COLBERT: ALL STUDENTS CAN LEARN

Dr. John L Colbert, a native of Rondo, Arkansas, graduated from Barton High School in 1973 as the first African-American Valedictorian. Attending the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, he received a BSE in Education (1976) followed by a Master of Education in 1981. He received a Doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2017.

In 1976, Dr. Colbert began his career in education as the first African-American Special Education Teacher at Bates Elementary in Fayetteville. He taught there in both special education (4 years) and the sixth grade (4 years) classrooms until becoming the Principal at Howard Elementary School in Ft. Smith (1984) where he worked until 1987. Returning to work in the Fayetteville district as the first African-American Principal in 1987, Dr. Colbert served as the Principal of Jefferson Elementary School until 1995. In 1995, Fayetteville added two new elementary schools to its numbers. Dr. Colbert was selected to serve at the helm of the newly constructed Holcomb Elementary. Thus, from its inauguration until 2008, Dr. Colbert carried the mantle as head educator and has basked in the warmth of affection shown to him at this diverse elementary school. After serving as the principal of Holcomb Elementary School for 13 years, he was hired to serve as the Associate Superintendent For Elementary Education from 2008 to 2016, as the Associate Superintendent for Support Services from 2016-2018 and in July of 2018 he was hired as the first African-American Superintendent for the Fayetteville Public School District.

In his personal accomplishments, Dr. John L Colbert includes his marriage of 42 years to his late wife, Cheryl, (August 23, 1975) and parenthood. They are the proud parents of J’onnelle (a forty-year-old graduate of the University of Arkansas,) and Janneesa, a 34-year-old graduate from Fayetteville High School in Fayetteville, Arkansas (she is a graduate from Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR). And two lovely grand daughters, Sy’Ree and Serena. Though he rarely has time to pursue hobbies and recreation, Dr. John L Colbert enjoys swimming, diving, weight lifting, racquetball, tennis, meeting people and traveling. His motto in life is “Through Christ, all things are possible.”