Cora McHenry.

Arkansas Education Association, Executive Director

As a teenager growing up in Augusta, Arkansas, during the late fifties and early sixties, Cora McHenry lamented the lack of anything to do. Although that's a common teenage complaint, McHenry's motivation and remedy were not so common.

"There was nothing for a young black woman to do to earn enough money to go to school" she says. "I had to go all the way to Chicago to find work."

McHenry spent three high school summers with an aunt and uncle there, but there was no time to play tourist. She worked first at a burger stand and then at a pharmacy before working two full-time jobs during her final summer there.

When the time came to go to college, McHenry knew she'd have to work her way through.

An English teacher's casual remark that McHenry would make an excellent teacher was all the nudge McHenry needed to set her on her career path. Armed with a degree from Southern University, McHenry landed her first professional position with Camden Public Schools, where she taught English and French for 10 years.

McHenry considered leaving the classroom when she realized that she could effect changes on a broader scale by improving working conditions for teachers.

"I really enjoyed the classroom, but while I was having an impact on maybe 100 kids per year, I saw the potential in working for the Arkansas Education Association to help shape the environment in which teachers work," she says. "That meant that I could help an even larger number of students."

McHenry had become a board member for the Arkansas Teachers Association in the early 1960s and was one of four persons seated from that board onto the AEA board after the two organizations merged. She was subsequently brought on board the AEA staff as assistant director for instruction and professional development.

Her progress through the ranks was steady. From that entry level position, McHenry went on to be named director of field services. She supervised all the regional offices outside the AEA and was soon given responsibility also for management of legal services. Her promotion to associate executive director followed thereafter, but when McHenry saw the opportunity to move up to the position of executive director, she didn't exactly leap at the opportunity.

"I could've been very comfortable just staying where I was, but when the position came open a second time in less than one year, I decided to apply."

After a six-month national search, McHenry was selected in 1985 from a field of 22 candidates, 21 of whom were white males.

As executive director for the past twelve years, McHenry has seen the 18,000-member statewide organization evolve in significant ways.

"There's been tremendous growth in the size of the operation both in terms of staff and revenue. I think the organization has become much more of an advocate." she explains. "When I first came, there was just headquarters. Teachers and school employees had to come to Little Rock to access any services that they needed.

"As field director - and I continue the effort from my present position - I wanted to put the services as close to members as possible. We now have 11 locations with professional staff to help teachers with their day-to-day needs - not just the big legislative splash or the big instructional conferences - but the kinds of challenges teachers see every day in the classroom."

There is nothing one-dimensional about McHenry, who is the first African-American female to be named to her position. Family ties are especially important to this award-winning writer who has been recognized for her humanitarian efforts - in civil rights and economic and community development.

These days there's plenty of work right here in Arkansas for this savvy, soft-spoken Augusta native.

VITAL STATISTICS

1500 W. Fourth St. * Little Rock 72201 - 1064 * 501-375-4611 Fax: [phone]

Birthday & Place: Aug. 5, 1938; Augusta Spouse: Henry McHenry 

Children: Stephanie, 33

Education: Southern University, 1960 [BS]; Hamilton College Language Institute, 1962; University of Arkansas, 1969.

Career Highlights: 1985-present, executive director, Arkansas Education Association (AEA); 1976-85, associate executive director, AEA; 1975-76, education aide to Gov. Dale Bumpers and administrative assistant to Sen. Dale Bumpers; 1970-74, assistant executive director, AEA; 1960-70, teacher, Camden Public Schools.

Professional Organizations: Arkansas Education Association, 1996; National Education Association, 1996; Arkansas Leadership Academy, 1996; Arkansas Democratic Party, 1996.

Civic Organizations: National Conference of Christians & Jews, 1996; Little Rock Private Industry, 1996; Arkansas Friends for Better Schools, 1996; Residential Housing Facility Board - Little Rock, 1996; Arkansas Business & Education Alliance, 1996.

Awards and Honors: Arkansas Business - Top 100 Women in Arkansas, 1995, 1996; Honorary Doctorate of Laws, University of Arkansas, 1996; Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Shorter College, 1996.