Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Lincoln Has New Superintendent
HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL PROMOTED TO TOP JOB IN DISTRICT
LINCOLN — Mary Ann Spears, 49, was hired Thursday as the new superintendent for the Lincoln Consolidated School District.
The Lincoln School Board cast a unanimous vote to promote Spears from high school principal to the top district position with a threeyear contract starting July 1 and $110,000 annual salary.
“I am honored to be the superintendent,” Spears said. “We have great kids, staff and schools. I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Spears was one of 17 candidates who applied for the position. Board members narrowed the list to a final five. Spears and Charles D. Thomas, superintendent of Jay, Okla., school district, had follow-up interviews on June 26. Questions were asked by three members of the district’s leadership team — Michele Price, middle school principal; Melody Sebastian, curriculum coordinator; and Becky Griscom, federal programs coordinator. Board members Dax Moreton, Kendra Moore and Connie Meyer attended the special called board meeting.
Spears told the board and leadership committee if she became superintendent she would miss the day to day connection with students and faculty.
“I want to stay in touch,” Spears said. “I won’t be someone to sit in an office.”
Spears said she would delegate responsibilities, hold weekly leadership meetings and build a close relationship with the community.
“We need to be a presence in the community,” Spears said. She currently serves as president of the Lincoln Kiwanis Club and is a member of the Lincoln Community Alliance. She also is a member of the Washington County Quorum Court and Washington County Teen Drug Court Team.
“My number one role is leader of instruction,” Spears said about being superintendent. “I will be an advocate for teachers and students. Students are our primary focus.”
Spears doesn’t plan any major changes right away. “I’ll step back, see what’s working and what’s not.”
She believes one change that could be made would be better communication using social media to inform parents and the community. She also believes character education is important and supports students’ extracurricular activities.
Looking at her years as principal of Lincoln High School, Spears said she worked hard to get the graduation rate up. “We did and I’m proud of it. Whatever it takes for our kids to be successful I’ll do.”
Spears’ main goal as superintendent is a commitment to student
growth and academic excellence.
One of her first jobs as superintendent will be to replace herself as high school principal. She will be looking for someone who can share a “leadership vision” for the district and someone interested in all programs.
Whether it is teachers or principals, Spears said compassion for kids is first on her list. “If they don’t care about kids, we don’t need them.”
Spears has been with the district for seven years. She was hired as assistant high school principal in 2006 and was promoted to principal in 2009. She taught math and business in Farmington for 12 years. She lives in Farmington but plans to retire from the quorum court and move to Lincoln.
She has a bachelor degree in business administration and a master degree in education administration from the University of Arkansas. She is working toward obtaining a specialist degree in educational leadership from Arkansas Tech University in December.
Clay Hendrix, former superintendent, has been hired as an assistant superintendent for the Spring School District. His Lincoln contract ended Sunday.