Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Hixson Gets New Title
CURRICULUM COORDINATOR NAMED ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
PRAIRIE GROVE — Missy Hixson, curriculum coordinator for Prairie Grove School District, has a new title.
The School Board on June 11 named Hixson, who has been with Prairie Grove for 18 years, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. The new position takes effect July 1 and includes a $15,000 raise, based on Hixson’s years of experience, education and certification. Her salary will increase from $70,341 to $85,442.
Prairie Grove’s top administrative staff now includes Super- intendent Allen Williams , Vol Woods, assistant superintendent of transportation, maintenance and facilities , and Hixson.
The board met to discuss the change in executive session and reconvened in public. Williams then recommended changing Hixson’s title, a motion was made and the vote was unanimous.
“She’s been fulfilling that level of responsibility since I’ve been here and done a good job,” Williams said after the meeting.
Hixson’s responsibilities include curriculum for kindergarten-12th grade, testing, professional development and federal programs.
Hixson has been in education 32 years, 25 of that as a classroom elementary teacher.
She first came to Prairie Grove as a sixth grade teacher for math and science at the intermediate school. She later became the transportation and curriculum coordinator and then was made a full-time curriculum coordinator the following year.
While she has a new title, Hixson said she will be “doing exactly the same thing.”
She is working toward her license for district level administration, a state requirement for a top administration position in Arkansas schools. The school district will request a waiver of the requirement while she finishes the course work for the certification, Hixson said.
Hixson, who lives in western Fayetteville, said people have asked her why she has stayed at Prairie Grove and not gone to a larger school district.
“I like the small district,” Hixson said. “I know we are not always ahead or in the forefront but we’re the hidden jewel in the treasure box. People don’t realize what all we do.”