Jacoby: Job’s physical toll was ‘draining’
Posted on Thursday, June 5, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/62470/
BENTONVILLE — After eight years as Bentonville High School principal, Steve Jacoby turned in his resignation Wednesday so he can assume a new position with the Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science beginning July 1.
Jacoby said being a high school principal comes in two parts: mental and physical. And after attending 113 events and logging about 360 hours in afterschool activities this past school year, Jacoby said he can’t continue to keep up with the physical demand of being BHS principal.
“ I knew the physical drain would come sooner or later, ” Jacoby said. “ While I would like to continue, it takes its toll.
“ We do have a large high school, but we’re very small in the way we operate, and the success we have requires a lot of extra hours. ”
Last year, Jacoby applied for other positions within the school district, but he said his background and qualifications were not what the district was looking for at the time.
Jacoby applied in April to be Gravette School District superintendent, and at the same time he was in the middle of the application process with the Arkansas Advanced Initiative, a nonprofit company created to manage a $ 13. 2 million grant from the National Math and Science Initiative.
The governor’s office and the Arkansas Department of Education, on whose Web site Jacoby saw the job opening, were closely involved with the grant proposal and fully support the six-year grant which is projected to serve 30 high schools in Arkansas.
“ Gravette was aware I was looking at another position, as the Arkansas Advanced Initiative knew I was applying at Gravette. Once the Gravette position did not work out, I accepted this position, ” Jacoby said.
Jacoby was chosen as the Arkansas Initiative’s director of guidance and counseling out of about seven applicants for the position, program president Tommie Sue Anthony said.
“ This job requires that he work with school counselors and work with principals in looking at ways to improve schedules and (Advance Placement ) programs in the schools, ” Anthony said. “ Jacoby’s strength was that he had a background in counseling before becoming a principal, and he is known for building master schedules. High school principals throughout the state know him. ”
Arkansas was chosen as one of seven states to take part in the $ 125 million grant, funded by Exxon Mobil Corporation, through the National Math and Science Initiative to improve students’ AP scores. The Arkansas office is located on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where Jacoby will be spending part of his time.
“ It will require a lot of traveling, and I will be able to commute from home, ” Jacoby said.
Jacoby said his wife Kay will remain in her position as Bentonville’s executive director of secondary education.
Springdale High School and Har-Ber High School are on the list of 10 schools which Jacoby will be working with when classes begin in August. The other high schools that were competitively chosen by the initiative are Booneville High School, Little Rock Parkview High School, Wilbur Mills University Studies High School, Hot Springs ’ Lake Hamilton High School, El Dorado High School, Greenbrier High School, Newport High School and Green County Tech High School.
Working at Bentonville High School, which is now the largest high school in the state with about 3, 200 students, was a great privilege, Jacoby said, and he’s ready and willing to go on to other school districts that also have a desire to improve.
“ This job appealed to me because I would have the opportunity to continue work with the AP program. If my background and talents would help others improve their schools, then I’d be glad to work with them, ” Jacoby said. “ I’ve been fortunate and honored to be a part of a faculty, staff and community who has high expectations for their schools, and not just the high school, and is supportive of those expectations. ”
During Jacoby’s time at BHS, the high school was one of 37 high schools across the country to receive the Blue Ribbon School award recognizing the faculty and students for their high achievements.