Lincoln Hires New Principal

LINCOLN — Lincoln Elementary School will have a new principal to begin the 2016-17 school year.

Jill Jackson, 38, comes to Lincoln from Asbell Elementary School in Fayetteville School District. She has 17 years of experience in education and at Asbell, taught kindergarten, first grade and served as a literacy coach.

Lincoln School Board last week approved Jill Jackson as the new principal to replace Melody Sebastian, who resigned the position on June 1. The board accepted Sebastian’s resignation at the same meeting.

Jackson earned her bachelor ’s degree in elementary education at Arkansas State University and her master’s degree in literacy from Waldron University. She also has

a program of study principal’s license for pre-kindergarten-12th grade. She just graduated from the Arkansas Teacher Leadership Institute on June 24.

While at Asbell, Jackson said she held several leadership roles during the past four years, including being a district trainer.

Jackson and her husband, Jeremy, graduated from smaller, consolidated high schools and she said she has been looking for an administrative position in a smaller school district.

“We both are small town, community people and think it’s a great way to raise your kids,” Jackson said. “I really felt the community feel within the school. It’s very family oriented and I am excited to work with the kids and families at the elementary school.”

Mary Ann Spears, superintendent of schools, said Lincoln received 21 applications for the principal’s job. A committee of principals, teachers and other staff interviewed six candidates and narrowed the list to two for second interviews. Second interviews were held June 27 and the committee was ready to recommend Jackson for the position after her second interview.

“I’m very excited,” Spears said. “She has great energy and will do great things.”

Spears told the School Board that Jackson’s principal was very complimentary of Jackson.

“She said she’s not had anyone with more passion or with such a great work ethic,” Spears said. “She’s excited to be on board and she’s ready to hit the ground running.”

Jackson and her husband have two sons, a ninth-grader and fourth-grader. Both will attend Lincoln schools in the fall. Her husband recently accepted a job near Lincoln and she said their hope is to one day live in Lincoln. For now, both are ready to begin their new positions, she said.

In other business last week, Spears reported that work on Lincoln Middle School gym to repair structural issues is almost complete. Other projects at the Middle School this summer include renovating bathrooms and installing new tile in the classrooms and hallways in the eastern part of the school. Crews are painting all hallways in the Middle School and bath- rooms for the administrative building also are being renovated.

Michelle Price, Middle School principal, said she has been pleased with the renovations.

“It looks really good,” Price told board members.

Spears said the cost for the projects will be about $465,000, with the money coming out of the school’s building fund.

Following execut ive session, the School Board accepted the following teacher resignations: Bridgett Curtis, Jennifer Skelton, Emily Sanders, Andrea Landrum, Collin Ganter and Robin Reed.

Board members hired the following teachers: Katelyn Brewster, sixth-grade math; Deena Brown, special education self-contained middle school; Laura Brown, second grade; Caitlyn Clark, elementary music; Karn Eubans, middle school; Kassie Meharg, pre-kindergarten; and Jackie Dye, kindergarten.

Jackson