Welcome New Adult Education Directors “We think of the effective teachers we have had over the years with a sense of recognition, but those who have touched our humanity we remember with a deep sense of gratitude.” -Anonymous Student (source:

Todd Hunter Program Advisor, ACE  An Arkansas native born in El Dorado and resident of Searcy for over 30 years.  Job experience includes retail distribution, construction, learning and development, teaching, and most recently grant writing and administration.  Degrees conferred:  BA in Business Management from Harding University.  MBA in Business Administration Webster University.

Todd Hunter Program Advisor, ACE  He has extensive experience with online learning and has facilitated courses for Rochester College, Arkansas State University-Beebe, and Harding University for over ten years.  Married for 29 years to Cindy Hunter and has two daughters  He enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, hunting, and playing golf.

Dr. David Deggs Fayetteville School District  Director of Fayetteville AE: June 2014  Began career in Adult Education teaching students enrolled in pre-college courses in Louisiana.  Assistant State Director of Adult and Family Literacy – Louisiana Department of Education.  Professor of Adult and Lifelong Learning – University of Arkansas.

Dr. David Deggs Fayetteville School District  GED Testing Service, Sr. Program Manager.  Managed the implementation of computer-based testing in 35 states and five U.S. Territories.  Degrees Conferred:  B.A. in Social Sciences and M.A. in Adult and Continuing Education at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.  Ph.D. in Adult and Higher Education at Louisiana State University.

Brenda Keisler College of the Ouachitas  Interim Director: June 2014  29 Years as a teacher in Adult Education at College of the Ouachitas.  Degrees Conferred:  BA/BSE in Psychology, Secondary Education, & Social Studies from OBU,  M.Ed. In Adult Education from the University of Arkansas (go Hogs!),  Married to high school sweetheart, Ruben, for 40 years.  They have 3 children and 5 beautiful grandchildren.  Loves to fish at bass tournaments and travel. Awards 2009 Hot Spring County Educator of the Year AACAE Teacher of the Year.

Sherry Organ Arkansas State University-Searcy  16 years in public school as an elementary classroom teacher and principal.  5 years as an adult education instructor at Crowley’s Ridge Technical Institute.  7 years working as Career Pathways director at ASU Beebe.  Degrees Conferred:  BSE in Early Childhood/Elementary Education and a MSE in Administration from Arkansas State University.  Sherry is married with 3 children and 3 grandchildren.

Debbie Shelton Lonoke School District  Director of Lonoke AE: 2014  After working in the real estate industry as a broker for almost 12 years, Debbie went into education to have more time with her four sons.  Worked in elementary education for 10 years  Began teaching in adult education in 2005  Taught all levels and ESL, and has a soft spot for those learning the English language as her mother is a German immigrant.  Debbie and her husband, Billy, live in Lonoke, and have eight grandchildren.

Nicole Stroud Ozark Foothills Literacy Project  Served as director of the Ozark Foothills Literacy Project since  Does Library consulting and serves on the board of the Arkansas Library Association  Degrees Conferred:  BA in English from Hendrix College  Masters in Library and Information Studies from Florida State University.  Lives in Batesville, AR, with her husband, new baby Julian, and five cats.

Trecia Willcutt UA Community Morrilton  5 years in public school as a high school family & consumer science teacher with the Hector School District.  One year as a high school counselor with the Wonderview School District.  Wrote and published her first book titled “From the Pasture to the Palace.”  Degrees Conferred:  BA in Psychology from Arkanss Tech University in  Masters in School Counseling and Educational Leadership also from Arkansas Tech University in  Trecia and her husband have 3 grown sons and have been blessed with a beautiful granddaughter.

Debbie Shelton Lonoke School District Please stand & Introduce yourself

Maurice Smith Dermott School District Please stand & Introduce yourself