Patrick named superintendent
Assistant Superintendent Shane Patrick was named new superintendent of the Siloam Springs School District at the April 11 School Board meeting.
Patrick, who has served as one of the district’s assistant superintendents for the last five years, will begin his new role July 1, according to a district news release.
The board voted unanimously to approve Patrick’s hiring. Patrick will replace Superintendent Jody Wiggins.
Wiggins resigned at the Feb. 8 school board meeting. He will become director of the Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative. His last day will be June 30. He will begin at the cooperative July 1.
The board will determine Patrick’s salary at a later date. Patrick was one of six candidates chosen for interviews with three committees — a certified committee (licensed staff), a classified committee (support personnel) and a central office committee, School Board President Brian Lamb said.
The six candidates were reduced to two by the board and the three committees, Lamb said. The two were then narrowed to one, Lamb said.
Board members discussed choosing the next superintendent and Patrick’s service with the school district before voting.
Lamb thanked Wiggins for his help with the hiring process as well as Student Services Director Michelle Paden and Director of Assessment Kelly Svebek for their help.
“It’s an overwhelming process when you start thinking about it, doing all the stuff we’ve done,” Lamb said.
Travis Jackson, board secretary, said he appreciated everyone who helped with the interview process and appreciated Patrick’s dedication to the district.
“I think it’s a great process that we have for the different committees to provide insight and feedback,” Jackson said. “It was very helpful when we were making the choice.”
Chris Whorton, board disbursing officer, echoed Jackson’s sentiments and appreciated the feedback.
“It was very helpful when we made the choice,” Whorton said.
Aric Bergthold, board legislative liaison, said he had come to love and respect the district and said he sees dedication within it.
“The candidate that I plan to select tonight is very clear on the board’s expectations and has made commitments to fulfill them,” Bergthold said. “We have nothing to gain but a good school district and a good organization.”
Heath Nance, the newest board member who ran unopposed during the March primary election, said he had grown close to the other board members during the process of seeking a new superintendent and knew they were making the right decision.
“So we are in unison 110%,” Nance said.
Nance made the motion to hire Patrick as superintendent.
Patrick is in his 30th year as an educator having served as a teacher, coach, athletic director, building administrator and district-level administrator, the release states.
Patrick graduated from McCamey, Texas, before attending Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia where he was a fouryear letterman for the football team and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in education in 1994, the release states.
He would later earn a Master’s Degree in curriculum and instruction with a building-level administrator at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, La., the release states.
In 2020, Patrick attained his district-level administrator certification through Southern Arkansas University, the release states.
Patrick worked in several Arkansas school districts including Stuttgart, Mountain Home, Springdale and Siloam Springs. Patrick began to work for the Siloam Springs School District in 2019 as director of operations, the release states.
A year later, Patrick was promoted to assistant superintendent. Patrick said he was humbled and honored to be chosen to lead the district.
“Siloam Springs schools have long been known for taking care of and developing our students,” Patrick said. “We definitely have work to do, but we have great faculty and staff that give me full confidence that we will provide the best education possible for each student of our district for years to come.”