Jennifer Perry Middleton/Jefferson Jimplecute
During their regular meeting Tuesday, Jefferson Independent School Board Trustees named Assistant Superintendent Michael Walker as lone finalist for the position of Superintendent, currently held by Rob Barnwell, who announced his retirement last month.
Walker began his 24th year of education this fall, and served as principal at Jefferson High School before serving in the newly-created assistant superintendent position beginning August 2021.
He is a native of Avinger, Texas and a 1995 graduate of Avinger High School. He earned a bachelor of science, double major in biology and kinesiology from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1999 and a master of educational administration from Texas A&M University-Texarkana in 2007. That year, he also earned his principal certification and later earned a superintendent certification in 2012.
During his career, he served a one-year internship for his alternative certification as a teacher/coach at McLeod ISD, as a teacher/coach at Ore City ISD for seven years, and seven years at Hughes Springs ISD. In addition, he served as junior high/high school assistant principal for five years and high school principal for two years.
In other business the board heard a report from Patti Wallace with the Marion County Tax Office. She said that due to a publishing delay, the October tax sale was cancelled and that two properties were paid off early.
“Still the majority are lake lots, several city lots and we will have some larger tracts come available for the March sale,” she told the board. “The next sale is in December and we will know then. For sure, the March sale will have a little bit of everything. We are looking forward to the start of a new year.”
Board President Leah Cooper told Wallace they appreciated her work in getting the sales coordinated for the district.
“We thank you for all you do,” Cooper said.
Trustees also heard a report on progress measures at the elementary school, which are part of this year’s board goals since that campus is under a Targeted Improvement Plan. The TIP plan is required by the state, as the school received an F score two years ago. It has now risen to C status, something Superintendent Barnwell commended the elementary teachers for.
Dr. Lynn Phillips, JISD director of instruction, told the board that they are successfully coming through the COVID-caused instruction gap and that many of the kindergarten students are already reading at a third and fourth grade level.
“We are already ahead of our goals this semester,” she told the board. “These scores are considerably higher than last year and we are making significant growth with those students.”
She added that the success was due to a combination of effort from the teachers and a new phonics program they’ve been using.
Members also approved the purchase of 350 Chromebooks to be paid for through E-Rate funding.