Mac BarnesNick Patterson
CEO, eStem Public Charter School
BEST CAREER MOMENT SO FAR
I’ve had many great moments in my 22-year career, but I’ve never been prouder of anything than the student growth happening at eStem. Our district ranks above the 95th percentile for student growth in math, English language arts and science.
BEST ADVICE I EVER RECEIVED
“Everything is perfectly designed to get its current results. If you want different results, you must do something different.” The best boss I ever had said that all the time, and it has stuck with me for almost 20 years.
ONE THING I WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT MY COMPANY
How hard the teachers, staff, families and students at all three eStem schools work. These student growth scores do not just happen. They come from our whole community giving their all, day in and day out.
NONPROFIT I WISH MORE PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT
As an alum, I need to shout out AmeriCorps. It is a great way for people to serve, gain experience and earn money for college or graduate school. I served 1,700+ hours in Jacksonville, Florida, and loved every minute.
HOW I UNPLUG AFTER A LONG DAY AT WORK
I love to read. Fiction, nonfiction — I love both, so I try to make time to read after work each day. I also like listening to music. If I can read or listen with a local beer, even better.
IN THE DETAILS:
Hometown: Little Rock
Favorite Local Purchase: My house in Hillcrest. We have great neighbors.
Little Rock’s Hidden Gem: Fidel & Co. coffee by the eStem campus in East Village
Sunday Routine: Church at St. Mark’s Episcopal, family lunch and football
Favorite Local Dish: Gumbo fries at Flyway Brewing
123 W. Third St., Little Rock
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