Academic Plus Charter School


Board of Trustees

J. E. Jess Sweere - Chairperson

Mr. Sweere's term expires Sept. 2011

J. E. Jess Sweere is a labor relations, employment, commercial & corporate, and transportation attorney having been admitted in 2005 to practice in Arkansas and United States District Courts, Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Mr. Sweere is an alumnus of the University of Arkansas having graduated in 1988 with a BSBA in Transportation. Further, Jess received is Doctorate of Jurisprudence with honors in 2005 from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law, where he was an Associate Research Editor for the UALR Law Review; and, 2004-2005 Law Review Member of the Year. Trustee Sweere is an active member of the American Bar Association (including Labor and Employment Division), Rotary Club of Maumelle, Arkansas Bar Association, Pulaski County Bar Association, Transportation Law Association and the Arkansas Trucking Association. Prior Jess's posts include 18 years management experience in the trucking and logistics industry.

Dr. Don Henderson- Vice Chairman - City Appointee

Dr. Don Henderson is a retired educator who began his career in 1964 as a teacher in Gary, Indiana.  Since his time as a teacher he has held many high level positions that have fostered a wide range of experience.  From 2002-2005 he was the superintendent of schools for the Pulaski County Special School District the second largest district in Arkansas.  Before becoming superintendent he was the assistant superintendent for support services for three years.  Prior to moving to Arkansas Dr. Henderson served as the superintendent of schools for the Richland County School District One, in Columbia, South Carolina.  There he served in several different capacities to include deputy superintendent and assistant superintendent for pupil services, secondary education and elementary education. 

Dr. Henderson earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Central State College in Wilberforce, Ohio; a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana; and a Doctorate degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois.

He currently resides in Maumelle, Arkansas with his wife Carlette.  They both enjoy finding time to spend with their two children, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Keith Robinson -  City Appointee

Mr. Robinson's Term expires Jan. 2011

Keith Robinson is a Board Certified Entomologist who specializes in urban and industrial entomology.  He has spent the last 16+ years studying termites and other insects that invade homes and buildings.    He is the owner / operator of OPTIMAL PEST SOLUTIONS, Inc.

Keith has been married for over 18 years to Laura Robinson (his high school sweetheart) and they have two daughters, Faith and Lauren.  Both are students at Academics Plus Charter School.

Keith and his family have lived in Maumelle since March of 2005.  They are active members of New Life Church.

Luke Ribich - Elected - Secretary 

Mr. Ribich's term expires Sept 2010

Luke Ribich is Managing Partner of the Avionics & Systems Integration Group, LLC (ASIG), where he is responsible for day-to-day operating activities, sales and marketing, program management, production, customer support and exacts a special expertise in avionics engineering, installation and certification management. Mr. Ribich has 15 years avionics and airframe related experience. Prior, Mr. Ribich managed Aircraft & Systems Modifications for Air Transport International and has held positions of increasing responsibility including avionics mechanic, avionics installer, inspector, line mechanic, lead mechanic, shift supervisor, program coordinator, and avionics manager for airline and repair station employers. Mr. Ribich has completed study requirements with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in the university's B.S. Management of Technical Operations program.

 

Stephanie Henson - Elected

Mrs. Henson's term expires Sept. 2011

Stephanie Henson is Secretary for several New York Life Agents where she is responsible for managing the office, system updates, servicing clients, maintaining confidential records as well as many other duties.

Stephanie has been married to Joey Henson for over 21 years and has one child William who attends Academics Plus Charter School.

 Stephanie is on the Board for LCA (Last Chance for Arkansas Animals), and she volunteers helping the animals. She is an Artist who has donated several pieces of her art for different events such as Haute Dogs and Kool Cats, the Little Rock Animal Village grand opening, and the Humane Society. She has served on the Women�s Committee at her Church and currently is the Children�s Director at Vimy Ridge Emmanuel Baptist Church. Stephanie volunteered during the March 1, 1997 tornado that devastated her community and she met with several organizations such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army and different Church leaders to help with the rebuilding of the areas affected. She was Supervisor for Watershed over the construction of homes being rebuilt. She donates her time volunteering in many ways not only to her Church and community.

 

                                                                                                          

                                                                                       

Tim Loken - Elected - Treasurer

Mr. Loken's term expires 2011

Mr. Loken is the chairman of the Policy Committee of APCS Board of Trustees.

Tim Loken is Director of Tariffs and Reporting for Windstream Communications, where he is responsible for the filing of state and interstate tariffs, reporting of information to various regulatory agencies, receipts of universal service funds, embedded cost studies, and the forecasting of over $500 million in wholesale revenues. He has been employed by Alltel/Windstream for over twenty years. Mr. Loken is an alumnus of the University of Akron in Ohio and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Mr. Loken has been married for over 20 years to Denise Loken and they have three daughters, who are or have attended Academics Plus Charter School with the oldest graduating in 2010.  The Loken family is hosting an exchange student from China who will be attending Academics Plus for the 2010-2011 school year. The Loken's have been residents of Maumelle since 1995 and attend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

 

Lt. John Breckon - Elected

Lieutenant John Breckon is the chairman of the Campus Life Committee of APCS Board of Trustees.

For the past ten years Lieutenant Breckon has served as the deputy commander of special operation for the North Little Rock Police Department.  During the past seven years he has also held the position as the training division commander for the department.  He has served in several important capacities during his 23 year career with the department to include upper level management positions for the past 11 years.

He holds a bachelors degree from University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) in political science and graduated from UALR criminal justice institute receiving master’s level course work.

Lieutenant Breckon has been married for over 20 years to Regina and they have three children, two of which current attend Academics Plus Charter School.  During his limited free time he enjoys activities with his family, and he strives to improve the education for students at Academics Plus Charter School.

 

 

Will Crawford - Appointee

Will is currently on staff at Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock where he serves as the North Region Pastor overseeing the pastoral needs of the Fellowship congregation that live north of the Arkansas River.  He recently has also taken on the role as Internet Campus Pastor at Fellowship helping to develop and lead an internet based congregation for the church. He grew up in Upstate New York but moved to Canada after high school graduation. In Canada, Will studied and received his Bachelors of Biblical Study from Canadian Bible College and his Masters of Divinity from Canadian Theological Seminary.  Will is an ordained Evangelical minister who served as a pastor for nearly 20 years with a denomination in Canada. Before coming on staff at Fellowship Bible Church in 2008, Will served as the Sr. Pastor of a church in Winnipeg Manitoba for 9 years. Will and his wife Jennifer, have been married for over 19 years and have 4 children attending APCS.

Over the years Will has had the privilege of leading boards, volunteers and members of organizations through structural renewal, vision casting, strategic planning and change.  He has a unique ability to see the big picture within an organization and to make the necessary changes that build into a common goal and vision.  He understands different leadership personalities and uses this understanding to bring diverse groups of people together for a common cause.

Will hopes to bring a unique perspective to the Board of APCS desiring to help bring about positive change with open and transparent dialogue between the board, parents and staff at the school while remaining committed to the unity of the greater APCS community. 

 

Dustin Henderson - City Appointee

In his role as the CEO of a startup, Dustin Henderson has learned how to do big things with very few resources. In fact, it is this spirit that attracts Mr. Henderson to the APCS. He believes the board and staff must not allow the physical limitation of what “is” define their vision for what could be. Their creativity and tenacity has created and will continue to create a great foundation on which we will build upon.

Mr. Henderson’s connection and commitment to the community is deep. He moved to the area in 1990 and graduated from North Little Rock High School in 1994. His wife Amy is a Conway native and their children David (10) and Cydney (7) both attend APCS. They are active members of New Life Church and enjoy various family activities in and around Maumelle. They are happy to call Maumelle home.

Mr. Henderson’s extensive education and business experience have prepared him well for this trustee position. He has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Evangel University. He holds a Masters of Science in Computer Information Systems from Missouri State University. In addition, he is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, an International Honor Society recognizing the top business program students accredited by AACSB International. Mr. Henderson has over 12 years of management experience working with various companies such as Maybelline, TRW, Anheuser Busch, Mercy Health, Efco and Acxiom. Currently, he is the CEO of a venture-backed start up called MeritBuilder. It is a personal branding platform focused on helping organizations and individuals improve their brands by recognizing and encouraging others.

Mr. Henderson’s work on MeritBuilder brings him in direct contact with hiring managers across the country. This experience provides him with a unique perspective on what it takes to develop a meaningful career path. He recognizes that path begins in primary school. It is his conviction that each additional class, activity, and experience we can provide the students of APCS makes their education richer and gives them the skills to compete in a hyper-competitive college admissions process or labor market.

Make no mistake; Mr. Henderson believes Arkansas’s future is based on the accomplishments of the children who attend APCS. He truly believes there is a future founder of the next Dillard's, Walmart, or Acxiom attending our school today. Their success could provide thousands of jobs for generations of Arkansans. He considers it an honor and an obligation to ensure this success, and he looks forward to the opportunity to serve the citizens of the APCS community.