Dr. Jeff “Giovanni” Flanigan
Dr. Jeff “Giovanni” Flanigan wears many hats. He is currently the Principal of George Junior High School in Springdale, Arkansas. The Magnolia, Arkansas native, 1995 Magnolia High School Honor Graduate, and 1999 BSE graduate of the University of Arkansas is married to Korillene Flanigan, who is the Assistant Principal of the K-8 Connect ALE Program in the Springdale School District. They are proud parents to three daughters, Teah (29), Emirra (21), and Elise (19), and three sons, 21-year-old twins, Jaden and Jordan, and Jackson (10). Jeff holds Master’s Degrees in Teaching and Educational Leadership. On December 13, 2014, he received a Doctorate from Harding University. He has been the Pastor of Carter Temple CME Church in Blytheville, AR for 8 years (2013-2021), Butler Chapel CME Church in Parkin, AR for 1 year (2012-2013), and Harmony CME Church in Saratoga, AR for 4 years (2008-2012). From 2008 to 2012, he served as the Head Boys Basketball Coach and Dean of Students at Ashdown High School. From 2012-2014 he was the Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Blytheville High School in Blytheville, Arkansas. From 2014-2021, he was the Principal of the STEM Academy at Jonesboro High School in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He has been an Adjunct Professor for Arkansas State University and will be teaching a class at the University of Arkansas beginning this Fall for Elementary Education majors.
In 2000, Jeff became the First Ever Full Time Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Southern Arkansas University, serving also as the school’s Student Activities Coordinator. In 2002, he moved to Division I where he became the Head Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock for legendary Hall of Fame Coach Joe Foley. Deciding that he needed to spend more time with his children, Jeff left collegiate athletics in July of 2004 to become the Head Football Coach & Head Girls Basketball Coach at Henderson Health Science Magnet Middle School, where in 2007-2008, Jeff was named the Teacher of the Year by his colleagues at Henderson Health Science Magnet Middle School.
As if all the above is not enough to keep Jeff busy, he is also a National Recording Artist, recording under the stage name “Giovanni.” He recorded for House Records in Houston, Texas from 2007 through 2021. In October of 2008, Giovanni was on the ballot for 3 Grammy awards and attended the 51 st Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in February 2009. The House Records compilation album Live in the Spirit of Joy was on for Best Traditional Gospel Album. Giovanni was the lead contributor on this album with 5 songs. His song I Know, which was featured on the audio book for the publication The Other Side of the Coin by Robert Howard, was up for Record of the Year and We Need was on for Best Rap Song. That was followed by 17 ballot entries on the 2010 Grammy ballot for his House Records solo debut, Lost Weight and the soundtrack for The Other Side of the Coin. In 2021, he released a double album entitled The Quarantine Files, Volumes 1 & 2.