The North Little Rock Board of Education has approved the Superintendent’s recommendation to name Kriss Marshell, a veteran educator with a track record of leading change improving academic, attendance, and behavior outcomes for students, to lead the district’s middle school as the Executive Director of Middle School Improvement, which has been reorganized to better enhance student achievement.
Marshell, who currently serves as the District English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and World Languages Coordinator, has committed her entire professional career to dismantling barriers that inhibit teaching and learning and implementing robust systems. These methods have been used to refine curriculum standards, mentor new and experienced teachers, and ensure student achievement. Beyond this, she has been instrumental in fostering a more inclusive and productive school culture and climate.
Marshell’s work with ESOL Programs was recently recognized, as she is the recipient of the Arkansas ESOL Coordinator of the Year award. Before joining the North Little Rock School District in 2022, Marshell served in the Van Buren School District, where she worked as a middle school principal, an administrator at the K-8 and 9-12 alternative learning environments, and district testing and ESOL coordinator. Marshell’s career in education began in the McKinney Independent School District (Texas), where she taught first and second grade and was on the leadership team at a Blue Ribbon School.
Marshell’s appointment aligns with the Superintendent’s transformative plan to elevate instructional standards at the middle school level. This initiative is designed to drive significant student achievement while establishing the essential support systems required to sustain and guarantee that progress. In this restructured plan, the Executive Director of Middle School Improvement acts as the school’s principal.
“I am excited about this opportunity,” Marshell said. “Having worked in the middle school environment, I love this age group and enjoy working with the teachers and staff who support these students.”