"I am thrilled to lead the preschool special education program to provide support for our earliest learners and build their educational foundation," Roark said. "I am grateful to Dr. Cleveland, the Springdale leadership team, and Special Education Director, Andee Ingram, for this opportunity."
Roark is transitioning from her role as the Lead Speech Language Pathologist at Springdale Public Schools, where she has served for 9 years. She has 23 years of experience in education, with 18 of those years at Springdale Public Schools. She has served as the building speech pathologist at Lee Elementary, George Junior High, Sonora Middle School, and Jones Elementary. She also had the opportunity to travel to many other Springdale schools to help support speech language pathologists and serve caseload overages.
"We are proud to announce Wendy Roark as our new Preschool Special Education Coordinator," said Superintendent Jared Cleveland. "Ms. Roark’s dedication to our students and her extensive experience in speech pathology make her the ideal person to lead this vital program. We are confident that under her leadership, our preschool special education services will continue to thrive and provide exceptional support to our youngest learners and their families."
Roark said she hopes to have a strong collaboration with families, educators, and specialists to ensure each child receives the support they need to thrive in their foundational years.
Roark holds a Bachelor of Science in Education, Communication Disorder, from the University of Arkansas, and a Master's Degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Central Arkansas.
"Wendy Roark's move to Preschool Special Education Coordinator is a tremendous asset to our district," stated Andee Ingram, Director of Special Education. "Her profound understanding of Speech Pathology, combined with her unwavering commitment to our students' success, makes her an exceptional leader for this critical role. We are thrilled to see the positive impact she will undoubtedly have on our youngest learners."
Roark said that in her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading, hiking, and spending time with her husband, Ryan, and two children, Ryan Thomas and Ryleigh.