John Pulliam holds multiple roles at Benton Grade School. Besides being the Assistant Principal for kindergarten through fourth grade, he is also the school’s Special Education Director. John’s decisions impact 500-600 kids, all working their way through some of their most formative years. As a former special education classroom teacher, his ability to positively impact children on a much larger scale inspired him to transition to administration.
JOHN
PULLIAM
Returning to
His Roots
“They opened the position, and I said, ‘this is my wheelhouse,’” shares John. Teaching special education, he interacted with eight to sixteen kids per year. While leaving the classroom was difficult, he says, “I wanted to impact more children. I want to help as many kids as I can.”
Born and raised in Benton, he shares that several teachers positively impacted him throughout his youth. John’s biggest role model is former Benton Superintendent Dr. Kelly Stewart, who he proudly refers to as his greatest mentor and his aunt.
“Dr. Stewart didn’t have kids of her own, so my brothers and I were like her kids. She is our inspiration. Someone we really look up to. When it comes to education, she truly is the pedestal whom I look up to,” shares John.
He adds that after retiring from Benton High School, she started teaching at McKendree College, where John earned his Master’s degree in Educational Administration. “She was my professor in some of those classes. It was pretty neat to be taught by your aunt. But she made me sit up front and expected me to be on it, I really had to bring my A game.”
John is proud to have received his education at the same school system where he’s now employed. “We might be a large district, but we still have that small, hometown feel. Everybody feels connected. Everybody’s bought in,” says John.
After graduating from Benton High School in 2007, he earned his associate degree from Rend Lake and a bachelor’s degree from SIU-Carbondale. Known as a hard worker who prides himself on being well-prepared, he remembers having to seek department-level permission to carry heavy course loads. He shares that while at SIU, he often went to class twelve hours per day, attending class from nine in the morning until nine at night. He also recalls how his aunt both encouraged and administered tough love, reminding him that he was simply paying his dues.
After graduation, John quickly returned home to teach fourth-grade special education at the Grade School for six years before being recruited to a special education supervisor role with Franklin and Jefferson County, a role he held for four years before returning to Benton Grade School.
When the Special Education Director and Assistant Principal position opened, John jumped at the challenge, sharing that his primary goal is to steadily work towards compromise, finding common ground to unite the students, teachers, and the community.
“I just want our students to feel safe and for us to create life-long learners,” says John. He smiles as he adds that ‘he has serious skin in the game,’ adding that his five-year-old son is in Kindergarten at Benton Grade School. John smiles proudly as he adds that his son’s teacher, Mrs. Nolan, taught John in third grade, closing the loop on an important milestone circle.
I want to help as many kids as I can.
