Meet the Neighbors: Andrew Podoll, Head of School at The Delta School
Access to exceptional education is important for quality of life, and so is having good neighbors. In Mississippi County, you have both and more with neighbors like Andrew Podoll!
In our latest Meet the Neighbors profile, we're delighted to introduce you to Andrew Podoll, head of school at The Delta School and affectionately known as “Mr. P” by students and families. Hailing from the plains of Aberdeen, S.D., Andrew's journey led him to Wilson, Ark., where he now resides with his wife, Meredith, and their son, Pierson. The family’s love for exploration, coupled with Andrew's passion for education, brought them to Mississippi County, drawn by the innovative vision of The Delta School.
Read on to learn more about Andrew and his adventures as the leader of one of the country’s most unique experiential learning programs, located right here in Mississippi County.
Q: What interested you most about moving to Mississippi County?
A: There is no opportunity more worthy than The Delta School. My wife and I have taught in schools in Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee, and the vision to position a school as an educational and regional thought shaper in the heart of rural America was the most inspiring motivator to uproot our lives and pursue the adventure. There truly is no other school that has fully reimagined the entry point to learning and genuinely shifted the way we nurture and support each child, wholeheartedly.
Q: Tell us more about The Delta School – what sets it apart from other schools, your unique approach to education, etc.
A: We are a design-thinking PK-12 school that aims to cultivate skills within learners that are necessary for a changing world. Our goal is to help learners flourish by unlocking their full potential within real-world experiences. We prioritize skill development that can be transferred to a wide variety of future life journeys. We want our educational designers (teachers) to learn alongside our students and welcome families to participate deeply in the educational journey of their child(ren).
Q: What do you enjoy most about being the head of school at The Delta School? What surprises you the most?
A: It is a privilege to lead the most innovative and thought-provoking school in the country. The most rewarding part of my position is connecting people and establishing partnerships. This varies for different age levels, but regardless of the age, humans light up when they are connected. I view my role as making lasting meaningful connections - between students and their peers and their work, between families and their community, between colleagues and project opportunities with project partners, and between The Delta School and where the world meets the Delta (or Land of Steel).
Q: What does a typical Saturday look like for you?
A: Family pizza night! We may make them at home, grab them from Gunn’s Supermarket, dart to Gary’s in Osceola or if we’re feeling like a late-night adventure, we’ll dip down to Aldo’s in Memphis.
Q: Where do you like to eat in Mississippi County?
A: Weston Cissell Farms - the best crab legs this side of the Mississippi!
Q: Favorite meal in Mississippi County?
A: The Hole in One Burrito with crispy potatoes with my family on the back porch of The Grange at Wilson Gardens
Q: Do you have any favorite local festivals or events?
A: Some of my favorites are:
Blytheville Chili Cook-off (Fall 2024)
Wilson Crawfish Festival (April 6, 2024)
Osceola Wheels and Wings (September 7, 2024)
Q: What are some of your favorite things about this area?
A: We love the incredibly caring and generous humans who live here. We have been blessed with people in our lives that have poured into not only our school, but into our family and community. Being around people that find joy and positivity, and who want others to thrive is the best feeling in the world. Whether they’re farmers, chefs, plumbers and pipefitters, preachers or just someone I met while out and about - there’s joy in Mississippi County.
