Prime Highlights :
- Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders appoints Gary Stark to the Arkansas State Board of Education, replacing Adrienne Woods.
- Stark brings 35 years of education leadership, including roles with the Milken Family Foundation and the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching.
Key Facts :
- Stark’s appointment fills the seat left vacant by Adrienne Woods, with his term running through June 30, 2033.
- Stark earned the Milken Educator Award in 2001 and holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Arkansas.
Background :
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has appointed Gary Stark to the Arkansas State Board of Education, replacing Adrienne Woods in a term set to run through June 2033.
Sanders said Stark’s more than three decades of work across classrooms, schools and national education organizations have equipped him to strengthen student outcomes, adding that his focus on teacher effectiveness aligns with the goals of Arkansas LEARNS.
Stark said he felt honored to join the board, pointing to the state’s education reforms under Sanders and the improved outcomes they have brought for students.
He said he looks forward to working with the governor, fellow board members, parents and educators to build an education system that supports all students across Arkansas.
A sixth-generation native of Cleburne County, Stark has spent more than 35 years in education as a teacher, principal, nonprofit executive and military veteran. He most recently served as Senior Advisor for K-12 Education with the Walton Personal Philanthropy Group, working across Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma to strengthen schools and expand opportunities for students and educators.
Stark began his career as a classroom teacher in Tennessee before becoming a principal in Arkansas, earning the Milken Educator Award in 2001. He went on to serve as Vice President of the Milken Family Foundation and President and CEO of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, and has advised state and national education leaders, including a stint with the US Department of Education. Stark holds a doctorate from the University of Arkansas and has lived in Northwest Arkansas for 30 years.
