GRAVETTE — Jack Skillett, of Bella Vista, has announced he will not seek a fifth term on the Gravette School Board when his current term ends in September. He will soon complete his 20th year on the board and says he feels it is time to step aside so he can spend more time with family, travel and perhaps even visit a classroom in Summerfield, Kan., where he began his teaching career in 1961.
"The thing I'll miss the most about no longer being on the board of education is the opportunity to interact with the faculty and staff," Skillett said. "We have an exceptional faculty and an unbelievably dedicated and committed staff, including bus drivers, secretaries, paraprofessionals. And, of course, I'll miss my colleagues on the board. I've made several close friends among fellow board members over the years."
With Skillett's departure, the Gravette School District will lose a valuable resource. His university career was focused on education as he holds a bachelor's degree from Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., with majors in social studies and science, a master's degree in educational administration from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, and a Ed.D. in educational administration from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
Skillett has spent a total of 56 years in education, beginning with a teaching position in Summerfield, Kan., from 1961 to 1963. His first year he had 37 seventh and eighth grade students and also drove a school bus and coached. Then, in the middle of his third year of teaching, he was offered the job of superintendent of schools at Lebo, Kan., at the young age of 24. He took the job and served as superintendent in Lebo from 1963 to 1966, and in Axtell, Kan. from 1966 to 1969.
Skillett's career moved on to the college level in 1969 when he became the administrative assistant to the dean at Oklahoma State University. He held that position for two years before returning to Kansas and serving as superintendent of schools in Pratt, Kan., from 1971-1978.
In 1978, Skillett went back to Emporia State University. He was associate professor of education there in 1978-1982, professor of education in 1982-1984 and also served as special assistant to the president in 1979-1984 and director of the Center for Educational Research and Service in 1982-1984. He was dean of the teachers' college at Emporia State in 1984-1995 and an atrium in the college there has been named in his honor. After his tenure as dean of the teachers' college, he completed his career there as a Jones Distinguished University Professor and a professor of educational administration.
When Skillett and his wife Joann moved to Bella Vista, they both became involved with Gravette schools right away. Joann holds a doctorate from Kansas University and has served as a teacher and elementary principal at Shawnee Mission, Kan. She has spent many hours volunteering at Glenn Duffy Elementary School and Gravette Upper Elementary.
Skillett is not one to brag about his accomplishments on the Gravette School Board, but he pointed out that more than 70 percent of the district's facilities have been constructed over the last 12 years. Academic and vocational programs have expanded significantly and test results have placed the district in the top 30 percent of schools in Arkansas.
When the new Gravette High School building was approved, Skillett was a member of the school site committee and the high school design committee. He has visited more than 40 elementary and secondary schools in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arizona and Florida looking for positive ideas, facilities and programs he might bring back to benefit Gravette schools.
Skillett is a past president and vice president of the Gravette School Board. He served eight years as chair of the performing arts committee and four years as chair of the Gravette Booster Club membership committee. He has been a member of the school district goals committee and the committee for selection of an architect for the school district, as well as member and chair of the superintendent selection committee.
"While challenges remain for our school district, I am proud of the accomplishments over the last two decades," Skillett said. "Teachers, administrators, staff, students and patrons all have contributed to the development of one of the most outstanding school districts in the state. Indeed the signage positioned at the entrance of the high school which states 'Pride of Arkansas' is symbolic of the level of excellence in our district."
Skillett expressed his gratitude for the successful tenure he has had on the board.
"I shall always be grateful for all who welcomed me to the district," he said. "To those board members who shared a vision of what can be, I thank you."
He described his present situation by telling a story of a fellow in a canoe floating downstream. He said there comes a time when you need to get out of the swift water and move over to calmer waters at the edge of the stream, maybe even get out and rest on the bank for a while. Take time to build a campfire and meditate.
"Then, in a few years, I'll probably be ready to plunge back out into the rushing waters again," he said.
He and Joann have three children and five grandchildren. Their son lives in New York City and is CEO of a major national parking facility company. One daughter is a CPA in Wichita, Kan., and the other is a high school teacher in Lyndon, Kan. All five grandchildren are college graduates, the youngest having graduated from Texas Christian University earlier this month. They are both looking forward to spending more time with the children and grandchildren.
Skillett said he is announcing his decision not to run for re-election early in hopes that potential candidates will come forward and enter the race for the position with a desire to continue his legacy of service to the school and to the community. Skillett holds Position 3 on the board. Two other board members, Jay Oliphant and Ty Russell, will be up for re-election in September. Russell was appointed to fill Brian Johnson's position after his move out of the district.
Community on 05/31/2017