With Ponca City Public Schools now open and students returning to class after a five month long absence, there were many anxieties about what the school year would look like going forward. In times like this leadership is important and at PCPS, Superintendent Shelley Arrott has stepped up for her district as a leader.

Arrott comes from a family of educators with her father being a superintendent and her mother a teacher. She has been in Ponca City since 1995. Her immediate family includes husband Josh, as well as a grown son, grown stepdaughter and an 8 year old grand-daughter.

She is very involved with her district, visiting 1 or 2 sites every day, and is very involved in all activities and usually attends 3 to 4 events a week with her husband.

“I love our wildcats and being involved in their lives,” said Arrott. “It is important to be the face of the district and supportive.”

She has 36 complete years of education under her belt, teaching for 19 years before then receiving her Master’s Degree and becoming principal at Union Elementary in 2006.

In 2013, Arrott became Executive Director of Human Resources, before then becoming superintendent in 2017.

Superintendent Arrott’s strengths lie in her ability to form good relationships with students and staff, and valuing the people at PCPS and letting them know how valued and appreciated they are.

“The school is like my extended family,” said Arrott. “Relationships with students, colleagues and parents are important…you have to have a positive relationship with students and develop communication.”

Arrott also makes herself available to talk with parents and response to all calls and even questions on Facebook.

The pandemic has altered the way everyone lives and Arrott and her team in the Superintendent’s Cabinet have worked tirelessly to ensure everything is operating properly as the district heads into the new school year.

“I’m so proud of my team,” said Arrott. “They work hard and have can do attitudes.”

Additionally, teachers have been working all summer on instructions for the new year citing teamwork as an important factor in handling the new pandemic guidelines.

“None of us have ever been in a pandemic” said Arrott, about the changes and new guidelines during. “We got to work together as a team, as a community.”

Arrott has tremendous respect and appreciation for the cohesiveness of the community and their help with the school.

“Our community wraps their arms around the school, I’m very humbled and awed by our partners and patrons,” said Arrott. “I am very blessed to live and work in Ponca City.”

The school is heading into a new year of uncertainty, but Superintendent Shelley Arrott’s philosophy is to control the response to the situation and be flexible.