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DISTRICT LEADERSHIP

Dr. Kim Anderson, Superintendent

Dr. Kim Anderson, Superintendent

Dr. Kim Anderson, Superintendent, has been in education for 35 years. She is starting her 8th year with Benton School District and her 3rd year as Superintendent. Before serving as Superintendent, Dr. Anderson served as Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education. Her duties included overseeing federal funds, EL, GT, homeless, CTE, and testing. Before coming to Benton, Dr. Anderson taught and coached for 13 years. She also served as a Library Media Specialist, technology coordinator, school improvement specialist, and professional development coordinator. Dr. Anderson earned a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate from Arkansas State University and a master’s from the University of Central Arkansas. Before beginning K-12 education, she served as a temporary instructor for Arkansas State University and adjunct instructor for Black River Technical College and Arkansas Northeastern College.

Dr. Larry Smith, Assistant Superintendent

Dr. Larry Smith, Assistant Superintendent

Dr. Larry Smith, Assistant Superintendent, began working in the Benton School District on July 9, 2019. He entered his 36th year in education and has served as a teacher in several administrative capacities, including Assistant Principal, Principal, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent. He worked for the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators as the Program Director for the Beginning Administrator Induction program. Dr. Smith grew up in Benton and graduated from Benton High School in 1982 before attending the University of Central Arkansas. He received his BSE in English and MSE in Secondary School Leadership. He then attended UALR, completing his Doctorate in Educational Administration and Supervision.

Dupuy, Assistant Superintendent

Craig Dupuy, Assistant Superintendent

Craig Dupuy serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education in the Benton School District. Mr. Dupuy has been in education for 26 years. He graduated from Henderson State with his BSE, graduated from UAM with his Masters in Ed Leadership in Spring 2006, and graduated from Arkansas State with his Education Specialist Degree in 2013. Mr. Dupuy started his career in White Hall, teaching and coaching football and track for 7 years. He then went on to hold several secondary administrative positions and duties at White Hall, beginning with Assistant Principal at the junior high, Assistant Principal at the high school and athletic director, Assistant Superintendent of Transportation, Maintenance, and Athletic Director, and Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Personnel, before taking the Superintendent job at Cleveland County School District at Rison. He and his wife, Laura, have been married for 23 years, and they have two children, Spencer and Bradyn.

DeFoor Assistant Superintendent

Stacy DeFoor, Assistant Superintendent

Stacy DeFoor is the Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education in the Benton School District.  Mr. DeFoor has been in education for 18 years as a teacher, assistant principal, and elementary principal, with the past 10 years as an elementary administrator for Conway Public Schools.  Mr. DeFoor earned his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Educational Specialist degrees from the University of Central Arkansas. Mr. DeFoor has completed three years of the Master Principal Program and served as a mentor to beginning administrators. His previous school was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon Award School.

Mr. DeFoor has been married to his wife, Stephanie, for 28 years and is the father to Caleb, Devin, and Haley.

Chris Hinson, Chief Financial Officer

Chris Hinson, Chief Financial Officer

Chris Hinson has served as Chief Financial Officer since 2019. He previously served the Benton School District as a secondary math teacher and assistant principal at Benton High School. Before beginning his career in education, he worked in the brokerage accounting field. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Ouachita Baptist University, a Master's in Teaching from the University of Central Arkansas, and an administrative degree from Arkansas State University. He is a proud husband of 17 years to Jessica and has two children, Haddie and Murphy.

Public Relations

Jennifer Bradley, Public Relations Director

Jennifer Bradley serves as the Public Relations Director for Benton School District. She has a Masters in Education from UALR and a Bachelors in Mass Media from HSU. She was a classroom teacher for 11 years and has been in education for 13 years. Before moving to Saline County, Jennifer was a teacher in Bentonville in NWA. Before working in education, she worked in radio for KLAZ, US 97 in Hot Springs, and television for KATV in Little Rock. She is excited to be in a position that allows her to implement both passions. Jennifer has two children. Her daughter, Saylor, will be a junior this year and is on the varsity dance & golf team. Her son, Ace, will be going into the 7th grade, and he is on the cross country and track teams and plays percussion in the band.

Angela McWhorter, Special Education Director

Angela McWhorter, Special Education Director

Angela McWhorter, Director of Special Education, has been in education for 15 years. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and her graduate degree from Northeastern State University. Mrs. McWhorter has served in various roles: speech-language pathologist, response-to-intervention coordinator, mental health coordinator, and curriculum/program administrator of special education services. This year is Mrs. McWhorter's 6th year as the Director of Special Education for the Benton School District.

Scott Neathery, Athletic Director

Scott Neathery, Athletic Director

Scott Neathery was named athletic director of the Benton School District, effective July 1, 2016. He has been in education for 25 years and began teaching/coaching in 1995 at Bryant School District. During his career, he has served as a physical education/health teacher, girls’ soccer coach, offensive coordinator, transportation and athletic director, and head football coach at Sheridan and Benton. He earned a bachelor of science degree in secondary education from Ouachita Baptist University, where he received a scholarship to play football.

Brian Lowrance, Technology Director

Brian Lowrance, Technology Director

Brian Lowrance has worked for the Benton School District for over 25 years. He was selected as Technology Director in 2022. He was the first full-time I.T. technician for the district and later became the District Network Administrator. The classified staff nominated and elected Brian as an At-Large representative on the Classified Personnel Policies Committee (CPPC) in 2014. He served as chairman until he took on the role of technology director. He continues to serve as an appointed representative for the committee. Brian is a 1999 graduate of Benton High School. He is a lifelong Panther. He and his wife, Anna, have been married since 2002 and have three sons, two daughters and one granddaughter.

Mason Woolbright, Transportation Director

Mason Woolbright, Transportation Director

Mason Woolbright joins the Panther Family as Transportation Director. He and his wife, Holly, met at Ouachita Baptist University and proudly call Benton their home. Before joining the Panther Family, Mason served on the staff at First Baptist Church as the Director of Operations. He also co-owns M&M Productions. Mason is a lifelong Benton resident and a Benton High School graduate. Mason said he is eager to serve the District as the Transportation Director!