Administrator Spotlight - Roy Wilson

Spotlight

Roy Wilson, GT/AP Coordinator, Sheridan School District, says, “The river of education was flowing long before I jumped in.” After 46 years in education, he leaves behind a stunning legacy.

In 1974, at age 20, when a “practice teacher” filled with enthusiasm and idealism from Henderson State University arrived at Sheridan Junior High, he had little clue that his future was about to be determined. Then Sheridan Superintendent Clyde Koon, asked him to join the faculty, saying: “We project an opening in social studies next fall due to growth. We believe that one day you will be a good teacher.” That shy kid who arrived only four months past a teenager, eventually would receive at least 20 individual teaching awards over a 46-year career at Sheridan. Credit for this adventurous career must go to Brinda and Linda Franklin of Roseboro, 1970 graduates of Glenwood High School in Pike County, who introduced Roy to the required paperwork known as a degree plan. Enrolling as an accounting major, Roy was finding the history topics of the professors to be immensely more interesting. To save money, the idea of Sheridan was attractive since Roy could stay with relatives during the internship. He would go on to work for six superintendents: Clyde Koon, Donald Turney, David Robinson, Scott Spainhour, Dr. Brenda Haynes, and Jerrod Williams.

In the 1980s, after editing a 500-page county history, Roy would be honored to receive seven yearly nominations for a state award by a determined local DAR chapter. In 1991, he received the State Chapters, DAR “Outstanding American History Teacher of the Year for Arkansas.” That summer, he attended a week-long workshop sponsored by the Economics Arkansas group and won the junior high competition with an economics lesson plan entitled: An Econography of Trade 1492-1765. Hoping for the monetary prize, Roy t a u g h t a n d d o c u m e n t e d t h e necessary elements and entered it in the Bessie B. Moore Economics Contest sponsored by Economics Arkansas, where he received second prize. During that school year he was honored with the Grant County Secondary Educator of the Year a w a rd f ro m t h e C h a m b e r o f Commerce.

After dusting off a UALR gifted education class lesson with an additional fifteen activities for 8 th grade history students, the result was a 250-page entry, From Clabber Girl Days to Walmart Ways. The lesson won first place in both the state and national economics competition. Roy did make that speech on Capitol Hill courtesy of the National Council for Economic Education. A second book, Sheridan and Grant County, would follow in 2012, as part of Arcadia Publishing’s “Images of America” series.

In 2002, after being nominated by a student, Roy received the Walmart Arkansas Teacher of the Year and was awarded $5000 for his school.

Roy received a Gifted Educator’s Award at the annual convention of the Arkansas for Gifted in 2005 and, after

Roy is most proud of starting whole-grade screenings with a system of fair and impartial selection for gifted students, supporting the growth in AP qualifying scores, and for the many opportunities to spend quality classroom time with the young people of the Sheridan School District.

Left to Right: Jerrod Williams, Superintendent, sharing a light-hearted moment with Roy Wilson, GT/AP Coordinator, Debbie Jones, Director of Special Services, and Heather Szeflinski, CFO of the Sheridan Schools.

leaving his classroom in 2007, to become the GT/AP Coordinator for the Sheridan Schools, Roy took on the challenge of applying twice to become part of the Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science efforts to increase the success rate on AP Exams. In 2010, AR AIMS selected Sheridan for its third cohort which provided matching grants for equipment, lots of teacher training, plus generous incentives for students and teachers. This partnership was instrumental in raising the AP qualifying scores at Sheridan from 98 exams in 2008 to a record 276 in 2018. Because of the efforts of AR AIMS, Arkansas students have led the nation in growth of AP scores in various categories.

Roy was elected to the board of the Arkansas Association of Gifted Education Administrators in 2014 and represented region five until 2020. In 2017, he was recognized as the AAGEA Gifted Administrator of the Year Award. Roy suggested that AAGEA sponsor a gifted student leadership conference that became a reality for four years at UCA, UALR, Harding, and the Clinton Presidential Center. He personally created the Clinton event with a social studies and science emphasis. The morning highlight was a live case before the Arkansas Supreme Court and the afternoon tour of the National Center for Toxicological Research. The luncheon keynote was internationally-known climate scientist and journalist Dan Grossman of Massachusetts, sponsored by the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting. Musicians from the Arkansas Symphony demonstrated musical creativity and participants encountered science experiments from the Museum of Discovery. “Look what was possible in offering something new for the students of Arkansas, Roy recalls. “Being an AAEA member offers opportunities for professional growth that leads its members to a commitment of service for fellow Arkansas educators who may not realize who was responsible in prompting legislative actions of great benefit to both the profession and to their lives. Getting to collaborate with outstanding leaders from across the state and at AAEA meetings with Dr. Abernathy, professional growth is bound to happen.”

One day, Roy received a message from Mrs. Leytine Henry of El Dorado, whose grandchildren, Lee and Caity Curry, had been enrolled in his classroom. “I have wanted to write and thank you for helping both Lee and Caity find 'their voice,’ for helping them to know that their opinion matters, their vote counts, and just one person can make a difference,” wrote Mrs. Levtine. “Lee and Caity are truly interested and concerned about what is happening in our world today. They want to be involved! I give so much of the credit for their desire to know and to be involved to you. The educational system needs more teachers like you!”

Roy now leaves education after 46 years of dedication to serving students and their families of the Sheridan School District, he wishes his colleagues much success and promises to seek worthy goals to move forward. “The river of education was flowing long before I jumped in,” he said, “and it will continue to flow long after I swim to that far shore. I did my best.”