front&center Donis Smead

Life is full for high school principal, pastor

By Elizabeth Pannell

LITTLE ROCK — The Bearded Eagle has landed.

Donis Smead, now clean-shaven, acquired his nickname from students as principal at Centerpoint High School. Much like an eagle, Smead said he keeps a watchful eye on his students, no matter how many are in his care.

Smead, now Sheridan High School principal, began his career as a math teacher in the El Dorado School District, then he moved to the Bearden School District before becoming principal at Glenwood High School.

Smead said Glenwood High School was the smallest Class A school in the state. Now he is in charge of 950 high school students and 69 faculty and staff at Sheridan High School, the 25th largest school district in the state.

Smead begins his second year as the principal of Sheridan High School, and as he sits behind his large, cherry-wood desk scattered with Post-It Notes, he discussed how his job at Sheridan is vastly different from his previous job.

“The first year I was at Glenwood, I stood at the end of the hallway every day for two weeks and asked every student their name, but there was only 208 students,” Smead said. “At Sheridan, that is nearly impossible; we have 4,200 kids in the district. The total population of Sheridan is 3,800.”

Both of Smead’s parents were educators, and he said early on he never planned to follow in their footsteps.

“When I first started college, I was a businessmarketing major, then I matured and realized all the people that were graduating with that degree were working in Los Angeles, Miami or New York,” Smead said. “I didn’t want that; I wanted to stay in Arkansas. I knew I could get a job in education.”

Smead was at Glenwood for two years before the school voluntarily consolidated with the nearby Amity High School to form the Centerpoint School District. Smead said the transition was a smooth one, but as principal he served in many different roles.

“The first year Centerpoint consolidated one of the bus drivers quit. I couldn’t find a replacement, so I had to drive a bus. That meant that my day began early and ended late,” Smead said. “After I finished with my bus route, I began my duties as principal that included taking care of the discipline, tardies, mad parents, media, award presentations, phone calls and personnel. I was also athletic director, which meant my nights were spent at a ballgame or track meet.”

When Smead was a sophomore in college at Southern Arkansas University, he said God called him into the ministry. So along with his responsibilities as principal, Smead also serves as pastor at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Bonnerdale. Smead and his family make the 70-mile trip on Sundays so that he can preach and visit with his congregation.

“I have been at Mount Moriah for 12 years, so when I took this job I sat down and spoke with the congregation about what we were going to do. I told themI didn’t want to be a burden, but we worked it out and I was able to continue as their pastor,” Smead said. “I know it’s been a burden to them, but they have been a blessing.”

The father of four said finding the balance between school, church and family has been tough.

“I don’t balance everything very well; the church has been gracious and my family puts up with a lot,” Smead said. “Scheduling is a nightmare, but my wife and I have worked out a system.”

Smead said his job is to take care of things with their two high school children, Cathrine and Kreg, and his wife, Missy, takes care of things with their two younger elementary-age children, Katelyn and Curt.

“My family just knows how my job is, but we always find time to spend together, whether it’s a family vacation or a lunch break,” Smead said.

As a former math teacher, Smead said the favorite part of his day is spending time in the classroom.

“I love to go into the classroom when the students are doing some kind of special activity, like reading Macbeth or playing Trivial Pursuit in geometry. I don’t get to see very many kids during the day, so that’s always nice,” Smead said.

Smead said as a new principal his first year was spent “getting his feet wet.” But this year he has set several goals for the high school.

“I am very big on teacher morale - I want to improve that, and I want to improve our test scores,” Smead said. “I want the school to score 71 percent in literacy and 81 percent in math; that is an immediate goal.”

Smead said even though he no longer has his beard, he continues to live up to his former nickname.

- epannell@ arkansasonline.commatter of fact Birth date: June 22, 1966.

Birthplace: Monticello.

Occupation: School administrator and pastor.

Family includes: Wife of 22 years, Michelene (Missy) Corder Smead, my rock and best friend; daughter Cathrine Suzanne, 18; son Kreg Taylor, 15;

daughter Katelyn Michelle, 10; son Curt Dixon, 8.

Hobbies: Reading, golf, motorcycle riding, yard work, any outdoor activities My name comes from: My maternal grandfather, Don Taylor Norris.

Most people don’t know I’m: Scared of heights.

I cannot live without: My faith in Jesus Christ.

My favorite memory is: Four of them, the birth of my children.

The world would be a better place if: Everyone believed and followed the two greatest commandments of God: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, “Thou shalt love they neighbour as thyself.” Matthew 22:37-39.

Favorite quote: “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Philippines 4:13.

My goals for the future: Be happy and buy a new motorcycle as soon as possible.

Tri-Lakes, Pages 141, 144 on 08/24/2008