On a Mission to Build Students Up: Marques Collins of Marvell-Elaine High School

As the principal of a small rural high school in Phillips County, Marques Collins understands he is responsible for “wearing many hats.” However, he considers his primary duty to prepare students to succeed post-graduation—no matter the route or industry they choose. It’s a tall task for any principal, but as Collins knows, the Marvell-Elaine School District (MESD) faces unique challenges.

One of the greatest and, until recently, the most persistent issues for the MESD has been a collective lack of morale. Fortunately, Collins says esteem is steadily rising—both on the elementary and high school campuses and within the community. He believes MESD's participation in Forward’s LeARner Collective is a key factor behind the improvement.

Collins acknowledges that the LeARner Collective has enabled him to lean more into his role as a guide and motivator. At Marvell-Elaine High School, his staff now feels that it is “within their control to initiate and implement changes.” Teachers have the “freedom” to focus on what they see as the areas of greatest impact, including literacy, and develop solutions without the “overshadowing of existing policies or requirements.” Educators are excited to be in the classroom, and students are energetic and engaged.

Collins has spent more than a decade and a half in Arkansas’s education field, including seven as a classroom teacher. It’s a role he knows—and does—well, even earning him recognition as a district Teacher of the Year and Administrator of the Year. What he values most about MESD is its resiliency and dedication to showing up. Through the LeARner Collective, he is confident the MESD will continue implementing changes that “build students up” so they can “go out into the world and compete.”