Malvern educational leader to be honored
MALVERN — Terri Bryant, a longtime educational administrator and leader with the Malvern Public Schools, has been selected for the 2018 Community Appreciation Award. The award is presented yearly to a resident of Hot Spring
County who has contributed significantly to the betterment of the community. The award is a nonpartisan public service project of the Hot Spring County Democratic Committee.
Bryant was born in 1954 in Hot Springs, the daughter of Bernice and Ira E. Livers. She has two siblings.
Bryant graduated from Lake Hamilton High School, which she attended for all 12 grades. She was a good student, being a member of both the Beta Club and the National Honor Society. She was a cheerleader and played basketball for two years. During her senior year, Bryant was voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” She was class salutatorian when she graduated in 1972.
Following high school, Bryant entered Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, both of which were designated as magna cum laude.
Bryant has done graduate work at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Pine Bluff and Monticello.
She began her career as a fifth-grade teacher at Lake Hamilton, followed by teaching positions in Ohio and at Camden Middle School, Camden.
After nine years of teaching, Bryant became a school principal at Mount Holly Schools, in Union County. She so served as a principal at Arkadelphia before moving to Malvern to become principal of Wilson Intermediate School.
For the past six years, she has been director of School Improvement, Dropout Prevention and School Health Services for the Malvern Public Schools.
Despite her multitude of responsibilities, Bryant has obtained grants totaling more than $3 million. This included $500,000 for the school-based health clinic. Providing access to the services offered has improved attendance in students and staff. The clinic also serves the adult population in HSC.
“Terri is extremely proud of her work in reducing the dropout rate in the Malvern schools to below the state average, while also bringing the Malvern graduate rate to or above the state average for the past five years. Improving the attendance rate has led to both of these achievements,” states the press release.
When asked about her future plans, Bryant stated she hoped to “continue to address the need for education, improve the physical, mental, dental and sexual health of our students. Telehealth is also offered at the school-based health center. A focus for this year is to reduce obesity and asthma, two severe problems in our schools, county and state. She “looks forward to continuing to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to our students grades K-12. Improving nutrition and wellness in our students will also positively impact our community.” Bryant is beginning her 43rd year in education.
Terri Bryant is married to Larry Bryant. They are members of Malvern First Baptist Church. Terri Bryant credits her parents and the church for instilling within her a “willingness to serve others.”
The dinner honoring Terri Bryant will be Oct. 27 at the Senior Adult Center on East Moline Street. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., following by a steak dinner.
Tickets are available for
$30 at the Malvern Chamber of Commerce or by mailing a check to Community Appreciation Dinner, P.O. Box 1311, Malvern, AR 72104. Call 479422-6493 for more information.