Ken McLemore

HOPE – The Hope Public Schools Board of Education completed its formal evaluation of HPS Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Crossley in a special board session Jan. 25.

“I am humbled by the support of the board,” Dr. Crossley said. “The HPS board is a solid example of leadership in the community. Their integrity is never in question. I am proud to be the HPS superintendent.”

The board reviewed evaluation surveys completed by each board member in an executive session prior to meeting with Crossley to discuss his first seven months at the helm of the HPS.

“The superintendent’s evaluation is a series of questions based on a 1-5 scoring system; one being worse and five being above average,” Board Vice President Alvis Hamilton, who presided at the meeting, said. “We believe Dr. Crossley received a fair evaluation; there were some areas that were just average in scoring, primarily because, while we feel he is doing a good job, there are some areas that need some more time because he is so new to the position, the district and the city.”

Hamilton said the evaluation covered only part of Crossley’s first year.

“We must realize he has not been in the district for a full school year,” he said. “After executive session he was given an opportunity to see and question the evaluation process with explanation of his newness to the district.”

Crossley is a native of South Carolina who holds a BA in Political Science from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. He received an MA in 2015 from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Ar., before obtaining Ed.S. and Ed.D. degrees from ATU in 2018. 

Crossley came to the HPS in July, 2021, from the Pine Bluff School District where he was a state consultant and an assistant superintendent for two years.

In other matters, the board approved the change in status of a long-term substitute teacher to full-time faculty and accepted one teacher resignation.