Henry Webb will retire as Watson Chapel High School principal, capping a 34-year career in education.
The Watson Chapel School District board accepted Webb’s retirement letter during a special meeting Monday, the third the board has scheduled in a month. Webb has worked in the district for 24 years.
“My son always says, ‘A good performer always knows when it’s time to go,'” said Webb, who is winding down his fifth year as high school principal.
Webb said he’s enjoyed his job, but he wanted to retire while he’s still in good health. He moved into the high school role after serving as junior high principal.
The Dollarway High graduate began his education career as an industrial arts teacher at Wabbaseka High, which closed in 1993. He then moved to Oak Grove High (replaced by Maumelle High) in Pulaski County as an industrial technology teacher and went into administration at Oak Grove.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Superintendent Tom Wilson embraced Webb following the board meeting.
“He was the first guy, when I came forward, took me under his arm and introduced me to everybody,” Wilson said. “He took me around. I appreciate him for doing that because he’s my friend. When you’re dealing with business, you’ve still got to do your job. Everyone does. But our professional relationship, I feel like he’s my friend.”
Webb, who plans “to enjoy life” in retirement, said he’ll miss the students, staff and parents who have helped him grow in administration.
“I will miss all of it,” Webb said. “I will miss making sure the kids will have everything they need to graduate and seeing them grow.”
The secondary schools will see other changes in administration. High school assistant principal Reginald Forte will become junior high assistant principal; Erica Mauldin will go from junior high assistant principal to high school principal, and Sylvia Webb will go from high school teacher to junior high teacher.
WCSD hears from Bailey Education Group
Board members Monday heard from representatives of the Bailey Education Group, a consulting firm based in Mississippi that has contracted with about 80 school districts in Arkansas.
Wilson said the need for a consulting group is to help Watson Chapel improve its systems quicker in order to be removed from accreditation probation by late 2025. The Arkansas Board of Education placed the district on probation last October for violations related to student record-keeping, and district officials have met monthly before the board since then.
Wilson said the board is waiting to hear a presentation from another firm before making a final decision.
“All Watson Chapel needs, we need to get organized, we need to focus on kids and provide the best services we can for our kids, and everything will take care of itself,” Wilson said. “We’re building a new school. Everything is looking bright. We’ve got to get on track and get everybody we need — all the certified people in — and train everybody to do their job and move forward. We’re going to raise test scores. We want to get out of those Ds and Fs [on state report cards], and that’s what our goal is going to be.”