For Families
Our District
Federal Programs and Services
Nikki Thomas, Superintendent, has been employed by the Arkadelphia Public School District for 22 years. Ms. Thomas has been a teacher, principal, assistant principal, and now superintendent in the school district. She spent one year at Bismarck Public Schools as K-12 Curriculum Coordinator and two years at Gurdon Public Schools as Superintendent. Ms. Thomas is an Arkadelphia High School graduate. She hold a BSE from Ouachita Baptist University, a Masters in Educational Leadership and an Educational Specialist Degree from Henderson State University. She is currently enrolled in the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program at Arkansas Tech University. Ms. Thomas began her role as Superintendent for the Arkadelphia School District in July, 2022.
Dr. Jeanette Turner, Director of Curriculum and Federal Programs, has been employed by the Arkadelphia School District for 27 years. She has served as a paraprofessional, a teacher, an instructional facilitator, an assistant principal, Director of Assessment and Accountability, and Director of Curriculum. Dr. Turner graduated from Arkadelphia High School before attending Henderson State University where she received a BSE in Elementary Education, an MSE in School Counseling, and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership. In 2015, she earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Jimmy King, Director of Support Services, began working in the Arkadelphia School District at Goza Middle School in 1992. He entered his 30th year in education and has served as teacher, coach, bus driver, and assistant principal. He graduated from Oak Grove High School. He has a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the University of Central Arkansas, and also has a Master of Science in Education degree from Henderson State University.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Arkansas State Teachers Association, and on the Board of Directors for the Arkansas Safe Schools Association where he was awarded the Safe Schools Leadership Award for the Lorance Johnson Education Administrator of the Year in 2016. He is the 2020 Arkansas Middle Level Assistant Principal of the Year.
Jimmy is married to Kathy King, Media Specialist at Goza Middle School, and they have two daughters, Casey and Bailey, and two grandchildren, Madison and Porter, who attend Arkadelphia Public Schools. They also have a spoiled Havanese named Snuffles.
Judy Talley, Special Education Director, has 31 years’ experience in providing special education services to students with disabilities. She has served students and families in the roles of special education teacher, educational diagnostician, and Special Education Director. Mrs. Talley earned her undergraduate and Master’s degree from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, AR. She earned a MA+30 from Louisiana Tech in Ruston, LA. This is Mrs. Talley’s third year as Special Education Director in Arkadelphia Public Schools.
Krystal McLane, Business Manager, has nine years of experience in education. She served three years in higher education at Henderson State University. She is in her sixth year at Arkadelphia Public Schools. Krystal served as the secretary/bookkeeper at Perritt Primary School and then joined the Business Office as the Payroll Clerk before becoming the Business Manager.
Director of Federal Programs
Jeremy Bell, Director of Federal Programs, is a 1989 graduate of AHS. After earning his mathematics degree at OBU, he became a teacher at APSD. After leaving the math classroom, he added several more roles to his resume including instructional facilitator, principal, district administrator, curriculum coordinator, and Federal Programs Coordinator. Mr. Bell brings 30 years of experience back home to APSD.