Berryville board approves hiring of two new principals

The Berryville School District will have new leaders at two of its campuses next school year.

At its monthly board meeting held Monday, April 21, the Berryville School Board approved the hiring of new principals for the high school and elementary school.

“That’s a first for me, to replace two in one year,” superintendent Owen Powell said.

Joey Curtis, who has been assistant principal at the high school for the past eight years, has been promoted to lead the high school starting next school year. He will replace longtime principal Donnel Armstrong, who is retiring.

Meanwhile, Jill Schowe, the district’s current Building Learning Coordinator at the middle school, was approved to replace retiring elementary principal Christy Graham.

“I’m really excited about our new hires,” Powell said. “For the high school position we hired Mr. Joey Curtis, who has been at the high school for eight years. We’re going to transfer him up to the high school position, and I know he’s excited about that. I’m excited to see what he can do. I know he’ll do a good job.

“And Jill Showe will be our new elementary principal. She’s worked for the district, I believe, for four or five years. She started here as a teacher in the middle school, but has some experience as a principal. She spent some time in Missouri as an assistant principal and as a principal, so she brings some experience. We’re excited about her and the job that she’s going to do.”

In addition to two new principals, the district will also have a new ESL Coordinator next school year with Sue Clanton hired to replace retiring Maryann Pharis.

“Sue has spent a lot of years with the district in several different positions over the years and we’re excited to get her as our ESL Coordinator,” Powell said.

POWELL’s CONTRACT EXTENDED The board voted 6-1 to extended by a year Powell’s contract. Board member Travis Gregory cast the lone dissenting vote.

“I’m very appreciative to get that extension,” the superintendent said. “I think that takes me through 2028 if I’m adding that up right. But yes, just very appreciative of the extension and thank the school board for that.”

OTHER BOARD ACTION The board approved the most recent district audit, which came back without any negative findings, Powell said.

“I’m proud we didn’t have any audit findings,” the superintendent said. “That’s always a good thing and just reassures us that we’re doing things the right way.

“It’s a very meticulous audit through Legislative Audit, but like I said, they approved the report with no findings.”

The board also OK’d the calendar for the 2025-2026 school year, which is scheduled to start on Monday, Aug. 11.

“We’re starting about as early as we possibly can,” Powell said. “It’s always one of those things, where we live at and the possibilities of missing days due to weather. So, you always try to start about as early as you can because you don’t know how the winter is going to be, and you don’t know how many days you’re going to miss due to weather.

“So, it’s always a good thing to start as early as you can and if you don’t have any weather days you just get out that much earlier.”

Barring any missed days due to weather, the last day of school for the 2025-2026 school is scheduled for Friday, May 22, Powell said.

Powell said state-mandated testing, which started last week and will wrap up this week, is going well.

“So far, it’s gone really smooth,” he said. “It’s gone very well and we are excited to see how we do.”