New Southside superintendent credits others for getting him to ‘the big chair’
SOUTHSIDE — Dion Stevens admitted he was never the perfect son or student, but he saw what a difference his mom, Beverly, made in the lives of others as a teacher, and he said he felt drawn to do the same.
Stevens started his teaching career in the same district where his education began, at Cushman, about 7 miles from Southside. He taught geography and civics at Cushman High School and coached girls basketball, softball and track.
Cushman was also home to the first teacher in Stevens’ life, his mom, Beverly Stevens. She taught second grade at Cushman for 33 years and influenced many students during that time with her kind-hearted and patient way of teaching, her son said.
Dion Stevens, who is not too proud to give credit where credit is due, said he has his mom to thank for him having a career in education and eventually becoming superintendent of the Southside School District near Batesville, having recently begun his first year in the position.
“My mom was the main influence on my decision to teach,” he said. “All my life, people would come up to me and tell me that she was their favorite teacher. She was also one of my favorite teachers, too, but also the one who paddled me the most in school as well.”
Stevens said his mom taught him many things throughout his path to becoming a teacher, but she made sure to let him make his own decisions along the way.
“I was not the model student or model son,” he said. “Mom let me make my own decisions, but she also taught me that my decisions not only affect me but others around me. She had such a way with people and her students, and she always saw the good in everyone.
“I never heard her complain about being a parent or being a teacher. She was the most patient and caring person I have ever met.”
Stevens’ longtime friend and co-worker Alicia Wood, who has known Stevens since childhood, knows firsthand about Stevens’ influence on a future teacher because she credits him for her decision to go into the education field.
“Dion was my coach in high school, and at 17, I thought I had life figured out,” Wood said. “He had me up at 6:30 in the morning to run, and I wasn’t going to let him boss me around, so I quit playing basketball. Now, here we are 20 years later, and he is bossing me around again. The man that I despised [when I was 17] is now someone I admire more than anything, and I’m just glad he isn’t making me get up and run at 6:30 in the morning now.”
Wood also credits Stevens as the main influence in her going back to school to obtain a master’s degree.
“I know I can never repay him for the help he has given me over the years,” Wood said.
Stevens eventually left Cushman when it consolidated with the Batesville School District and began working his way through the ranks in the Southside School District.
When Stevens took the position as Southside Middle School’s principal, he told people “he was provided an opportunity and just hopped the [White] River.”
Stevens said his newfound home at Southside also had a few ironic twists, as he soon discovered.
“I actually took over Joe Franks’ position” Stevens said. “He was the man I student-taught under at the beginning of my career.”
Not only that, but Stevens said he found himself working with his former high school principal, Roger Ried, noting that Ried also “hopped the river.”
Stevens said he always knew he wanted to become a principal but never felt he would get the chance
to take the “ultimate step” in education and become a superintendent. He praises people such as former Southside Superintendent Roger Rich, Ried, Novella Humphrey and Gary Anderson for leading him on his path to “the big chair,” as he calls it.
Before Stevens took over the big chair at Southside, he spent nine years as the middle school principal, then took over as assistant superintendent. Rich said Stevens’ love for his students and his ability to lead others is what influenced district officials to move him into the assistant-superintendent role.
During Stevens’ time as middle school principal, he was recognized as Arkansas Middle School Principal of the Year.
“No task is too little or too big for him to be involved in,” Rich said of Stevens. “He is creative, innovative, and his strongest trait is actually listening to others. He reflects deeply before making decisions, trying extremely hard to make sure each decision impacts students positively.”
Taking charge of a school district with 2,300 students would be a challenge for anyone, but with the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the added pressure called for a strong team of support. With the multiple challenges that were brought to schools throughout Arkansas, Stevens said he took advantage of his support system in the school district.
“My guiding light through all of this was my leadership team, faculty, staff, fellow educators and, of course, my students,” Stevens said. “There are so many issues that were out of our control, and schools are finding themselves in political and medical debates. Those areas are not where we wish to be. We want to stay in the education lane.”
Stevens said there were times at the beginning of the school year when negativity was overwhelming, and he would leave his office and go watch his teachers teach and found solace in that.
“Knowing that we were still teaching, learning and still caring and meeting the needs of the students is what kept me going,” he said. “Knowing that the students were still excited to be there was enough for me. Around the office, we say, ‘If you’re having a bad day, just go over to the preschool.’ It becomes clear why we do what we do after spending time with those little ones. Kids can teach adults a lot of things and have continued to do so through some of our toughest times.”
Stevens is married to Coleen, and they have two daughters, Payton Jo and Juliann. The Stevenses’ first grandchild is due in November, and Stevens said he can’t wait.
“What keeps me smiling in life is my family and experiencing our first grandchild this fall,” Stevens said.
When it comes to leading the school district, Stevens offered some insight into its staff members and how they come together with parents and students to reach the district’s goals.
“We need patience, support and understanding,” Stevens said. “We are a village that comes to one spot every single day to care for, nurture and educate the students in our community. It takes every one of our 300 employees to pull off what we do every day.
“Each job is equally respected among us, and we hope that can be seen throughout the community. When we model respect even in a disagreement, our kids see that and learn from us, even when we think they are not watching.”