He dropped out of school during his first semester of college and went back home to live with his parents. His parents owned a family business and, according to his father Allen Lindley, he worked his tail off until he was ready to go back to college and become the man he is today.
He’s a man who has dedicated 25 years of his life to education and has been recognized for everything he has done for the Springdale School District.
On Dec. 15, the Arkansas Department of Education awarded Assistant Principal Rob Lindley as the Arkansas Assistant Principal of the Year during his second year at Har-Ber.
“I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say,” said Lindley when receiving the award.
“This award would not have been possible without the great team that I work with that we call the ‘A-Team’ with Dr. Brackett, Dr. Oesterle, and Mrs. Davis, and teachers, but most importantly the students I come here to see everyday.”
The award was a hard secret to keep according to Lindley’s wife, Audra Lindley, and an even harder secret to discuss with her two sons with Mr. Lindley living under the same roof.
“We’re both educators and it’s all about the kids. He loves children and making a difference. He’s a great man who is deserving of this recognition,” said Mrs. Lindley.
Candidates were submitted from schools across Arkansas to be considered for the award based on criteria with multiple factors, such as leadership, skill development, and participation in social activities.
Each candidate was graded on the criteria by their peers and, in Lindley’s case, students submitted statements describing why he was worthy of the honor.
“Mr. Lindley is always available to all students and is consistently here to listen to our problems and concerns, and helps us find solutions to those problems,” said a student, whose statement was included in the nomination material. “He develops strong and positive relationships with students, and I appreciate Mr. Lindley for having a high level of accountability and modeling moral and ethical standards on a daily basis.”