The West Memphis School District has hired Cedric Hawkins as its new deputy superintendent.
Hawkins spent the past eight years as assistant superintendent in the White Hall School District, where he supervised transportation and buildings. He will oversee human resources, buildings and grounds, technology, maintenance, finance and student services, according to an online announcement from the West Memphis district.
“It was just an opportunity that worked out for me and my family,” Hawkins said of accepting his new role. He added the decision was made “after much consultation and prayer.”
Hawkins formally resigned from the WHSD before Tuesday’s district board meeting. He will carry more than 25 years’ experience in education to West Memphis, including his time as a basketball coach and principal at Stuttgart High School. His 2008-09 boys basketball team won a 4A state championship.
Hawkins holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a master’s from Arkansas State University and both specialist’s and doctorate degrees from Harding University, according to the announcement from West Memphis.
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White Hall Superintendent Gary Williams said he is determining whether to fill the open role at this point in the school year. July 1 marks the start of a new fiscal year, and the first day of classes in the WHSD is Aug. 13.
Williams said if he chooses not to fill the vacancy, the duties Hawkins previously held would be absorbed within the staff.
“Certainly, (he’s) someone who has served the district well for many years,” said Williams, finishing his third year as superintendent. “I’m excited for his new opportunity. He was great for me coming in and bringing me a lot of insight and support, bringing me up to speed in a lot of the areas of the district. We’re definitely going to miss him, but we’re excited he’s going to be the deputy superintendent in West Memphis. It’s a much larger school district and there’s a lot of advancement for him, moving from an assistant to a deputy role.”
The WHSD has another assistant superintendent in Debbie Jones, who oversees curriculum.
NEW BOARD TERMS
WHSD board members approved unanimously a resolution to comply with Act 503 of this year’s state Legislature, which calls for new expiration dates of board members to allow an even number of seats, in most cases, to be up for election.
The at-large positions held by Scott Lockhart and Scott Pittillo will expire in March 2026. Seats held by Scott Ray in Zone 3 and Dr. Raymond Jones in Zone 4 will be up for election in March 2028. Terms for Roy Agee in Zone 1, R.D. Johnson in Zone 2 and Brian Huitt in Zone 5 will expire March 2030.
PERSONNEL MOVES
The board unanimously approved the hires of Shelley Peyton as Gandy Elementary third-grade teacher, Alexander Hunt as sixth-grade science teacher, Brandon Murphy as high school math teacher, Brent Sherman as high school science teacher, Anna Helms as high school social studies teacher, and Keenon Branch as bus driver, all effective in the 2025-26 school year.
Amber Riley has also been transferred to high school office secretary, and Kailon Stone has been transferred from middle school attendance secretary to high school administrative assistant.