CHERRY VALLEY — The Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators has put the spotlight on Cross County Superintendent Dr. Nathan Morris.
Dr. Morris is the “Administrator Spotlight” in the April 2024 issue of The Administrator newsletter.
Dr. Morris began his education career in 1999 at Dardanelle, where he served as a teacher and coach for four years. He was a teacher and coach at Camden Fairview for two years before being hired in 2005 as head girls’ basketball coach at Lonoke. He was promoted to athletic director at Lonoke in 2012 and director of support services in 2014.
His first superintendent position was at Two Rivers in 2016, and he became superintendent at Cross County a year later.
Dr. Morris said what he enjoys most about his job is the people.
“I love being a part of a team that is focused on student success. It really is a very rewarding experience for members of a team to join and commit to a common goal and then work together for achievement,” Dr. Morris said. “I know it is clichè, but I don’t feel like this is a job. I love navigating the many challenges that we face every day.”
Dr. Morris said graduation and the first day of school rank among his favorite parts of the job.
He noted superintendents need to be strong problem solvers in order to face the challenges that come on a daily basis.
“We are tasked with decisions every day that have long-term effects on our students, staff, and communities that we serve,” he said.
Dr. Morris said he would encourage anyone to pursue a career in education, particularly if they have a passion for kids and want to see them succeed.
“It is the most rewarding career that I can think of if you are looking to make a difference,” he said.
Dr. Morris said obtaining his doctorate in educational leadership was his greatest professional accomplishment, while his greatest accomplishment is his family and being a dad.
Dr. Morris said he enjoys spending time with his family and watching sports during his time off, and if he wasn’t an administrator, he would probably still be coaching basketball.
The profile on Dr. Morris is available in full on the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators’ website at https://bit.ly/3U9iRuV.
