TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
Nancy Tullos
Nancy Tullos, a dedicated educator with a passion for teaching and mentoring, left a lasting impact on generations of students throughout her remarkable career, spanning five decades.
Born and raised in DeWitt, Arkansas, Mrs. Tullos’ journey in education began after graduating from DeWitt High School. Her pursuit of higher education became an adventure of its own as she attended three different colleges—starting at Ole Miss, then spending a year at the University of Arkansas, and finally earning her degree from Arkansas Tech in Russellville, Arkansas. In 1957, Mrs. Tullos began her teaching career in Stuttgart, Arkansas, where she taught health and Physical Education (PE). It was during this time that she met and married Bob Tullos, with whom she had two children. After a brief hiatus to focus on her family, Nancy returned to teaching with positions in Humphrey and DeWitt, Arkansas, where she taught subjects such as Arkansas History, Government, and PE. In 1969, the Tullos family relocated to Texarkana when Bob was transferred with GTE. Having spent so many years in Arkansas education, Mrs. Tullos’ natural tendency was to apply with Texarkana Arkansas School District (TASD). However, when there were no job openings at TASD, she set her sights on Texarkana Independent School District (TISD). When she contacted John Moore to inquire, she learned there was a PE job opening, but that the job also came with the responsibilities of overseeing the pep squad. “I don’t even know what a pep squad is,” she told Moore. “Oh, it’s just some girls who get together and dress alike and sit in the stands and yell at the ballgame,” he said. “Oh, I can do that,” she assured him. It ended up being a bigger responsibility than she realized when she found herself in charge of 280 girls every Friday night. But that big responsibility became the beginning of one of her biggest blessings. Despite a temporary move back to Stuttgart in 1978, Mrs. Tullos’ dedication to education brought her back to TISD in
1989. Over the next two decades, she became an integral part of the Tiger Family, teaching biology, health, PE, and science, as well as overseeing TISD’s cheerleaders, mascots, and pep squad. Throughout her tenure, she worked alongside nine head football coaches, eight high school principals, and seven superintendents, leaving an indelible mark on every one of her students and colleagues in the TISD community. With 53 years in education, including 30 years at TISD as a teacher and cheer sponsor, Nancy Tullos retired in 2010, reflecting on her fulfilling career with fondness and gratitude. “I love all the time I spent in education,” she said. Her commitment to her students and the field of education has inspired many, and her legacy continues to thrive.
LEGEND IN EDUCATION
32
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
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