Sandra Register
Principal, Jefferson Elementary, Little Rock School District
About me: I was born in Little Rock, attended Little Rock Public Schools and both my parents were educators. My father, Dr. Robert Sullenger, was a coach and administrator, while my mother, Beverly Sullenger, taught Spanish at Forest Heights Jr. High. My husband, Ellis “Scooter” Register, is also a former teacher and high school coach.
We have two daughters, Randi and Toni, and three grandchildren: grandsons Hilson and Ellis and granddaughter Mari Francis.
I always wanted to be the principal of Williams Magnet Elementary, where I went to school, or Jefferson Elementary, where I taught for many years. I became principal of both. I’ve spent 24 years as an administrator, 21 years as a classroom teacher and 22 years at Jefferson.
If I’m not at school, I love watching my grandchildren’s sports and dance activities, and we all love to spend time on Lake Hamilton.
Lives in: Little Rock • Works in: Cammack Village
Best Career Advice: Work hard to create a culture of collaboration and shared responsibility among staff, students and with families and communities. Never ask people to do anything you would not do yourself. Surround yourself with the best possible staff with the same work ethic and beliefs. Make every decision about the students.
Call to Action: We need community involvement. More than just being thrilled to have their parents near, students are more engaged in their activities, participate in extracurricular activities, are actively more interested in the classes and have better academic success. Connecting students to their community gives them real-world experiences and helps maximize available resources. Young people develop a sense of civic duty when they see firsthand what their community has to offer and what they have to offer to their community.
What Keeps Me Motivated: I am obviously a very competitive person, living the life of a coach’s wife. In all of my schools, I have seen tremendous growth in our students. My goal is to ensure each student, no matter where they start, gets to the next level by the end of the year.
TOP 100 WOMEN OF IMPACT IN ARKANSAS 2023
A Women’s Foundation of Arkansas Initiative