO position opened at Fort Smith Public Schools, I applied, even though I had no real experience in governmental accounting. I truly believe my passion for education and PTA helped me land this dream job." Charles states he is grateful to Dr. Benny Gooden, who was superintendent at the time, for teaching him school business and better preparing him as CFO for subsequent superintendents.

Charles says his favorite thing about his job is the problem solving. “School Business Officials are presented with problems or issues – big and small – to be addressed or solved. Working on a spreadsheet, analyzing data, and solving that puzzle is extremely gratifying." He says the most challenging aspect of his job is that "the demands of legislators, stakeholders, staff, and students are constantly changing. Finding the funding for all of it is real. The challenge is to eliminate the reasons we can’t do something to find a way we can do something." For those considering a similar career, he says, "Being a teacher is an incredibly rewarding and thankless job. Teachers are underpaid and overwhelmed, but they affect kids every day. Some of us do not have the skills to be in the classroom, but the experience and skills of an accountant can be used to support the classroom and make that teacher’s job and life a little bit easier or less burdensome so that more time can be spent with the kids. I tell a new school business official 'you are not just an accountant now, you are an educator.'"

Charles hopes to be seen as "one of many members of the Warren family that made a positive impact on public education in Arkansas." His efforts to that effect have so far been recognized with several awards. In 2020, he received the Arkansas Society of CPAs Outstanding CPA in Government award. That state-level application was forwarded to the national level, where he also won the American Institute of CPAs Outstanding CPA in Government Local Impact award in 2022. In September 2022, he received the Pinnacle of Excellence award from ASBO International for finding a creative solution to a district issue. He says, "Professionally, the day I received the Pinnacle of Excellence award in Portland, OR was remarkable. I gave a speech from a teleprompter for the first time. The ASBOI members and staff really made me feel special."

? Q&A ! with Charles Warren

How would your co-workers describe you?

Grumpy is the first word that comes to mind. I believe I’m perceived to be introverted, pensive and creative. I am not afraid of the label “creative accountant.” I think it is necessary at times.

What do you enjoy doing during your time off?

I play tennis regularly. My wife, Missy, and I attend movies all the time. We can sometimes speak in movie quotes.

What might other administrators be surprised to know about you?

As introverted and quiet as I am naturally, I’ve performed for the Fort Smith Little Theater over the last 16 years.

What is the most daring thing you’ve done?

In 2019, after an absence of 30 years, I returned to college at the ripe old age of 52 to complete my MBA.

What is one of the things on your “Bucket List?”

My bucket list is movie related. I have run up the “Rocky” steps at dawn in Philadelphia. I have run the “picket fence” in the gym where Hoosiers was filmed. I still want to run barefoot on the beach at St. Andrews in Scotland (Chariots of Fire) and sing “Do-Re-Mi” on the steps of Mirabell Palace in Salzburg (Sound of Music).

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Five years away from retirement with a whole lot more stories that begin with “Remember when we had to deal with…”

What is the best advice you have ever received?

Admit your mistakes, determine how it happened and set up a system to avoid repeating it.

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

AAEA allows you to build relationships so that you don’t feel so isolated as a School Business Official. A quick conversation of “how are you doing this?” can reduce stress and save time.