BARTON- With family, friends, and former students packing the school's new multipurpose facility, over four decades of service to the Barton-Lexa Public Schools by long-time High School Principal David Bagley was honored Sunday afternoon.
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| Barton High Principal David Bagley |
Bagley, who came to the school district in 1970 as an English teacher and Assistant Football Coach, has served in the principal's position since 1973 and has never worked for any other school district. In fact, no one has served as the high school principal at Barton longer than Bagley. During Bagley's tenure at the helm of the high school, the school's academic standing dramatically improved. Among the academic achievements to occur under Bagley's direction were: substantial improvements in all standardized test scores, the school's first 30-plus ACT scores, the school's first state quiz bowl championships, and a dramatic upgrade of the school's curriculum and course offerings. Bagley was also instrumental in the hiring of the faculty, whom he complemented in his remarks, and in improving the facilities and equipment available to the faculty.
In addition to those academic achievements, Bagley served as the Head Softball Coach for several years,
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| Former BHS Coach Lonnie Sutton speaking about Bagley |
winning two state championships. In addition to leadership in academics, Bagley was a firm supporter of all athletics. Lonnie Sutton, a former Barton assistant who ended his career as the Head Football Coach at Watson Chapel, told the crowd of over 200 assembled that Bagley was, "the best administrator a person could hope to work with."
Speakers lined up to offer words of tribute to the long-time Barton fixture. Brinkley School District Superintendent Arthur Tucker, a member of the Barton class of 1975, told the crowd of the importance of Bagley in shaping him as an administrator. He said, "Thank you for your care and your character. I have tried to model my work after the example I received from you."
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| Bagley and BHS Alum and Brinkley Supt. Arthur Tucker |
In his brief remarks, Bagley thanked those who had assembled and gave a special recognition to those that came from his hometown of Joiner, AR. After telling several stories, including one about the first contract he signed having a salary of $5900, Bagley closed by saying, "This will always be home. The door is always open. Come by and see me."
Bagley was born October 19, 1948 in Joiner, AR. He was one of eleven children born to H. and Mattie Bagley. After graduating from Shawnee High School in 1966 where he was a standout football player and President of the school's Beta Club, Bagley graduated with a degree in English from Arkansas Tech University in 1970.
Upon graduation from Arkansas Tech, Bagley arrived on the Barton campus as a Jr. High English Teacher and Assistant Football Coach. In the fall of 1973, the BLSD tapped him to be the school's high school principal. Subsequent to that promotion, Bagley received a Masters degree from Arkansas State University.
Bagley married the former Linda Childs in November of 1972. Together they have four children Andrew (Sandra), Melissa (Brian), Alan (Amber), and Jonathan. They have three grandchildren. Bagley has been a long-time member of the Lexa Baptist Church.
