Nancy Rousseau

Nancy Rousseau
CitizenshipAmerican
EducationAdelphi University, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
OccupationEducator

Nancy Rousseau is an American educator. Rousseau taught English at a number of schools around the country before settling in Little Rock, Arkansas where she became vice-principal, and later principal, of Little Rock Central High School. As principal of the school, which was at the center of a famous civil rights battle and a national historic site, Rousseau planned milestone events and hosted numerous dignitaries to the school.

Early life and education

Nancy Lucker was born in New York about 1947, the daughter of Audrey and Jerome Lucker. She was raised in Tenafly, New Jersey. She attended Tenafly High School, where she was student chairman in her sophomore year, graduating in 1965. After attending Ohio University in Athens, Ohio for two years, Lucker later obtained a bachelor's degree in English education from Adelphi University in Garden City, New York and a master's degree in educational administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Career

Rousseau's first job was as an English teacher in Port Washington, New York. She then taught English in Midwest City, Oklahoma, relocating to Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1976. From 1976 to 1986, Rousseau worked as an English teacher at the private Pulaski Academy. Rousseau served as assistant principal at Little Rock Central High School from 1991 to 1998. In 1997, she organised the 40th year reunion of the Little Rock Nine.

From 1998 to 2002, she was principal at the city's Pulaski Heights Junior High School. During her time there, she led the school's transition from a junior high to a middle school.

In 2002, she returned to Little Rock Central High School as principal. The school, the site of a famous civil rights battle for integration, has a school population of approximately 2,500 students. In 2007, she organised the 50th year reunion of the Little Rock Nine. In 2024, after discovering that a new male principal was being paid $30,000 more than her despite over 30 years' service in the school district, Rousseau demanded the district school board increase her pay. In February 2026, Rousseau announced her plan to retire after more than 30 years as the head of the school.

Personal life

Rousseau married second husband, architect Steve Rousseau, in 1978.

Awards

References

  1. 1 2 Howell, Cynthia (2024-04-21), "22-year Little Rock Central principal seeks salary adjustment; her pay is 80% of new Southwest High principal's", Arkansas Democrat Gazette, retrieved 2025-07-21
  2. ↑ "Students Prepare Gifts". The Record. Dec 19, 1962. p. 67. Retrieved 18 May 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 "Nancy E. Lucker is Betrothed". The Record. October 25, 1967. p. 40. Retrieved 18 May 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Campbell, Matt (2026-02-10). "Nancy Rousseau, longtime principal of Little Rock Central High, announces retirement". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  5. ↑ "Longtime principal joins UA Little Rock Alumni Board". University News Archive. 2019-09-13. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  6. ↑ Moritz, Rob (September 23, 2007). "Little Rock Nine Plan to Return". Times Record. Fort Smith, Arkansas. p. A1. Retrieved 20 May 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Straessle, Steve (May 9, 2026). "Central High's Nancy Rousseau starting a new chapter in life". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock – via NewsBank: Access Global. in June 2005... Nancy had been principal at Central High for about three years and already had a lifetime's worth of experience... Nancy's husband Steve... her student-given nickname "the Roussinator"... With Central High's seat on the National Registry of Historic Places and operating as part of the National Park Service, Nancy has had a front-row view of Little Rock politics and history. She's hosted dignitaries, led tours, and otherwise worn the unofficial hat of chief curator of Central High's legacy.
  8. ↑ Gelder, Austin (2024-04-13). "Longtime LRSD Central principal is paid $33K less than Southwest HS newcomer, requests fix". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  9. ↑ "Little Rock School District's student count forecast". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  10. ↑ Asper, Sandy (2011-12-09). "Opinion: The Day I Met Nancy Rousseau". Patch. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  11. ↑ Li, Anne (12 Feb 2026). "Central High's Principal Plans to Retire in 2026". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. p. 9. Archived from the original on 14 Feb 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  12. ↑ Dishongh, Kimberly (March 29, 2026). "Right time right place: He lost his job after a date with the boss' girlfriend". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock. p. 48. Archived from the original on 31 March 2026. Retrieved 18 May 2026 – via PressReader.
  13. ↑ Williams, Helaine R. (October 7, 2018). "LULAC lauds recipients of scholarships, honorees". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock. p. 51. Retrieved 19 May 2026 – via NewsBank: Access Global.

Bibliography