Since regionals were cancelled this year, Central Junior High's eighth and ninth grade volleyball teams played a series of matches against Har-Ber High School, Central teachers and even teams with student resource officers. The games were streamed live into all the school's classrooms with ESPN's Jimmy Dykes and his daughter Kennedy handling the commentary. Students were allowed to purchase concessions. Proceeds will go to the Shop With A Cop program. Finding an entertaining way to conclude volleyball season, another reason Springdale Public Schools are #THEChoice.
CODY COMBS – SRO, ELMDALE, SMITH, SHAW, GEORGE, WESTWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
Cody Combs, a student resource officer who serves Elmdale, Westwood, Smith, Shaw and George Elementary Schools as well as the Early Childhood Center, is sore. Not mad. Sore. Why is he sore? Because some staff members at Elmdale talked him into starting Crossfit.
“I’ve been doing it for two weeks and I go to bed sore every night,” Combs says. “I have a love-hate relationship with Crossfit. I know I am bettering myself but the soreness doesn’t go away.”
How long until the soreness is gone?
“I was told two weeks but it has been a little more than two weeks,” Combs responds.
“It took me two months,” says Elmdale social worker Lindsey Odglen, one of those who does Crossfit with Combs. “I’ve been doing it for three years now.”
Combs adds, “The coach, Tony Shipp, is fantastic. He is very knowledgeable and the most patient person I know. Police officers are in good shape but Crossfit is different.”
Soreness has not hampered Combs in his job but it has made it difficult at times to enjoy his eight-month old golden retriever, Piper.
“Piper weighs between 70 and 75 pounds but still thinks she is the size of a puppy,” says Combs. “She’s hyper. When I am sitting on the couch, she will jump on me like she is smaller than she is. I love her, though. She is fantastic. I also have a four-year old mini Australian shepherd, another wonderful dog.”
Did Combs have pets growing up?
“No,” he responds, “I had a rough childhood growing up. That’s a major reason I joined the police force. I enjoy building relationships and letting people know I am here to help them. It’s easy for me to relate to and talk with those who are struggling. I watch the principals, assistant principals, counselors and Ozark guidance staff members go to extreme lengths to be helpful to students and have learned a lot. I like working with kids.”
This is Combs’ first full year as an SRO. He was hired to serve in the schools last year but COVID-19 broke out. He has not served as an SRO without wearing a mask.
“I enjoy the kids, the teachers and the staffs at all the schools where I work,” Combs says. “But, since we have to wear a mask all the time, the kids can’t see when I am smiling at them.”
Other than being sore, Combs has plenty to smile about. He is not only a member of the Springdale Police force but also the Arkansas Army National Guard.
“I joined the National Guard when I was a junior at Alma High School,” Combs explains. “I was 17 at the time. I go to camp for two weeks every summer and one weekend every month. When I was in high school I wanted to be a police officer and be in the military as well. Being a police officer meant more so I worked at Lowe’s until I was 21 before applying to join the police. My sister’s husband worked for the Springdale police at the time and encouraged me to apply. I applied several places and Springdale was the first to call me back.”
Combs served on patrol for over four years before becoming an SRO. Switching assignments was not easy for him.
“It was hard leaving patrol,” Combs says. “The supervisors and officers worked so well together. On patrol we were mostly helping adults. When the SRO position became available I thought to myself, ‘I’ve always helped adults, how can I help kids every single day?’ Now I am doing that.”
Combs is also pursuing a goal that should help him become even more helpful.
“Before the virus I was taking courses at NWACC (Northwest Arkansas Community College),” says Combs. “My goal was a degree in social work but I am also passionate about psychology. I’ve applied to Columbia Southern University because I can take all the classes online. I want to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Not only do I like psychology but a degree would help me advance in rank in the military if I want to be an officer.
“Being a member of the police and the military has made me a better, more mature person. It has opened my eyes, more than I imagined, to the real world.”
His eyes are more than open to the real world of serving as an SRO in Springdale. Combs says, “Arkansas is a great place to be and Springdale, in particular, is a great place to be. The fantastic support we receive is overwhelming. So many people in the community support us. They are thankful for what we do. It works the other way, too. We appreciate every member of our community.”
It’s wonderful to be appreciated and Springdale Schools appreciates its SROs. They are among the reasons that Springdale Public Schools are #THEChoice.
Watch LIVE at 10:30 am
the Central Junior High Volleyball team takes on a very special Championship team. ESPN Sports Announcer Jimmy Dykes along with Kennedy Dykes will host. Benefits Shop With a Cop
https://youtu.be/AxLARNipOLE
Thank a Custodian! Cory Ray is in his 27th year of service to the district. He has worked at Har-Ber High School since it opened in 2006. His favorite part of the job? "I love the kids and helping people."
Watch LIVE at 7:00pm
Central vs Lakeside 8th grade football!
https://youtu.be/s9SX-lx9ZJY
Walker Elementary would like to invite all Springdale School Staff who are veterans to join us for our drive through celebration for Veterans. Please see the flyer below for more information!
A rich and fun day of team building, learning, and collaborating with Assistant Principals from around the district! Superintendent Dr. Jared Cleveland and Curriculum and Instruction team led by Dr. Marcia Smith, Mrs. Shannon Tisher and Melissa Fink led the meeting.
Join us November 11th for Veterans Day Celebration at Central Junior High!
JULIO SANCHEZ – SRO, DON TYSON SCHOOL OF INNOVATION
Julio Sanchez is thankful for second chances. So is the Springdale Police Department. And, so is the Don Tyson School of Innovation where Sanchez serves as a student resource officer. If it were not for a second chance and a meeting with a high school friend, Sanchez would not be a member of the Springdale police force.
“I applied with the police department in 2008,” Sanchez recalls. “I didn’t get the job. The man who interviewed me told me I still had some growing up to do. I was married, had two kids and had served in the military in Iraq so that didn’t sit well with me. I had resentment. Looking back, though, he was probably right.”
A few years later Sanchez encountered Patrick Kabanuck, a friend from his time at Springdale High School. Kabanuck had just applied to become a paramedic and suggested Sanchez try again for a spot on the police force.
“Just talking to Patrick and seeing what he was doing inspired me to apply again with the police department,” says Sanchez. “I applied and had a different interviewer. I waited week after week for them to call me. After three months, just when I thought they wouldn’t call, Mike Hignite called and asked if I was still interested.
“I said yes, gave two weeks notice at my job, went to the academy, graduated in June and by late 2015 I was on patrol. After serving on the crime suppression unit and the S.W.A.T. team, I listened to Sergeant (Eric) Gregory give a speech about being an SRO. I talked to several SROs and it worked out for me to become one.”
A graduate of Springdale High, Sanchez is in his second year as SRO at the DTSOI. He is joined at the school by both of his sons. Bryan, his 18-year-old, is a senior and has been at the school since eighth grade. Fifteen-year-old Jaeden loves to cook and is enrolled in culinary arts. Both of his sons attend the DTSOI because “they like what the school offers. The instruction is different from traditional schools.
“My wife and I try to give our sons what they enjoy. Bryan is in the industrial maintenance program. He likes welding. He is quiet and reserved. Jaeden is just the opposite.”
Sanchez is a young father. He and his wife, Melody, were married while both were students at SHS. Both sets of parents were instrumental in helping them complete high school.
“We had Bryan when I was 16,” Sanchez says. “Both of our families were there for us. They made sure we had everything we needed to graduate on time. Even though we were already parents, we could still enjoy friends and the great atmosphere of Springdale High School.
“I had enlisted in the army while still in high school and deployed after graduation. First we went to Fort Lewis in Washington (state). Melody was there and that’s where Jaeden was born. If it weren’t for Melody, I don’t know what I would be doing. She has always been there for me.”
After training at Fort Lewis, Sanchez was sent to Iraq, where he served for 15 months. His time there had a major impact on his life.
“It was life changing for me,” Sanchez says. “It is a different world. We get so used to what we have here. The poorest families in the United States have more than most people in Iraq. Their middle class lives in high poverty and constantly faces death.
“The bond that is forged among brothers in the military is hard to describe. You face death every day together. It’s a different experience.”
What was the adjustment like when he returned home?
“When I first got back, my wife noticed that when we drove on the interstate, if there was a car on the side of the road, I would switch to the lane farthest away from it,” Sanchez responds. “It was because of encountering roadside bombs in Iraq. I wanted to stay away from them. I’ve gotten over that since then.”
Sanchez decided not to reenlist and his wife had settled in as a receptionist at a family dental center. She would eventually become front office manager before accepting a position at Tyson Foods. Meanwhile, Sanchez struggled a bit.
“I hopped from job to job,” he says. “I worked construction then took a job at a used car lot. I wasn’t very good because I had not developed communication skills. Then I worked a year at Stanley Steamer. It was okay but not fulfilling.”
Finally, he found a job he liked and worked at Cram-A-Lot for four years before visiting with Kabanuck. His employers were happy for him when he was accepted into the police department. In his sixth year with the Springdale police, he is enjoying his time at DTSOI.
“I have a lot of interaction with the staff at DTSOI,” Sanchez says. “I also like having one-on-one conversations with students who may need advice. It gives me the opportunity to share my life experiences. For the most part the younger students are easier to talk to. With the older students I don’t push myself on them but want them to know I am always approachable.”
If students were aware
Young Elementary students have finished reading "Bad Kitty For President" and "Duck For President." They are doing a mock election to learn about the political process as well as to decide if they want Bad Kitty or Duck for President. Learning civics at an early age is another reason Springdale Public Schools are #THEChoice.
Ozark Guidance Virtual Parent Night, Technology & Limit Setting, are taking place Tuesday November 10th at 6pm via zoom. There will be both a Spanish and an English session. Please see our flyers below for more information!
Don Tyson School of Innovation and Springdale High School students volunteered to work the polls at the Archer Learning Center on election day. "We learned a lot about everything related to voting," said DTSOI senior Vivian Schaffer, who was working the polls for the third time since she has been at the DTSOI. The students were scheduled to work from 7 am to 8 pm. Students serving in the community while learning about civics is another reason Springdale Public Schools are #THEChoice.
Thank you McLarty Daniel!
Thank you Beaver Water District!
Re-Live the special day with exclusive photos and videos from the Don Tyson School of Innovation
Industrial Maintenance Dedication- 10-26-20
https://www.smore.com/c0t56-don-tyson-school-of-innovation
Congrats to the Shelter Insurance Players of last Week! Tommy Hudson from Har-Ber High School and Luis Herrera from Springdale High School. Way to go!
School Board members including President Michelle Cook and Central Administration Staff toured Hellstern Middle School this morning! Students and teachers shared their projects and thanked the board members for being so supportive!
Below you will find the dates for the flu clinics! Let's fight the flu together!
Evette Bran, a Sonora Elementary teacher, has won $500 in the Arvest "Thank a Teacher" campaign. #THEChoice
Congrats to the Shelter Insurance Players of last Week! Tommy Hudson from Har-Ber High School and Luis Herrera from Springdale High School. Way to go!