Leslie Mitchell didn’t make it to Fayetteville to attend her graduation from the University of Arkansas two weekends ago. She went to Oklahoma to watch her niece graduate, instead.
But White Hall High School Principal Nathan Sullivan made sure his secretary didn’t finish out the school year without her own pomp and circumstance. He even placed a robe and stole over Mitchell and walked her next to state Education Secretary Jacob Oliva, who along with school staff surprised her with their show of support inside the school’s media center Wednesday morning.
“One thing we try not to do is keep secrets from each other, but I knew if I told her, she would worry about it for a week or a night and everything would unravel,” said Jason Mitchell, Leslie’s husband of 14 years and assistant football coach at White Hall. “We just kept it under wraps. Me and Mr. Sullivan worked together, and I hope she was well-surprised. Judging by her reaction, I don’t think we gave it away.”
Leslie Mitchell was overcome with emotion that her colleagues, most of them decked in red WHHS polos, would celebrate the culmination of a long educational journey. She passed the Praxis exam in health and physical education and earned her teaching license along with her bachelor’s degree, 25 years after graduating from White Hall and 23 years after earning an associate’s degree from Southeast Arkansas College.
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“When I came back working here, I realized this was where I was supposed to be,” said Mrs. Mitchell, finishing her fifth year working at White Hall.
She’s also been an aide with the school’s Virtual Arkansas lab, helping students furthering their education with online courses not necessarily offered through White Hall.
On Thursday she will interview for assistant girls basketball coach and PE/health instructor.
“This was where everything was supposed to line up for me,” she said. “It just took Mr. Sullivan saying, ‘You got it.’ Just seeing someone higher-up telling me that, yeah, this is where you are supposed to be.”
White Hall School District Superintendent Gary Williams called Mrs. Mitchell a servant of her family and community and acknowledged the sacrifices she made to complete her licensure.
“The sacrifice she’s made for others, now herself – she had to sacrifice time from her family from other things she’d like to do to get to this point – that type of perseverance and dedication is what you admire in a person,” Williams said. “She’s just a terrific lady and mom and wife, and we’re excited for her and her future in education.”
By her own admission, Leslie didn’t think in a million years she’d be a teacher.
She went into nursing after graduation from SEARK, but then her mother died. That event led her to rethink her career path and take on different jobs while continuing her education with courses from time to time.
“I would always say I didn’t like kids, just because kids were a lot,” she said. “There are so many emotions, they don’t know who they are and things like that. Once I came into the school, I always worked at the nursery at church. Those are the ones you can love on and have so much fun with it. When I came back to the high school, I saw those high school kids were the ones I could (impress) upon and show them the way to be.”
Sullivan said he learned about Mrs. Mitchell’s journey through Jason, whom he’s known for many years.
“I began to have that conversation (with Mrs. Mitchell) just a little bit,” Sullivan said. “When you build that rapport with people, you just get to know them. When I found out she’s got an associate’s degree, I thought, ‘This is a no-brainer. We’ve got to get you finished.'”
Surprising Leslie with her own graduation celebration was another challenge.
Her husband was sitting in her usual workstation in the high school lobby when she arrived. He said he made up a story about wanting her to eat breakfast with “the crew” and he would cover for her.
By 7:55 a.m., 5 minutes before the presentation was to begin, Jason Mitchell called his wife to see where she was.
Just before Mrs. Mitchell was interviewed, her husband gave her a high-five and said, “I gotcha.”
White Hall High had been working with Forward Arkansas and 2Revolutions, nonprofits that assist the state’s school systems, on a grant process to build collective capacity and support teachers, Sullivan said. The organizations approached him about doing a feel-good story, and Sullivan suggested Mrs. Mitchell’s success story.
Sullivan also invited Oliva to the party.
“What a story. Anytime you can celebrate with a school that looks at its alumni and keeps inspiring them to pursue their goals and dreams and help them get across the finish line, I think that’s something worth celebrating,” Oliva said.
Oliva said visiting White Hall was on his bucket list because of “wonderful programs and students” inspiring the next generation. Mrs. Mitchell’s story, though, has motivated one of her own colleagues.
“It’s amazing because, she doesn’t know it, but what she did, that’s what I’m going to do,” said Ray Jackson, a paraprofessional. “Mr. Sullivan and I talked yesterday, and (he said) ‘Mr. Jackson, there’s no way you shouldn’t finish school. You’re here, and we’re here to help.’ I’m very proud for Mrs. Mitchell.”
