Cohort 1
Bob Sparks
EDUCATION • Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Arkansas State University • M.Div. in Pastoral Studies, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary • M.A. in Education, Union University • B.A. in English Literature and Christian Studies, Union University ENROLLED • Cohort 1 LOCATION • Three Way, Tenn.
Bob Sparks serves as Dean of Operations at Jackson Central-Merry Early College High School. Before joining his school’s leadership team, he taught 9th-12th grade English and Creative Writing for 6.5 years and 6th-8th grade English/ Language Arts at both rural and urban schools. He aims to empower teachers to provide high-quality instruction, implement supports that ensure student success, and create sustainable change in education systems. Alongside his leadership and teaching roles, he initiated and leads school programs, such as the student-run Cougar Café and Cougar Chapbook literary arts magazine, and served as a Learning Coach, mentoring new teachers. For Jackson-Madison County Schools, he designed and co-leads the JMCSS Educator Fellowship, an innovative leadership program equipping educators with education policy and communication expertise to elevate their voices at the local and state levels. In 2025, Bob was a Goyen Literacy Fellow, creating content to enhance secondary literacy instruction and, in 2024, a NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellow, traveling to Costa Rica to learn about global education. Most notably, in 2022, he was named Teacher of Year by his school and district as well as the Tennessee Department of Education’s West Tennessee Grand Division Finalist. Bob has participated in several other regional and state fellowships, programs, and advisory councils focused on leadership, education policy, and advocacy. Bob’s research interests are in secondary literacy instruction and policy, focusing on academic and disciplinary literacy, writing and rhetorical methods, and cognitive approaches to literary and poetic texts. Through this doctoral program, he hopes to enhance his leadership in his school, district, and state, improving literacy education and secondary student outcomes. Bob resides with his wife, Joanna, three children, and two labradoodles. He enjoys coffee, reading, and outdoor activities, such as camping, hiking, and kayaking, as well as serving as his church’s Associate Pastor of Discipleship.
UW-Stevens Point
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