Stacy Smith, Deputy Commissioner

Division of Elementary and Secondary Education

Stacy Smith began serving as Deputy Commissioner for DESE in December 2020. Smith served as a former Assistant Commissioner of Learning Services from March 2016 until July 2020, when she assumed the role of the director of OCSS. She previously served as the DESE Director of Curriculum and Instruction from July 2014 to March 2016 and has been a principal at Hill Farm Elementary School in the Bryant School District and Fountain Lake Elementary School in the Fountain Lake School District. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master's in Educational Leadership from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and an Educational Specialist in Educational Leadership from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.

Sheila Whitlow, Associate Deputy Commissioner

Office of Coordinated Support and Service

Sheila Whitlow is currently serving as the Associate Deputy Commissioner. Her career spans more than 37 years, with her educational journey beginning as a classroom teacher at Judsonia Elementary School. In addition to teaching, Whitlow has served as both a building-level and district-level administrator at the White County Central School District and a literacy specialist at the Wilbur D. Mills Education Service Cooperative. Most recently, she was the Assistant State Superintendent for the Office of Coordinated Support and Service (OCSS). Whitlow received a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Central Arkansas at Conway, a master's degree in building leadership from Harding University in Searcy, a master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Arkansas State University at Jonesboro, and a specialist's degree in Educational Leadership from Harding University.

Assistant Commissioner

Office of Early Childhood

Dr. Brandie Benton, Assistant Commissioner

Office of Educator Effectiveness and Licensure

Brandie Benton previously served as the deputy superintendent of curriculum and instruction at Virtual Arkansas. Before joining the team at Virtual Arkansas, Benton was the associate provost for enrollment services and admissions at Henderson State University from July 2017 to June 2021. She served as the coordinator for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, Assessment, and Federal Programs at Teachers College, Henderson from August 2011 to 2017. During that time, Benton also served as the administrator for the Tk20 system (the educator preparation program's assessment and accreditation management system). Her previous experience also includes serving as an associate professor and university supervisor at Henderson, as well as the director of admissions and clinical experiences. Benton is also the co-founder for Schools Without Walls, an organization founded to support educators with effective use of technology in their classrooms. Benton received a Bachelor of Science in Education in Social Studies from Henderson State University, a Master of Science in Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Henderson, completed the Educational Leadership Program of Study at Henderson, and earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Benton currently is a member of the Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance, DLAC/The Community Advancing Digital Learning, Arkansas Council for the Social Studies, and National Council for the Social Studies.

Tim Cain, Division Director

Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation

Tim Cain began serving as the director of the Arkansas Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation in September 2019. He oversees facility and transportation programs that assist Arkansas public schools with providing adequate and safe facilities and transportation for students. Before joining the division, Cain had served as the chief transformation officer for the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality since January 2017. He served as the chief operating officer for ADEQ from October 2015 to December 2016 and as the assistant air chief from June 2015 to September 2015. Cain has experience as a quality engineer for multiple companies. He served as president of Envirodynamics in Little Rock and has worked as an air permit engineer, a project engineer, an Engineer II for ADEQ, and a process engineer. Cain has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and has multiple certifications. He holds a Professional Engineer certification with the Arkansas Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Project Management Professional. Cain is a member of the Project Management Institute Central Arkansas Chapter. He is a member of Bible Church of Little Rock and is a former justice of the peace for District 1.

Dr. Kiffany Pride, Assistant Commissioner

Office of Learning Services

Dr. Kiffany Pride began serving as assistant commissioner for Learning Services on July 1, 2020. She started working for DESE as a Response to Intervention coordinator for literacy, a position she held from August 2018 until February 2019. She then served as a R.I.S.E. (Reading Initiative for Student Excellence) assessor until August 2019, when she assumed the role as the director of curriculum and assessment. Before joining DESE, Pride was the program administrator for the Pulaski County Special School District's Department of Learning Services. Her previous experience also includes serving as a teacher, literacy coach, and athletic coach for the Little Rock School District. Pride has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Hendrix College, a Master of Science in Middle Childhood Education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, a Master of Science in Reading and Literacy from Walden University, and an Education Specialist in Educational Leadership and a Doctorate in Education in Educational Leadership from Harding University. Pride is a member of several professional organizations, including the Mid-South Educational Research Association, the Arkansas Reading Association, and the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators.

Hope Worsham, Assistant Commissioner

Office of Public School Accountability

Hope Worsham began serving as the assistant commissioner for Public School Accountability on July 1, 2023. She began working for DESE as the director of Student Assessment in August 2014, a position she held until July 2019. Worsham then served as the executive director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Little Rock School District until July 2021, when she returned to DESE as the director of the THRIVE Arkansas program. Before rejoining the department, Worsham was a high school math teacher in the United Kingdom and Cabot and Bryant School Districts. During her time in Bryant, she was the grades 9-12 instructional facilitator for mathematics. Worsham has a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Mathematics Education and a Master of Arts in Secondary Mathematics Education from the University of Central Arkansas at Conway, as well as a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and an Educational Specialist in Educational Leadership from Harding University in Searcy.

Dr. Darrell Smith, Assistant Commissioner

Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment

Dr. Darrell Smith began serving as the Assistant Commissioner for School Choice and Parent Empowerment in April 2023. He oversees the Educational Freedom Accounts, Charter Schools, Homeschool, and the Community and Family Engagement program in this role. His 30+ year educational career began in Arkansas, where he served as a teacher, principal, and administrator at Little Rock Christian Academy helping one of the largest private schools in the country achieve National Blue Ribbon status. He has recently led schools in Texas and Oklahoma and three international schools to greater academic achievement and enrollment success. He has also served and led national accreditation teams, helping schools nationally and internationally achieve quality within a continuous improvement model. Smith received his bachelor's degree in Finance/Economics from Baylor University, a master's in Counseling Psychology, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Liberty University.

Matt Sewell, Assistant Commissioner

Office of Special Education and Federal Programs

Matt Sewell was named the Assistant Commissioner of Federal Programs in July 2023. In this role, he oversees all federal programs, including Special Education. Sewell joined the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education in 2018 as the director of Special Programs, which included the Office of Special Education and Office of Alternative Education. Prior to joining the department, Sewell worked for the Vilonia School District for 18 years. While in Vilonia, he served as a special education teacher, middle school principal, director of finance and student services, director of special education, and high school principal. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Harding University in Searcy, and an Educational Specialist in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University at Jonesboro.