Dr. Keith McGee named superintendent of HWHSD

A new superintendent has been named for the Helena-West Helena School District after the state placed the district under Level 5 supervision last week, which is the most intensive amount of support from the state.

Arkansas Department of Education Secretary Johnny Key announce Thursday that Dr. Keith McGee will begin work with the district on Monday.

“I am pleased to name Dr. McGee as the next superintendent at Helena-West Helena,” Key said. “Dr. McGee has an extensive background in education, which includes serving as a teacher and an administrator. I believe he is an excellent fit for the district, as we work together with the community and local board to address some important concerns and ensure that every student graduates high school ready for college, career and community engagement."

A native of Brinkley, McGee began his career in August 1998 as a teacher at Little Rock Central High School in the Little Rock School District. He then became an assistant principal at Horace Mann Magnet Middle School in Little Rock, followed by working as a coordinator at Felder Middle School Learning Academy in Little Rock, principal at Hamilton

Learning Academy in Little Rock, and principal at Horace Mann Magnet Middle School.

McGee then served as the assistant superintendent and executive director of secondary education for the North Little Rock School District before being named the interim superintendent for the district. After serving in the interim role, McGee served an additional seven months as the district’s assistant superintendent and was then named the deputy superintendent for the Little Rock School District.

In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, McGee obtained a master’s degree in educational leadership and a specialist designation in educational leadership from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In 2017, McGee earned a doctorate in educational leadership from Arkansas Tech University at Russellville.

McGee was named a recipient of the 2018 Verizon Innovative Learning Grant and graduated from the Arkansas Executive Leadership Academy in 2022, as well as the University of Southern California Urban Superintendents Academy Class.