Stacy Perry
Stacy Johnson Perry is a veteran educator completing her 37th year in education and currently serving Springdale Public Schools at Central Junior High, where she has worked for the past 11 years. She holds a dual role as a Geometry teacher and the School Culture Liaison a position she developed and proposed herself. In her liaison role, Stacy manages minor discipline issues for a student body of over 900, including tardiness, dress code violations, ID lanyards, cell phone use, and truancy. A key component of her program is teacher feedback, ensuring educators are informed of outcomes and next steps, as well as conducting parent communication to support student success. Her work is grounded in consistency, active listening, and the application of strategies to positively influence student behavior.
Prior to developing this innovative program, Stacy dedicated 20 years to coaching, with a particular focus on gymnastics. She was twice named Arkansas High School Gymnastics Coach of the Year (2006, 2008) and was inducted into the Springdale Schools Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016, recognized for her achievements both as a competitor and a coach. Stacy’s background in athletics informs her leadership approach emphasizing discipline, teamwork, and resilience. She also brings extensive experience as a Mathematics educator, teaching Algebra I, Pre-AP Algebra I & II, and Pre-AP Geometry, while mentoring other teachers and integrating technology and innovative tools like Quizizz into her instruction.
A first-generation college graduate raised by a single parent, Stacy earned her Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University in 2020. She is exploring further graduate studies to pursue a doctorate focused on the program she developed, aiming to apply research to refine and validate her approach to school culture and student behavior management. Stacy’s career is marked by her commitment to educational excellence, student engagement, and community impact, blending academic leadership with practical, real-world experience to create meaningful and lasting change in her school.
• Certified to teach high school math
• Certified health teacher
• Building Principal K-12
• Secondary Physical Education
• Secondary Mathematics 7-12
• AP Statistics and AP Calculus
• University of Arkansas - BSE
• University of Arkansas - BA, Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
• Arkansas State University - MSE
• Arkansas High School Gymnastics Coach of the Year
• Inducted into Springdale Schools Athletics Hall of Fame as competitor and coach
• Re-engage marriage ministry at church (leads groups once or twice a year)
• Donate to University of Arkansas athletic programs
• Shop with a Cop
• Angel Tree student adoption
• Multiple Sclerosis research donations to Cleveland Clinic
• Arkansas Children's Hospital donations
What do you attribute your success to?
Well, my mom gave me strong work ethic. Definitely instilled that in me. She instilled that if I wanted to go to college, I was going to have to make good grades so that I could earn a scholarship, because she would not be able to afford to pay for it. I also attribute my success to all of my admin that I've had, my mentors. Every single administrator that I have had, and I would say especially over the past 10 years, have just really put time and energy and effort into me to help me find my niche in education to keep me wanting to teach, to keep me wanting to come to work every day, and they just really pour into me, and I appreciate them so much. My husband, you know, he's like, honey, whatever you want to do, you do it. Because I know if you put your mind to it, you will do it. And so, right now, I'm considering going back to school to get my doctorate. I want to do it in something that has to do with this program I've developed to help our admin team, where, you know, discipline and how consistency can make a difference, because that's what I try to do. I try to be consistent with our kids, and I try to listen to our kids, and I think through those two things you can help change behaviors. And I think I'd like to, you know, put the research behind it.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I always tell them, you don't have to know the answer right when you're asked the question. You don't always have to give an answer immediately. Give yourself some thought time. Don't think that you have to have the answer right then. People aren't going to look down on you because you say, you know what, I need to think about that. Because so many times, if you just rattle off an answer because it may not really be the best answer to give, and you may need to just sit back and think about it a little bit, and that's important. With not only students, but also parents. Let me get back with you, and take the time to really process those hard questions, because they could be really meaningful and have a big impact. That was one of the hard things for me to learn. I don't always have to have the answer right then. Also, never, never quit learning, like if you ever just say, you know what, I don't want to learn anything else, you're going to quit growing. You're going to quit growing as a teacher, you're going to quit growing as a human being. You need to continue to grow. Our world is ever-changing. The industry is ever-changing, and the only way that you are going to be successful and change lives is to continue to learn yourself.