5 minute read
Spotlight
Dr. Sherrie Bayles, Special Education Supervisor at Springdale Public Schools, pursued a career in education to escape life behind… a typewriter!
Dr. Sherrie Bayles appreciates that every day is different at Springdale Public Schools. “You may make a plan for each day, but life happens, and educators are experts at ‘pivoting’ to make the most of each day.” It is fortunate she landed in the education field, as her days may have been much more predictable had she continued on her initial career path. “I enrolled in the University of Arkansas’ Business College after high school graduation, but decided after a semester that I didn’t want to sit behind a typewriter forever (yes…a typewriter!!).” Instead, she ended up in the College of Education and began a career in the education field, finding she loves being a public school teacher and administrator.
Now, Sherrie is finishing her 40th year in education, all in the Springdale School District. Springdale is her hometown, and she grew up attending and graduating from Springdale Schools. “During my senior year at the University of Arkansas, I was assigned to student teach in Springdale. One of my placements was at Elmdale Elementary where I had gone to school!” In 1981, she was hired as an elementary teacher and taught for six years at three elementary schools - Central, John Tyson, and Thurman G. Smith. She became an elementary school assistant principal at Thurman G. Smith Elementary in 1987, during which time the school achieved National Blue Ribbon School recognition. She served in that position for 10 years, then served one year at Lee Elementary. In 1998, she became principal at Lee Elementary and served there for two years before being chosen to open Bernice Young Elementary School in 2000. In 2008, she was recognized as Arkansas National Distinguished Elementary Principal before leaving as a building administrator to join the Special Education Department as a district special education administrator and supervisor. During her career, she also served on the AAEA Board for three years as the AAESP President-Elect, President, and Past President, served two terms as AASEA President, and earned a Doctorate in P-20 Educational Leadership from Harding University in 2014.
Sherrie hopes to be seen as someone who is dedicated, caring, loyal, open to others’ ideas, and going above and beyond to meet the needs of our students and teachers. She strives to give her all to others and works continuously to provide support and resources to students, parents, and teachers to make life better. “Teaching is tremendously rewarding but it’s not easy! Educators never know what an impact you make, but you do make an impact not only in a child’s life but with their family and your colleagues. You really never know how far your impact goes!” Throughout her career she has seen many changes, with new programs providing an ever-expanding array of teaching tools that teachers can add to their ‘toolkit’ when working with students.
The most challenging aspect of her job is in trying to meet the needs of everyone she encounters every day - collaborating and communicating with all the stakeholders (students, parents, and teachers) to determine a student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) and how to deliver that instruction to meet the student’s needs. She admires her students for how much they can accomplish when given the appropriate services and supports. “The versatility of children has always amazed me,” she says. “They have new ‘bosses’ and rules every year, and they adapt, usually without any difficulties. Students are so flexible and eager to please and learn each year.”
Sherrie’s proudest accomplishment is the family she has built. “My husband and I will celebrate 39 years of marriage this summer and we’ve been great partners doing life together.” Both of their children graduated with their Master’s degrees from Duke University on the same day in 2015, one with a Master’s in Divinity and the other with a Master’s in Engineering Management. Pre-Covid, Sherrie and her husband loved to go to concerts, and they have several rescheduled concerts to look forward to this summer and fall. She enjoys traveling to see her children or just staying in northwest Arkansas visiting the lake to fish and enjoy the scenery. While she’s traveled most of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Sherrie says she would love to travel throughout Europe someday.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
My parents always stressed that education was important and necessary to succeed in life. The following quote has guided me throughout the years: “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.” -Forest E. Witcraft
What is the most daring thing you’ve done?
My children do daring things…bungy jumping off a cliff in New Zealand, scuba diving with sharks…not me!! But, I do enjoy riding around on the back of a Harley with my husband.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully traveling and enjoying our children and their families while giving back to my community and church.
What might other administrators be surprised to know about you?
In college, I worked at the Farmer’s Cooperative where I was able to diagnose illnesses and sold medicine to the farmers to give to their animals.
What do you see as the biggest benefit of AAEA membership?
The networking and friendships with other educators across the state. It’s always enlightening to learn that you are not on an island alone and others have insight and experiences that you can relate to and adapt to your situation.
