LITTLE ROCK -- Arkansas Department of Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell announced that Eric Saunders has been selected as the assistant commissioner for Fiscal and Administrative Services.
Saunders will assume his new position July 1. He will replace Mike Hernandez, who will become the ADE deputy commissioner on July 1.
"With 17 years of education experience, Dr. Saunders will be a great asset to ADE," Kimbrell said. "His administrative and grant writing experience gives him valuable insight that will benefit school districts around the state."
As assistant commissioner, Saunders will oversee the distribution of funds to public schools.
Since July 2011, Saunders has served as superintendent of the East End School District in Bigelow. As superintendent, he wrote and received grants for the school and community, oversaw multiple building projects and successfully saw a millage pass in 2011.
Prior to serving as superintendent, Saunders was the principal at Lavaca High School for five years. During that time, the high school moved from School Improvement to Achieving. Before being named principal, he was a math teacher and coach at Gentry High School.
Saunders received a bachelor of science in secondary education from Oklahoma State University. He later received a master of education and a doctor of education from Harding University in Searcy.
He is a member of several professional organizations and has completed the Arkansas Leadership Academy's Superintendent Institute and phase one of the Master Principal Program. He also serves on the Perry County Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
Saunders is the youngest son of Al and Bev Saunders from the Gentry-Colcord area.
General News on 05/28/2014