Unexpected Path Leads UA Little Rock Alum to Education Leadership

Dr. Jeremy Owoh never planned on becoming an educator.

A three-time University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate, Owoh spent his first three years of college studying marketing before resetting his sights on education, which offered him a different opportunity.

“I have always believed in the power of education to change the trajectory of a person’s life,” he said. “What ultimately drew me to teaching, though, was the opportunity to work directly with young people.”

Changing his mind about his major proved beneficial. It would eventually take Owoh from the English classroom to leadership roles at the local, district and state levels. Today, he serves as superintendent of the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District and has been named the 2027 Arkansas Superintendent of the Year.

For Owoh, the recognition is less about the title and more about the people who helped shape his career.

“I never entered education thinking about awards or titles; I entered because I wanted to make a difference for students,” he said. “To be recognized in this way more than two decades later caused me to reflect on all the people, experiences, and students who have shaped my career.”

Finding a Path at UA Little Rock

As Owoh’s career developed, UA Little Rock became an important part of his growth as an educator and leader.

Owoh earned three graduate degrees from UA Little Rock: a master’s degree in secondary education in 2005, an Educational Specialist degree in educational leadership and administration in 2008, and a Doctor of Education in educational administration and supervision in 2015.

Each came at a different stage in his career, allowing him to connect what he learned with his work in Arkansas schools.

“What stands out most is the connection between what I was learning and what I was experiencing professionally,” Owoh said. “Graduate education is especially powerful when you can take an idea from a class, examine it critically, and then see its application in a real school or district.”

His experiences at UA Little Rock challenged him to think more deeply about literacy, leadership and the role educators play in student success. He also points to the Little Rock Writing Project as having a lasting influence on his career.

As a teacher, Owoh became increasingly interested in the systems surrounding students, from curriculum and teacher support, to school culture and leadership. Moving into administration allowed him to broaden his impact while remaining focused on teaching and learning.

“My studies strengthened my understanding of literacy and instruction, while also helping me think more broadly about organizations, systems, policy, and leadership,” Owoh said. “My graduate education helped prepare me to navigate that complexity while keeping students at the center of the work.”

Leading With Students in Mind

Owoh considers his time in the classroom fundamental to the way he leads today. Later roles expanded that perspective, teaching him about school culture, relationships, systems, and education policy.

Together, those experiences shaped a leadership philosophy built around service.

“Leadership is not about position, it is about responsibility,” Owoh said. “As superintendent, my responsibility is to create the conditions in which students can thrive, and employees can do their best work.”

That philosophy can also be seen in his continued emphasis on literacy, connecting his beginnings as an English teacher with his graduate education at UA Little Rock.

“When we strengthen literacy, we are doing much more than improving a test score,” he said. “We are giving students greater independence, confidence, and access to the world around them.”

Ultimately, Owoh wants JNPSD students to leave prepared to determine their own futures, whether that means attending a university, pursuing technical education, joining the military, starting a business, or entering the workforce.

“Our responsibility is not to choose that path for them,” Owoh said. “It is to make sure they have the knowledge, skills, confidence, and opportunities to choose it for themselves.”

A Partnership Comes Full Circle

Owoh’s relationship with UA Little Rock did not end when he earned his doctorate. He later returned as a faculty member, working with other educators developing their own knowledge and leadership. Today, that relationship continues through a partnership between JNPSD and the UA Little Rock School of Education.

JNPSD became the School of Education’s first partner as UA Little Rock worked to transform its teacher education program. By fall 2023, the district welcomed the university’s inaugural cohort of district-paid teacher residents.

Dr. Rachel Eells, director of the UA Little Rock School of Education, said Owoh’s early support was instrumental in building the partnership.

“Dr. Owoh’s dedication to excellence and willingness to sustain and nurture this relationship created a foundational model for impactful collaboration,” Eells said. “We are so grateful to work with him, and are not at all surprised that he has received his well-earned honor.”

For Owoh, investing in educators and students remains a source of motivation more than two decades after he first entered a classroom.

“Every year brings another group of students whose futures are being shaped by what happens in our schools right now,” Owoh said. “That creates both urgency and purpose.”

It’s a career that has taken Owoh somewhere he never expected when he first entered college. Perhaps that’s why his advice to aspiring education leaders comes from experience.

“Titles will change, initiatives will come and go, and careers will take unexpected turns,” Owoh said. “If your decisions remain grounded in serving students well, you will have a foundation that can guide you through all of it.”