The Pine Bluff School District has named Assistant Superintendent Phillip Carlock as acting superintendent through June 30 and interim superintendent thereafter, while also appointing Sebastian Stargell Sr. to fill the vacant Zone 4 seat on the district’s board.
The school board voted 4-3 to approve Carlock’s appointment. He has served as an assistant superintendent since 2022, overseeing K-12 education, health and student support services.
Carlock will assume the district’s top leadership role as Superintendent Jennifer Barbaree prepares to leave for a position with Springdale Public Schools after serving on approved leave through June 30.
Carlock brings nearly three decades of experience in education, including time as a paraprofessional, teacher and principal in the Little Rock School District. He also previously worked in private industry before returning to education.
The board also selected Stargell, a baseball coach at Arkansas Baptist College, to serve as interim Zone 4 board member until March 2028 following the resignation of Sederick Charles Rice.
Stargell received the most votes from current board members and was sworn in shortly after the board’s decision.
During the selection process, Stargell identified student achievement, fiscal responsibility and rebuilding community trust as priorities.
He also emphasized accountability and transparency, referencing the district’s response to the cyberattack disclosed earlier this year that resulted in the loss of millions of dollars.
Deltaplex Radio’s own Floyd Donald interviewed Stargell about his thoughts on being appointed to Zone 4, to which Stargell explains what led him to this decision.
Stargell tells Floyd how the children are his main focus, as well as discussing his concerns about the dropping attendance rate. He expressed how it’s up to the leaders to take accountability to make learning more accessible for students.
Floyd mentions his late father-in-law, Joe Hart, who was the Zebra’s head football coach sometime in the late 90’s to early 2000’s, and begs the question: What can he do to show his colleagues that the priorities he highlights are the priorities of the people but also make them understand the significance of these issues?
Floyd asks, given that Stargell will be included in deciding the New Superintendent, what is he looking for in a Superintendent?
Finally, Floyd asks if he feels the person qualified to be the next Superintendent is already working in the school district, or will they have to bring in someone new?
Meanwhile, two other candidates, Ryan Watley and Alfred Carroll Sr., were considered for the Zone 4 appointment but were not selected.
The district has not announced plans for a search for a permanent superintendent.
