New Fort Smith school board member named
The Fort Smith School Board appointed a Northside High School graduate and former chamber of commerce director of programs as the next school board member.
Susan Krafft was approved Wednesday night to replace Dee Blackwell by the board as members voted 5-1 to select Krafft from a pool of nine candidates who applied for the board seat in Zone 3. Three candidates who applied did not live in the Zone 3 boundaries. Board member Phil Whiteaker cast the lone dissenting vote to appoint her.
Krafft is the executive director of the Babb Center for Career Services at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith where she has worked since 2021.
Krafft graduated from Northside High School as an honors student and earned a master's degree in industrial / organizational psychology from the University of Tulsa.
In her application for the board position she wrote, "I have always been drawn to serve, to give my time and talent to where I can make a difference. As I have said many times, Fort Smith is the community that raised me, and I feel like it is my obligation to give back where I can."
Krafft was the director of leadership and education programs at the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce from August 2018 until July 2021, according to her resume.
"My previous involvement in FSPS activities, through my work at the chamber and through my own children, motivates me to help grow and improve our district," Krafft wrote in her application that was reviewed by board members.
At a called meeting Wednesday, board members narrowed a list of nine candidates down to four finalist suggestions from each board member. The board members considered waiting until the regular meeting Monday to vote on the replacement for Blackwell, but then voted on Krafft.
Blackwell resigned as board member due to health issues she is facing and in her own family, she recently announced.
Other candidates considered by the board were Sandra Gray, Holly Jennings, Aimee Arzoumanian, Shelli Henehan, Leonnel Kouemo, Ariel Bentley, Adam Kareus and Jeremy Wann.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Fort Smith School Board picks Susan Krafft as new board member
