As Pulaski Technical College president, Margaret Ellibee’s career as an educator has come full circle.
It all started for the Madison, Wis. native as a vocational agriculture teacher at Stuttgart High School in 1983.
Ellibee says the three years she spent there had a lasting impact on a “tall, skinny girl from Wisconsin, who talked funny and still does.”
“It was a different world for me when I stepped in it,” she says. “When I got to work with the families and students, it had a profound impact on how I look at education, and how I truly believe no matter what economic situation you’re from, or anything else, people want to be able to advance themselves.”
From there, her career path has criss-crossed the Midwest with stops at the University of Arkansas, the Iowa Department of Education, the University of Wisconsin and the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, among others. She even earned her master’s, at the University of Arkansas, and her Ph.D., at the University of Wisconsin, along the way.
Now, Ellibee finds herself back in Arkansas, the fourth president at Pulaski Tech, with what she calls “tremendous opportunities” to pursue at the institution.
Like most colleges, Pulaski Tech faces the usual challenges: enrollment and finances. They are challenges Ellibee is not shying away from.
“[They are] a challenge, but it also presents great opportunities for us to think, in an innovative way, on how to handle that and turn it into an opportunity,” she says.
“We have tremendous opportunities in our technical programs for business and industry collaboration,” Ellibee says. “And with that collaboration, that helps to continually evolve our curriculum, what we can do with equipment and how we use that equipment.”
One area of Pulaski Tech that is flourishing is the culinary arts program, which is at the center of the Diamond Chef competition. This year’s event, the 7th annual, is set for June 3 at the Wally Allen Ballroom in the Statehouse Convention Center.
“It’s certainly a premier event for this college, and I believe it is a tremendous event educationally, culinary-wise, social-wise and for our community,” Ellibee says. “It’s just great.”
Ellibee says her current job is the most fulfilling she’s had. According to her, a lot of that has to do with the people she works with everyday, which she refers to as “the best.”
She is quick to credit several mentors throughout her life for helping her gain success in her career. Without the efforts of one of her mentors, Ellibee may not have been an educator at all.
It was Mr. Gearhart, the high school agriculture teacher, who came to Ellibee’s seventh grade class to speak about the high school vocational agriculture class. Ellibee was entranced.
“That hooked me big time,” she says. “Eighth grade was a waste for me, I was ready to get to ninth grade and agriculture.”
It was also Mr. Gearhart who guided her down the path of teaching, which did not interest Ellibee in the beginning.
“And then, I went out to student teach,” she says, “and I absolutely loved it.”
Since then, Ellibee has enjoyed a long, successful career as an educator. Her days are now usually 12 hours long, but she doesn’t mind.
“Maybe we’re all just wired that way. That’s just what we do,” she says. “I can’t see myself not being an educator.”
Extra Credit
What would someone be surprised to learn about you?
I love to boogie board. I love to do that in Lake Michigan — it’s great fun. It’s like surfing, but you don’t have to stand up all the time. And when you’re 6’1”, standing up on a surfboard isn’t fun.
What’s your favorite musician or band?
I would have to say the Bee Gees and The Gap Band. You know, I’m a product of the ’70s disco, so 106.7 FM is my favorite station because I’m old now.
Favorite movie?
“True Grit”, and that’s the original, and then “Sound of Music.”
Business suit or jeans?
Jeans. Business attire is great when you’re being a professional and have to do it, but outside of work, if I have my jeans on or a pair of shorts, a t-shirt and am barefoot, I’m one happy girl.
Where’s somewhere you want to go but haven’t been?
Alaska. I’d love to go there to go fly-fishing and hiking.
Hobbies?
I like to do triathlons, play golf, read, listen to classical music and walk on the beach.
Best book you’ve read recently?
“Passage of Power” by Robert Caro. It’s about President Johnson and his journey to become president.