After a dedicated teaching career at Meadow Park Elementary School, veteran educator Gerald Baker has been named the school’s new Assistant Principal.

Baker joined the district in 2013 as a third-grade teacher, later moving on to teach fourth and fifth grades while serving on the school’s leadership team. As an educator known for his innovative methods, Baker's classroom strategies have consistently boosted student engagement and achievement, and they are frequently highlighted at school board meetings and used to train incoming student teachers and colleagues.  At Meadow Park, he has chaired the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Committee, created to improve student behavior, consistency, and overall school climate.    

During the 2023-2024 school year, Baker was named Meadow Park Elementary’s Teacher of the Year. He went on to earn district-wide recognition at the Night of Honors, taking home the title of Elementary-Level Teacher of the Year.  

This fall, Baker will receive a Master of Educational Leadership Degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from Philander Smith University.