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Commissioner

Dr. Tom W. Kimbrell is a lifelong Arkansas educator who was appointed to be Commissioner of Education for the State of Arkansas by Governor Mike Beebe and the Arkansas State Board of Education in September 2009.

About his role as Commissioner, Dr. Kimbrell says: “Since I began my career in public education 25 years ago, I have set as my personal and professional goal to make a difference for the greatest number of children in this state. As Commissioner, I can work with the Governor, the educational community and business leaders to positively impact educational opportunities for children.”

Kimbrell served as executive director of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators for four years prior to coming to the Arkansas Department of Education. Before that, he was superintendent for the North Little Rock and Paragould school districts. He has also worked as a director of fiscal services in the Paragould School District, as assistant principal in the Corning School District, and as a teacher and coach for the Paragould and Pocahontas school districts.

Kimbrell earned his doctorate in education and his Master of Science in Education both from Arkansas State University, and he earned his Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

He is married to Tina Kimbrell, and they live with their two children in Cabot.