State Board Members

 

Dr. Sarah Moore

Dr. Sarah Moore, State Board chair, has a background in elementary education and education policy. A native of Little Rock, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University and a doctorate in education policy from the University of Arkansas. Moore taught elementary school in the Stuttgart School District and then worked at the Office for Education Policy at the University of Arkansas, as a Doctoral Academy Fellow. In addition, she has worked with non-traditional teaching programs to train and develop teachers.

Moore served as the education policy advisor to Gov. Asa Hutchinson for three years, focusing on K-12 education issues, including the Computer Science Initiative. In this role, she saw firsthand that Arkansas' students will be better prepared for their future and will exceed when provided high-quality opportunities, such as computer science.

Moore lives in Stuttgart with her husband, James, and their two children.

Gov. Hutchinson appointed Moore to the State Board in July 2018. Her term expires June 30, 2025.

Email: Sarah.B.Moore@ade.arkansas.gov


Kathy McFetridge-Rollins

Kathy McFetridge-Rollins, State Board vice-chair, brings 27 years of school board experience serving Arkansas children and families to the State Board of Education. She was first elected to the Springdale School Board in 1991 and has held the positions of secretary/treasurer, vice president and president. During her tenure, McFetridge-Rollins helped manage the tremendous growth in the Springdale School District with 11 new schools opening to accommodate a rapidly growing student enrollment.

McFetridge-Rollins was elected to serve on the Arkansas School Boards Association in 1999. She received the Honor Board Member Award in 1995 and the Pinnacle Award in 2001. She also received the prestigious Daniel Pilkinton Award in 2001 from the Arkansas School Boards Association in recognition for her outstanding service to public education. In 1998, the National School Boards Association presented McFetridge-Rollins with its award for distinguished service. McFetridge-Rollins has also served her community through various organizations.

She has served on several statewide committees:

  • Arkansas Blue Ribbon Commission on Education, 2002
  • Child Health Advisory Committee, 2003–2010 (Chair, 2007-2009)
  • Technology Task Force on Education, 2004
  • Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, 2002–2007

The McFetridge-Rollins family has owned and operated Ozark Film & Video Productions in Springdale since 1983, and attend First United Methodist Church in Springdale. McFetridge-Rollins has two adult children and four grandchildren.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed McFetridge-Rollins to the State Board of Education in July 2018. Her term expires June 30, 2025.

Email: Kathy.Rollins@ade.arkansas.gov


Adrienne Woods

adrienne woods

Adrienne Woods was 4 years old when her parents moved to Bentonville in 1991. Home schooled for most of her K-12 years, she graduated high school in 2005 and thereafter attended Arkansas Tech University earning a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history in 2008. Missing Northwest Arkansas, she returned upon graduation and earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville in 2012.

Prior to her most recent business venture, Woods practiced military criminal defense and civil litigation at the Asa Hutchinson Law Group and corporate white collar criminal defense for Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard law firm, both located in Rogers. Woods also served as a director in the Global Ethics and Compliance department at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., overseeing highly sensitive internal investigations.

 

She and her husband Jonathan have been married for 11 years. They have three children - Henry, Amelia (twins), and Finley. Currently, Woods co-owns FreeRide Studio in Bentonville. Together, she and her husband are actively involved in their church where she volunteers in the children's and women's ministries.

 

Woods was appointed to the State Board by Gov. Asa Hutchinson in June 2020. Her term expires June 30, 2026.

 

Email: Adrienne.Woods@ade.arkansas.gov


Randy Henderson

Randy Henderson is a native of Blytheville and has worked with Nucor Steel for over 24 years. He has served in an advisory role for educational institutions including the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Advisory Council and the Philander Smith College Business Advisory Council. He graduated from Arkansas Northeastern College with an associate of arts degree and earned a bachelor of applied science degree from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. His area of focus was industrial technology.

Henderson's experience in education and leadership provides him with a vision for the future of Arkansas' students. He believes in the power of education for a successful workforce. As a child, his dream job was to be an educator serving underprivileged children.

Henderson is a graduate of Arkansas State Chamber Leadership and the National Society of Leadership and Success. He has served on organizations including Delta Grassroots Caucus, Delta Region Economic Advancement Mission Council, and the Arkansas State Chamber - Be Pro Be Proud.

In 2017, Speaker of the House Jeremy Gillam appointed him to serve as an Arkansas business representative on the Arkansas Legislative Task Force on Workforce Education Excellence. That same year, Henderson received the Arkansas Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award from Arkansas Community Colleges Association for his efforts toward helping to shrink the skills gap in education and the workforce in Arkansas.

In 2018, Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed Henderson to serve on the Arkansas Workforce Development Board. In 2020, he was recognized by Arkansas Business 250 as one of the state's most influential leaders.

Henderson lives in Blytheville with his wife, Alvque. They have four children and three grandchildren.

Gov. Hutchinson appointed Henderson to the State Board in August 2021. His term expires on June 30, 2028.

Email: Randy.Henderson@ade.arkansas.gov


Lisa Hunter

Lisa Hunter is a Jefferson County native and graduate of the Pine Bluff School District. She received a bachelor of science degree in finance with a minor in accounting from Louisiana Tech University.

Hunter is executive vice president and chief data officer for Simmons Bank. She began her career at Simmons Bank in 1996 after spending time with other banking institutions in the southeastern U.S.

Hunter is an active member of First United Methodist Church. She is a board member of the Pine Bluff Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Arkansas Community Foundation, where she chairs the scholarships committee. She previously served as board member and campaign chair for the United Way of Southeast Arkansas. She served as treasurer and school board member for Trinity Episcopal School in Pine Bluff for several years.

As the granddaughter of a public-school administrator, Hunter has always valued education and the opportunities that it provides.

Hunter and her husband, Jeff, reside in White Hall. They have two children – Courtney and Anna Claire.

Governor Asa Hutchinson appointed Hunter to the State Board of Education in August 2022. Her term expires in 2029.

Email: Lisa.Hunter@ade.arkansas.gov


 Jeff Wood

jeff wood

Jeff Wood is a seventh generation Arkansan and is passionate about improving academic achievement for Arkansas kids.  His public service began in 2015 as a parent advocate for schools in the western portions of Little Rock.  In 2016, Wood was appointed by Secretary of Education Johnny Key to serve on the Little Rock School District’s Community Advisory Board during the period of time that the state Department of Education intervened in the administration of Little Rock schools.  When LRSD was returned to local control in November 2020, Wood was elected to serve on the district’s new school board.

In his six years with LRSD, Wood’s proudest accomplishments are shepherding in a new literacy strategy based on the Science of Reading, highlighting the need for exponential growth in the district’s academic services for dyslexic and special needs students, leading the effort to move starting teacher salaries from #100 in Arkansas to #1, and championing LRSD’s expansion in west Little Rock with the construction of West High School, which will open its doors in August 2025.

Wood grew up in both Mena and Camden, Arkansas.  He’s a proud alum of the University of Arkansas School of Law, the University of Arkansas and Camden-Harmony Grove High School. He practices law in Little Rock where he resides with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children, Chandler, Crew and London.

Governor Asa Hutchinson appointed Wood to the State Board of Education in August 2022. His term expires in 2029.

Email: Jeff.Wood@ade.arkansas.gov


Ken Bragg

Ken Bragg was elected to his first term as State Representative for District 15 in 2012 and completed 10 years in the House before deciding not to seek a sixth term. In past sessions, Bragg has served on the Revenue and Tax Committee, the Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development Committee, the Education Committee, the Joint Energy Committee, and Arkansas Legislative Council. As a member of the Legislative Council, Ken served as co-chair of the Review Committee during the 93rd General Assembly. 

Ken also represented Arkansas on the Energy Council CLEER Board of Directors. He previously served as Majority Leader for the 90th General Assembly and as an Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore for the 91st and 92st General Assemblies. Recently, Ken served as a legislative liaison during the 94th General Assembly for Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Ken has received the Arkansas Municipal League Distinguished Legislator Award, the Arkansas Timber Producers Legislator of the Year Award, Arkansas Forestry Association President’s Award, Outstanding State Legislator by the Arkansas State Employees Association, Legislator of the Year by the Arkansas Forestry Association, the Business Matters Leadership Award by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, and the Friend of Freedom Award by the Advance Arkansas Institute.

Prior to serving in the Arkansas House of Representatives, Ken served on the Sheridan Water and Sewer Committee and the Sheridan City Council for 16 years. He currently serves on the Grant County Industrial Development Commission, the Grant County Chamber of Commerce Timberfest Committee, the Grant County Dolly Parton Imagination Library Board, and the Sheridan Kickstart Executive Committee.

Ken retired as the Arkansas Region Manager for Resource Management Service. 

Ken and his wife Beverly are members of First Baptist Church in Sheridan, where he serves as deacon, Sunday School teacher, and Mission Team Leader. He and Beverly have two children – Aaron Bragg (wife, Allison) and Melissa Peacock (husband, Denver) – and four grandchildren, Presley and Hudson Peacock and Austin and A.J. Bragg. His wife, Beverly, is a retired public-school teacher.

Gov. Sanders appointed Bragg to the State Board in July 2023. His term expires June 30, 2030.

Email: Ken.Bragg@ade.arkansas.gov



Leigh S. Keener

Leigh S. Keener is a native of Little Rock. She is a graduate of both Little Rock Central High (1999), and the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (2004), and she earned her Certificate in Early Education Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education (2021). Most recently, she graduated in the inaugural class of the Civility Leadership Institute (2022) and led her school through NAEYC accreditation. She has worked in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors of education in her over 20 year career.

Keener is a life-long learner as evident through multiple certifications, including Little Rock School District/University of Arkansas Cyber Teacher (2006), National Board Certification (2007), Google Certified Trainer (2018), Verifier and Influence Training Certificate (2022), and Crucial Conversations Certificate (2022).  Keener was named Forest Park PTA Teacher of the Year (2008), received the Central Arkansas Safety Town’s Key to the City (2019), was named the Jackson T. Stephens Outstanding Faculty Member (2020), was named the first education honoree of Inviting Arkansas’s Women in STEAM (2021), and was inducted into the Secretary Rodney Slater Leadership Society by Renew America Together (2023). She is the Executive Director of the nonprofit, Joyfully Engaged Learning Arkansas. She is also currently serving on the Arkansas Imagination Library Board of Directors.

Keener lives and works in Little Rock with her husband, Justin, and their 3 children - Laura Beth and Harrison (twins), and Luke.

Gov. Sanders appointed Keener to the State Board in August 2023. Her term expires June 30, 2030.

Email: Leigh.Keener@ade.arkansas.gov