LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — After retiring as superintendent of Pine Bluff Schools last year, Frank Anthony had assumed a simple life.
But when asked to lead Dollarway schools -- a district in its second year of academic probation -- he says he couldn't resist.
"Once you think about the kids and you really care about them, then it almost becomes a no brainer," Anthony said.
At Monday's state education board meeting, leaders said this district is one of the lowest-performing in the state.
That's not all. Enrollment plummets year after year.
"It's always been my philosophy that if you build the best educational mousetrap in town, people will build a path to your door," Anthony said.
For students in the district, they hope the abrupt changes will alter how people think about them.
"Instead of calling Dollarway poor, I just want people to make positive comments about Dollarway," said Kamecika Walker, a freshman at Dollarway High.
Walker and Cordera McDonald, a sophomore at Dollarway High, hope Anthony creates an environment where students are learning and performing well enough to become successful after high school.
"What kind of changes would you like to see when school starts in August?" I asked McDonald.
"Teachers being more consistent with their teaching and helping us learn," he replied.
