Spotlight
Stephanie Richmond Anderson, Principal at Helen Tyson Middle School, says “I was blessed to have wonderful teachers that inspired me as well as my amazing family…They were instrumental in my life and encouraged me to never give up and dream big.
For Principal Stephanie Richmond Anderson, teaching runs in the family. “My great-grandmother, grandmother, dad, mom, and aunt were all teachers,” Stephanie says. For them, “education is valued and emphasized.” In addition to her family members, other outstanding teachers and school administrators inspired her throughout her life. Among them were her history teacher and cheer coach, Mrs. Cheri Young Rose, and her high school principal, Mr. Robert Martin. “They were instrumental in my life and encouraged me to never give up and dream big,” she states Despite these in uences, Stephanie didn’t always plan to be an educator, and she entered Hendrix college as a political science major with her sights set on law school. Yet over time, she found herself drawn to teaching. Stephanie completed her student teaching at Elmwood Junior High in Rogers before taking a job at Gravette Middle School in 1993, teaching 6th and 7th grade. In 1994, she returned to Elmwood Junior High in Rogers and taught 8th and 9th grade American History and Pre-Ap American History. She also served as Cheer Coach, Student Council Sponsor, and the district’s Social Studies Curriculum Specialist for grades 6-12. In 2006, Stephanie completed her Master’s degree and became the Assistant Principal at Helen Tyson Middle School, serving 800 students. While in this role, she earned distinction as Assistant Principal of the Year for the State of Arkansas. She received her Specialist degree in 2013, and in 2015 became Helen Tyson Middle School’s Principal. Stephanie describes herself as a lifelong learner who is continually working to inspire and encourage others. She seeks to involve herself in all the opportunities offered to students, hoping to make a difference in their lives by being someone who cares about them as individuals. In 2020, she was recognized for her commitment to her students, receiving the 2020 Charles Green Administrator that Makes a Difference Award. She hopes others will remember her as “giving it my ALL with passion, laughter, encouragement, and dedication - to my students, family, friends, and faith in God. I hope people remember that I cared about them. When asked her favorite thing about her job, Stephanie’s reply is enthusiastic: “THE KIDS! I love working with the ‘middle’ group. They are my WHY and why I look forward to going to work each day.” She revels in her students as entertaining, talented, and intelligent individuals who need adults to guide, encourage, and believe in them. Like many of us, she nds that the
.
”
fi
fl
”
5
