Arkansas / Department of Education

Agency file

Department of Education

Source file: Arkansas — State Employee Compensation / ingested Jun 18, 2026

The Department of Education administers public education — funding, academic standards, and the operation of schools.

In 2026, this agency had 439 employees with median total compensation of $59,957; the highest distinct record was $197,073.

Year: 2026
Total payroll: $27.7M
Employees: 439
Median total: $59,957
Highest record: $197,073

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

$35,610$121,873+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How 2026 total compensation is spread across the 439 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($59,957) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $63,022 (100%)
Overtime — $0 (0%)
Other — $0 (0%)
Benefits — $0 (0%)

What an average paycheck here is made of — base salary versus overtime, other pay (bonuses, allowances), and benefits. A large overtime or other-pay share means take-home often exceeds base salary.

Pay percentiles

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$43,088

$47,397

$59,957

$71,395

$86,481

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $86,481 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $43,088. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Education Professional I

81 · $64,570

Early Childhood Program Specialist

67 · $43,088

User Support Coordinator

23 · $60,416

Early Childhood Program Coordinator

22 · $52,286

Education Program Coordinator

21 · $57,351

The most common job titles in this department by headcount, with the median total compensation for each. Click a title to see everyone who holds it.

Record list

Employees

Page 1

Stacy Smith

Chief Programs Director/Department of Education

2026 total comp

$197,073

Sub-department: Executive
Base pay: $197,073
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $197,073
Hire date: 12-16-2014
Pay grade: Exe03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: EEX11A
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22083060

At Department of Education, Stacy Smith serves as a Chief Programs Director within Executive. Records show a hire date of 12-16-2014. Their 2026 pay totaled $197,073. They are classified at grade Exe03.

Kiffany Pride

Education Division Administrator/Department of Education

2026 total comp

$153,383

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $153,383
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $153,383
Hire date: 08-08-2019
Pay grade: Spc08
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: EEA01C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22133890

At Department of Education, Kiffany Pride serves as a Education Division Administrator within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 08-08-2019. Their 2026 pay totaled $153,383. They are classified at grade Spc08.

Ronald Jacobs

Education Division Director/Department of Education

2026 total comp

$140,000

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $140,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $140,000
Hire date: 01-26-2026
Pay grade: Spc09
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: EEA02C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22181173

Ronald Jacobs is a Education Division Director at Department of Education within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 01-26-2026. 2026 total compensation came to $140,000. They are classified at grade Spc09.

Timothy Cain

Education Division Administrator/Department of Education

2026 total comp

$131,007

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $131,007
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $131,007
Hire date: 12-06-2014
Pay grade: Spc08
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: EEA01C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22132847

Timothy Cain works as a Education Division Administrator for Department of Education within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 12-06-2014. Timothy earned $131,007 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc08.

Laura Green

Education Professional Supervisor/Expert/Department of Education

2026 total comp

$128,919

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $128,919
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $128,919
Hire date: 05-16-2011
Pay grade: Spc06
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: EES03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22134154

Laura Green works as a Education Professional Supervisor/Expert for Department of Education within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 05-16-2011. Laura earned $128,919 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc06.

Hope Worsham

Education Division Administrator/Department of Education

2026 total comp

$126,438

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $126,438
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $126,438
Hire date: 05-24-2018
Pay grade: Spc08
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: EEA01C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22133891

Hope Worsham is a Education Division Administrator at Department of Education within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 05-24-2018. 2026 total compensation came to $126,438. They are classified at grade Spc08.

Ashelyn Abney

Education Division Director/Department of Education

2026 total comp

$125,829

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $125,829
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $125,829
Hire date: 02-04-2014
Pay grade: Spc09
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: EEA02C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22169508

Ashelyn Abney works as a Education Division Director for Department of Education within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 02-04-2014. Ashelyn earned $125,829 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc09.

Darrell Smith

Education Division Administrator/Department of Education

2026 total comp

$125,664

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $125,664
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $125,664
Hire date: 04-17-2023
Pay grade: Spc08
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: EEA01C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22082942

Darrell Smith holds the role of Education Division Administrator at Department of Education within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 04-17-2023. In 2026, their total compensation was $125,664. Their pay grade is Spc08.

Brandie Benton

Education Division Administrator/Department of Education

2026 total comp

$125,000

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $125,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $125,000
Hire date: 10-10-2011
Pay grade: Spc08
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: EEA01C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22133889

Brandie Benton is a Education Division Administrator at Department of Education within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 10-10-2011. 2026 total compensation came to $125,000. They are classified at grade Spc08.

Anita Freer

Finance Supervisor/Expert/Department of Education

2026 total comp

$121,873

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $121,873
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $121,873
Hire date: 02-20-1998
Pay grade: Spc06
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: FIN03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22134155

Anita Freer is a Finance Supervisor/Expert at Department of Education within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 02-20-1998. 2026 total compensation came to $121,873. They are classified at grade Spc06.

Matthew Sutherlin

Education Professional Supervisor/Expert/Department of Education

2026 total comp

$121,498

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $121,498
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $121,498
Hire date: 07-01-2014
Pay grade: Spc06
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: EES03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22159999

Matthew Sutherlin holds the role of Education Professional Supervisor/Expert at Department of Education within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 07-01-2014. In 2026, their total compensation was $121,498. Their pay grade is Spc06.