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Profile: DEBBIE JONES

Superintendent Debbie Jones wants to make Bentonville, Ark., the place to be. Whether it鈥檚 for employees of the school district, parents or students, she has created opportunities for all in her nine years in the lead role.

A finalist for the 2025 National Superintendent of the Year Award, Jones says her principal goals are to create education choices for parents and their children and to recruit and retain the staff to deliver those options at a high caliber in Bentonville, birthplace of retail giant Walmart.

The 20,000-student Bentonville system encompasses both a downtown section and suburban areas. A parental choice model operates now among four downtown elementary schools, including one with an International Baccalaureate program feeding into middle and high schools and an arts integration school.

鈥淭he goal is to attract families from the borders, so they don鈥檛 have to rezone,鈥� Jones says.

For the past decade, Bentonville has run a professional studies program that offers 10 pathway options such as health careers, aeronautics and culinary arts. Jones is working to expand that into a new professional studies school and a night school, where these programs can have dedicated space.

Her inclusive embrace characterizes her leadership, says school board president Kelly Carlson. 鈥淪he has an unwavering commitment to excellence that鈥檚 for herself, for her team, her teachers,鈥� he says.

In a community that ranks as one of the region鈥檚 fastest growing over the last 20 years, Bentonville鈥檚 chief operating officer, Tanya Sharp, believes the superintendent鈥檚 chief goal is to put in place the means for students to achieve excellence in whatever they pursue.

鈥淥ne thing about Dr. Jones is she is very innovative and very much looks at what she sees coming in our district, where we sit in the community, and what we do to support our community, students and staff,鈥� Sharp adds.

Perhaps the district鈥檚 best-known initiative led to the building of McAuley Place, an affordable housing project with 40 two-bedroom cottages and two apartment buildings. Only Bentonville teachers and staff can rent these apartments or buy into shared equity. It鈥檚 a strategy for teacher recruitment and retention that enables individuals to walk off after five years using the equity option with $50,000 to invest in their own new homes.

Although Bentonville pays the highest salaries of any public school district in Arkansas, Jones says, staff members sometimes accept jobs but then renege when they can鈥檛 find affordable housing.

McAuley Place, whose first phase will open at the end of 2026, also will have a district-run childcare center for staff. The housing project is being built in partnership with the nonprofit Accelerate, a preschool education program. The district already provides childcare at one of its elementary schools.

In her district, there is something to support everybody鈥檚 needs. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I鈥檓 really proud of in Bentonville. There鈥檚 an opportunity for everyone to be engaged,鈥� Jones says. 鈥淚f kids are plugged in, they feel valued, they feel heard, they feel important. It鈥檚 really critical for every student to feel that.鈥�

This philosophy applies to her staff, too. The district hosts year-round classes for various professional tracks. 鈥淧eople want to grow 鈥� They may not want to stay in their current role forever,鈥� she says.

Carlson, with two children in Bentonville schools, says Jones鈥� performance certainly deserves superintendent of the year attention.

鈥淎s a board member and a parent, I鈥檝e got complete confidence in Dr. Jones and her leadership. I鈥檓 certainly excited to have my kids in the district, especially with the positive trajectory we鈥檙e on,鈥� he says. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a true asset to our students and our staff, the whole community.

Jacqueline Hyman is assistant editor of School Administrator magazine.