Lincoln Board Interviews Superintendent Candidates

LINCOLN — The Lincoln School Board received 17 candidates for the superintendent’s position. Members have selected five of the candidates to interview this week, beginning with two on Monday afternoon.

Jon F. Whittemore of Jasper, Texas, was the first interviewed by the board. Whittemore was superintendent of the Jasper district from 2008-2012.

He is currently working as a consultant on education and financial issues in east Texas.

Whittemore wrote in a letter to the Lincoln board that he and his family “are not only active in the schools, but also active in our community.” His resume shows he had a PhD in education administration from the University of North Texas. He has been not only superintendent of the Jasper district but superintendent in Santa Fe and Bells, Texas, as well as Healdton, Okla. He had also been a teacher, coach and principal at the junior high and high school levels.

The Board also interviewed David Kellogg of Wickes, Ark. Kellogg is currently superintendent of the Cossatot River School District, where he stated in a resume he has developed skills to manage a budget during the building of a new high school. He said he’s interested in Lincoln district due to its closeness to the University of Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas Community College and industries, giving students “the ability to connect to careers and the ever-changing technology.”

“We are interviewing candidates we feel are from a similar district as Lincoln,” said Dax Moreton, president of the school board. “We want someone who can mesh with us.”

The board plans to interview three more candidates on Thursday. They include Mary Ann Spears, current Lincoln High School principal, Darren K. Busch of Harrison, Ark., and Charles D. Thomas of Grove.

Spears has been with the Lincoln district for seven years. She is finishing a specialist degree in Educational Leadership through Arkansas Tech University and plans to take the superintendent licensure test in July, according to a cover letter with her resume.

Spears is also serving a fourth term as a Washington County Justice of the Peace.

Busch currently works as an ISS coordinator with the Yellville Summit Public School District.

He has worked as a high school principal, athletic director, coach, agriculture teacher and was chosen 2008 Teacher of the Year.

Thomas is currently employed as a district superintendent with Jay Public Schools. He has worked as an instructor, principal and coach.