‘Calling in life’
School district welcomes new superintendent
Dean Stanley has a long history in education that stretches back for many years, and he has no plans to slow down. Stanley was hired as superintendent of the White County Central School District in Judsonia in February.
Starting out his career as a biology teacher and basketball coach in 1981 at White County Central High School, Stanley later held positions at Ohio Valley College in West Virginia, McRae High School and the Midland School District.
“White County Central is special to me, as it has been my home for several different stints throughout my career. This is the community we raised our children in, and both of them are alumni of the school,” he said.
Stanley’s wife, Debbie, retired from the district as an elementary school teacher three years ago after teaching for 33 years, he said.
They have two adult children, Ben Stanley and Allison Simmons; and four grandchildren: McKenly, 12; Harper, 3; Emerson, 9; and Baron, 4.
Stanley said the school district is focused on family and caring for the children in the community.
“The teachers have done more with less through the years, as we are
demographically a district with a large amount of poverty,” he said.
Teachers help families buy school supplies when needed, are involved in food and coat drives, and offer an afterschool program, he said.
Stanley said the school board recently approved free elementary school supplies for all students, approved that children who qualify for reduced-price lunches would get free lunches instead, and cut the price of lunches in half for all full-paying students as well.
These changes will make a big difference to many members of the community, he said.
“We do hope to offer more opportunities for our students to compete in a global economy,” Stanley said. “We are hoping to implement programs that will allow our students to grow intellectually, socially, mentally and physically as they go through our system.”
Cruising to Excellence is the theme in the district this year, and Stanley said staff and faculty will help students navigate through the “smooth and stormy seas” of their lives and challenge them to reach their goals.
This year, Stanley said, the staff and faculty will focus on getting to know their students and seeing where they stand academically.
“[We’ll] work with each student personally to help them when they are going through difficult times in all aspects of their lives. We want to learn to celebrate with them when celebrations are in order, and be sensitive enough to comfort and encourage when times are tough,” he said.
Stanley said the family atmosphere of the parents, students, faculty, staff and community working together makes White County Central School District an ideal district to lead.
He said educating children is his calling in life, and one statement sums that up for him: “If you have no passion, then you have no mission. If you have no mission, then you have no calling, and if you have no calling, then you don’t understand the privilege of being called.”
Stanley said that while he was in college, he had a desire to coach and teach.
After spending years in a classroom environment, Stanley had the opportunity to move into administration and make an impact on more students and teachers alike when he became the principal of McRae High School in 1994.
He then returned to the White County Central School District as the middle school principal for 11 years before becoming the superintendent for the Midland School District for six years, he said.
“The ability to lead a district with a board-shared vision was the ultimate way in my calling to help have an impact on many people,” he said. “I have been blessed to be around many great educators who have helped shape my philosophy and my career.”
Stanley loves his family and takes being a servant leader seriously because his role has an impact on the lives of those around him, he said.
He enjoys spending his free time with his family, going to church, reading, traveling and golfing.
Karen Wells, the library media specialist and a teacher at Midland High School, said Stanley is a man of integrity who is dedicated to his students.
Wells said she worked with Stanley for six years while he was Midland’s superintendent.
Stanley’s caring personality made him seem more like a friend and mentor rather than a boss, she said.
“I admire his dedication to his personal family, as well as his school family,” Wells said. “I always knew he had my best interests in mind.”
When she was selected by Discovery Education to travel to South Africa with four students for an all-expense-paid adventure, Wells said she remembers going to Stanley’s office and telling him the news.
“Part of the adventure was a shark-cage diving expedition. I was scared no parent would allow me to take their children on such a trip. Mr. Stanley listened to my concerns and, with a deadpan look on his face, asked, ‘Well, the sharkcage bars aren’t made of bamboo, are they?’” she said.
Wells said he offered support and calmed her fears with encouragement and guidance as the Midland Student Adventures group began.
The group continues to travel internationally with students, she said, and has visited Italy, Greece, France, Spain and Peru.
The group will make a trip to Japan in 2018, she added.
“It was Dean Stanley’s guidance in the early stages of the program that has led to its success,” Wells said. “While he was at Midland, early in the morning as we would begin our travel, he would meet us to see the students off and offer a word of prayer on our behalf.
“I believe that Dean Stanley will be an excellent superintendent for the White County Central School District. I wish him well in this new chapter of his life and will always be an ardent supporter of his.”