Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders Names Gary Arnold to Board of Education, Announces Other Appointments

In this file photo, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders delivers remarks at the Wynne High School graduation ceremony on May 20, 2023 (Teresa Lee via the Arkansas Governor's Office)

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders named private school educator Gary Arnold to the state Board of Education in her latest round of appointments.

Arnold currently serves as the director of head of school certification at The Council on Educational Standards and Accountability, an organization that works to uphold academic standards in Christian schools. He is also founder and partner at NextEd LLC, an educational services company that focuses on supporting Christian schools.

Arnold spent 16 years leading Little Rock Christian Academy. During the LEARNS implementation process, he served on the rules and regulations task force.

For more than 20 years, Arnold has served on The Council on American Private Education in Washington, D.C. He’s a graduate of Wheaton College, a private Christian college in Wheaton, Illinois, and holds a doctorate in education from National Louis University in Evanston, Illinois.

Arnold replaces Steve Sutton. His term will expire on June 30, 2027.

Other appointments are below.

Arkansas Beef Council

• Michael Lee, Conway, to the Arkansas Beef Council.  Term to expire June 30, 2027.  Replaces Chase Groves.
  

Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Commission

• Michael Mayton, Little Rock, to the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Commission, and to serve as Chair.  To serve at the pleasure of the Governor.  Replaces Charlene Reed.

Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board

• Jay Coker, Stuttgart, to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. Term to expire June 30, 2026.  Reappointment.

Arkansas Tobacco Control Board

• Brent Summerhill, Bella Vista, to the Arkansas Tobacco Control Board. Term to expire July 1, 2028.  Reappointment.

Oil and Gas Commission

• Glen Fritsche, Fort Smith, as Special Commissioner, to hear Docket No. 050-2024-09.

State Plant Board

• Caleb Wall, Bono, to the State Plant Board. Term to expire October 1, 2028. Replaces Matthew Marsh.

Logan County Quorum Court

• Joseph Haller, Magazine, to serve as Justice of the Peace for District 8, for Logan County. Term expires December 31, 2024. Fulfills the remaining term of Ronnie Scott.