At its May Regular Meeting, the North Little Rock Board of Education approved the hiring of dozens of teachers and administrators for the Summer Learning Loss Program. In light of the impact of COVID-19 on student learning, this program has been created to help students review skills learned over the past school year. The program will take place in the months of June and July.
“We are excited that our teachers and administrators have welcomed this opportunity to work with our students for a few weeks over the summer,” said Gregory J. Pilewski, Ed.D., Superintendent of the North Little Rock School District. “We believe this additional help that we are providing for our students will help them prepare for the next school year,” he said.
In addition, the Board of Education approved the Superintendent’s recommendation to appoint Mr. Marques Collins to serve as Principal at Seventh Street Elementary School next school year. Mr. Collins currently serves as the Assistant Principal at Meadow Park Elementary School.
“I am humbled by this opportunity to lead Seventh Street Elementary School,” Mr. Collins said. “I look forward to meeting with the teachers, staff, and community.”
Mr. Collins began his professional career in the Pine Bluff School District, where he served as a Teacher and an Assistant Principal. While in the Pine Bluff School District, he was named PBSD Teacher of the Year in 2015 and PBSD Assistant Principal of the Year in 2017. He joined the North Little Rock School District in August 2018.
Mr. Collins earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Henderson State University. He also attained a Master of Science Degree in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University.
Mr. Collins’ children are students in the North Little Rock School District. His oldest son is a 2021 graduate of North Little Rock High School.
"I look forward to Mr. Collins’ leadership at Seventh Street Elementary. I congratulate him on this promotion in his career,” said Dr. Gregory Pilewski.
Mr. Collins will begin his role on July 19.
A fixture associated with the North Little Rock District and its successful athletic programs has been tapped to lead the Charging Wildcat Football Team as the Head Coach.
Coach Randy Sandefur, the current Assistant Football Coach and Head Baseball Coach, is excited about the chance to develop student-athletes on and off the field.
“I love North Little Rock. I bleed blue and gold. I am thankful that Dr. Pilewski and the North Little Rock Board of Education have given me this opportunity to serve these student-athletes, this school, and this community. I will do it to the very best of my ability,” Sandefur said.
Coach Sandefur, a graduate of North Little Rock Northeast, began his career with the district in August 1984 as a Teacher and Assistant Football Coach at the former Ole Main High School. Coach Sandefur and Mr. Gary Davis, the NLRSD Athletic Director, were the first two coaches for the district’s baseball programs, which began in the 1986-87 school year. For much of his career, Coach Sandefur has coached both sports.
In March 2019, Coach Sandefur was appointed Interim Head Baseball Coach. Two months later, the Charging Wildcat Baseball Team shocked the state as they were crowned the 2019 Class 6A State Champions. This year, the team’s season ended in the semifinal round.
As an Assistant Football Coach, Coach Sandefur has been a part of the team’s impressive run to the state championship game. The team has been to War Memorial Stadium for five consecutive seasons, winning the championship game in 2017.
Coach Sandefur has also served as an Assistant Principal at the former Ridge Road Middle School and North Little Rock High School – East Campus.
Coach Sandefur earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He also earned a Master of Science Degree in Secondary School Leadership from the University of Central Arkansas.
“Coach Sandefur is well known in our community and throughout the state. We thank him for accepting this role, and we look forward to his leadership. We wish him much success as the Head Football Coach and as he grooms our student-athletes to be leaders in the classroom,” Dr. Pilewski said.
Sandefur will begin his role on July 12.