LR’s Hall High gets new focus, but old principal

Leaders named for 5 schools

Mark Roberts will be the principal in 2020-21 of the reconstituted Hall STEAM Magnet High School in the Little Rock School District.

STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

Roberts is the current Hall High principal but had to apply and compete with other applicants for the school’s top job for the next school year. That was because the state Board of Education — which has held the district in state control since January 2015 — voted late last year to vacate all jobs at what has been the F-graded Hall High and open them to any interested applicants.

Other jobs at Hall have yet to be posted and opened to applications.

Roberts is among five people who were recommended for principal jobs Wednesday by Superintendent Mike Poore and approved the same day by Education Secretary Johnny Key, who acts in place of the school board for the state-controlled school system.

Roberts, whose wife is an education aide to Gov. Asa Hutchinson, earns a district salary and stipends totaling $118,733 this school year, according to employee contract information on the district’s website.

While the Little Rock School District posted on its website on Wednesday its monthly “board book” of business items to go to Key, the recommended principal appointments and that of a football coach for the new Southwest High were not included in the board book until Thursday — after Key’s approval.

James Castleberry was recommended and approved for the principal’s job at Parkview Arts and Sciences Magnet High School. He is its interim principal with salary and stipends of $108,356.

Kelecia Glover was recommended and approved to be the principal at Mabelvale Elementary, where she is the interim principal at a salary with stipends of $80,259.

Marcus Johnson was recommended and approved for the principal’s job at Horace Mann Arts and Sciences Magnet Middle School, where he is currently the acting principal at a salary with stipends of $78,788.

Tonjuna Iverson was recommended and approved for the principal’s job at Mabelvale Middle. She is now an assistant principal at J.A. Fair High and earns a salary with stipends totaling $86,966. Iverson will succeed Eric Henderson, who is serving as the school’s acting principal this school year.

Additionally, Kelli Bell has been approved as interim assistant principal at Horace Mann Magnet Middle School, an appointment that went into effect earlier this month.

Little Rock School District leaders have yet to make a public recommendation to Key for a principal at the new West High School of Innovation.