Watson Chapel School District Superintendent Keith McGee announced a partnership with Junior Achievement of Arkansas to provide financial literacy and entrepreneurship lessons to students from kindergarten to high school.
Local businesses are joining in the partnership to help those in elementary school understand those subjects and learn about different occupations. Students at the junior high school will start exploring careers, and high school seniors will be eligible to participate in internships or apprenticeships with participating businesses.
“Kids cannot be what they cannot see,” McGee said during his announcement at Monday’s WCSD board meeting.
“We’re going to live up to our vision: ‘Preparing students today for tomorrow’s opportunity.'”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
McGee presented a framed certificate to Oscar Fuller of Junior Achievement in recognition of the partnership.
“The partnership is going to be great for the Watson Chapel School District,” Fuller said. “We’ve been trying for about three years now to partner with Watson Chapel, and it’s going to provide career development and other opportunities for our students K-12. It’s also going to provide financial literacy. Students these days don’t even know how to balance a checkbook. The partnership will provide the students with the space to learn that.”
Administration changes
The WCSD hired Traci Holland as its executive director of curriculum and instruction.
The hire is one of McGee’s first significant moves at the district administrative level, following the board’s approval to add that position last month.
Holland’s role is to be the curriculum supervisor and, according to a job description, ensure “a guaranteed and viable curriculum at all schools and classrooms.”
Dee Davis has resigned as WCSD assistant superintendent. She was hired in June 2023 after working in the Pine Bluff School District.
McGee said the assistant superintendent will continue to be an extension of his role.
“That person is always needed to be my right hand. We still need that person,” he said.
Personnel moves
In other personnel moves:
The district received letters of resignation from teachers Ashley Baker and Chatora Herring, and secretary Bonisha Foster.
Bus driver Jimmie Brown has turned in a letter of retirement.
Contracts were rescinded for instructional facilitator Dionne Britton, certified safety and security officers Gail Brown and Jaquon Lee, paraprofessional Justin Jones and English language arts/Spanish teacher Erick Roebuck.
New employees include computer science teacher Irene Allen; teacher and coach Christopher Barnes; coach Clayborne Cosen; special education parapros Jacquelyn Davis, Javon Lambert, Jarvis Mayo and Vera Smith; security guards Christopher Gipson, Nathan Kentle, Johneise Pridgeon and Mark Staten; teacher Haiti Pierce; secretary Jacqueline Harris; special education teacher Melissa Hopson; elementary teachers Kenya Hudson and Curtis Rolfe; and special ed designee Denise Simmons.