Principals
Elementary Principal - Rachel Wheeler
With great enthusiasm, Rachel Wheeler joins the team at Academic Plus Charter School of Maumelle, AR in the newly created position of elementary (kindergarten through 6th grade) principal.
Mrs. Wheeler will be responsible for the educational needs of 325 students and providing instructional leadership to 29 individual staff and faculty members. The state's first charter school is growing at a fast pace and she is well prepared to meet the exhilarating demands that accompany growth. Mrs. Wheeler began her career in education in May 1994 by writing an educational drug grant for the public housing authority in West Helena, AR and was employed as resident activities coordinator to provide drug information and prevention associated with the grant. She then moved to Lake Village, Arkansas with her husband and accepted her first public school teaching position as a sixth-grade teacher in July 1997 with Lakeside Public Schools. She taught for four years before being promoted to elementary principal at age 27, the youngest principal in the state at the time. In July 2002, Mrs. Wheeler accepted the position of Brookland Elementary principal overseeing 500 students in Brookland, Arkansas for five years. In July 2007, she was awarded the position of elementary principal and preschool director with Mayflower Elementary in Mayflower, Arkansas. She served for three years before joining Academics Plus Charter School in July 2010, where she plans to stay and see her own children graduate.
Mrs. Wheeler comes from a long line of teachers which has exposed her to many different ideas and philosophies on education. After years of listening to their discussions about educational issues, she became determined to be a school administrator and "fix it all". Over the years, Mrs. Wheeler has realized that goal isn't as easy as the little ease dropping girl growing up in West Helena, Arkansas thought it would be but is still optimistic, determined and constantly striving for excellence in education. She uses the Golden Rule to guide her leadership and decision making in all she does. She expects hands on learning, with real life application where students are constantly engaged in meaningful activities while in the classroom.
Mrs. Wheeler holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Masters of Science in Educational Administration both from Arkansas State University. She is a certified elementary teacher and kindergarten through ninth grade principal. She is currently working to earn her specialist in curriculum and instruction and believes her own education will never end. Born in Memphis, TN., Mrs. Wheeler has a passion for her family, loves the beach, and enjoys junking, scrapbooking and being on the water. She and her husband, Brian, have a son, Jordan 10 and daughter, Jenna, 7.
High School Principal - Sharon Walker
Sharon Walker has 18 years experience in education and is charged with ensuring the educational needs of over 250 students in grades seventh through twelfth. Prior to joining the staff at Academics Plus Charter School in July 2010, Ms. Walker was Kindergarten - twelfth grade Assistant Principal and Business Teacher at Guy-Perkins, in Guy, Arkansas for six years.
She began her education career in 1992 at Eureka Springs Middle and High school, then went on to teach at Gentry High School for two years as a Business and Career teacher, and Siloam Springs High School for five years as a Business and Technology teacher. Prior to entering her career in education, Ms. Walker held executive corporate positions in finance and management in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. Mrs. Walker serves on the Delta Teaching Initiatives' Board of Directors and is active in numerous professional organizations.
Ms. Walker holds an Associate of Arts in Management from Rogers State College in Claremore, Oklahoma; Bachelor of Science in Management and Business Administration from the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas; Teaching Certificate from the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri; Master of Education in Pre-Kindergarten - twelfth grade Building Level Administration from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, and a Specialist in Education in District Level Administration from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She is currently pursuing her Doctor in Education degree from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
She is certified as a Pre-K - 12th grades building level principal, Pre-K - 12th grades curriculum program administrator, 4th - 8th career and technical curriculum program administrator and as a superintendent. Her content certification is in the area of Business, Technology, Marketing and Career Education. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ms. Walker moved to Coal Hill, Arkansas her junior year of high school. Ms. Walker loves to sew, bake, and spend time with her family. She and her husband have three daughters, one son, two granddaughters, and two grandsons.