Springdale School Board member eyes second term

SPRINGDALE — Michelle Cook said she loves her work as a School Board member and wants to continue doing it.

Cook filed Monday to run for a second five-year term. She won her first election to the at-large, Position 2 seat in 2013. Springdale School Board elections will be May 22 in conjunction with primary elections.

“I love visiting our schools. I love talking to our teachers. I just think there’s still work to be done,” said Cook, the board’s vice president.

Cook, 45, grew up in Springdale. She graduated from Springdale High School in 1990 and earned a business degree from the University of Arkansas in 1994. Soon after that she completed an alternative certification program for teaching in Houston and spent a few years as a special education teacher in the Houston area.

“I remember the days of having to go and get what I needed for my classroom,” she said.

“I remember worrying about my students. And in the last 20 years, we’ve added so much to our teachers’ plates that I just want to make sure we’re taking care of them, too.”

Cook is now a stay-athome mother. She and her husband, John, live on the district’s north side. They have three children, including a college freshman, a HarBer High School senior and a Central Junior High School eighth-grader.

Cook believes the district is on the right track, and she’s excited to be a part of it, she said. She’s seen a lot of changes in public education over the years, especially since she was a student.

“I want to stay on top of that. I want to make sure Springdale is moving forward in a way that’s best for Springdale and all of our students,” she said.

Cook