The Truth Will Set You Free

Cutting-edge classroom technology, innovative teaching and outstanding resources are often only found in larger communities. Not so with Greenwood Public Schools, recently named the #3 Best School District in the State and #1 Best Place to Teach by Niche, which combines the best of instruction within a small-school environment.

“The Greenwood School District has long been recognized as one of the premier school districts in Arkansas,” says John Ciesla, superintendent. “Our faculty and staff are committed to providing our students with state-of-the-art facilities, a wide variety of educational programs and the resources necessary to recruit and retain one of the finest faculties in the state.”

With an average teacher/student ratio of 1:15, Greenwood Public Schools ensures all students receive sufficient attention to assist their learning style. Classroom learning is supplemented by various enrichment programs, including band, choir, art, drama, quiz bowl and a full suite of athletic programs.

The Greenwood School District was recently named the first Purple Star Public School District in the River Valley/NWA Region for its outstanding commitment to the unique educational and social-emotional needs of military-connected children. And, four of the schools in the district recently earned prestigious academic achievement awards, totaling over $350,000.

“The Greenwood School District has the long-standing vision of, ‘Providing Excellence in Education,’” Superintendent Ciesla says. “This tradition stems from a community that values education and has high expectations for all academic and extracurricular programs. The strong relationship between community, parents and schools allows our students to graduate with the skills necessary to be college- and career-ready and be productive members of society.”

WORDS Dwain Hebda images Dwain Hebda and courtesy of Keith Tucker Jr.

Keith Tucker Jr. is the American Dream.

The forty-year-old graduate of Little Rock Central High School was holding down a regular job when he was inspired to do something bigger. He developed and launched Truth Sauce with little more than a dream and the encouragement of the people who loved and believed in him most. The rest, as they say, is history.

“My product is something I developed from the ground up,” Keith says. “I was the head chef at UAMS Cancer Institute [in Little Rock] for over ten years and that’s where I got my passion and love for cooking. From there, just me playing in the kitchen, I came up with this fabulous product called the Truth Sauce.

“I started out with family and friends, sending it to them and I realized that I had something. From there I got it packaged and I haven’t looked back since then."

The best things in life are often the simplest just as the simplest things in life can be deceivingly complex. Truth Sauce is a prime example, delivering a unique and complex flavor profile that has much less burn than a hot sauce, more kick than sweet-and-sour and much more personality than ketchup. The reddish-orange elixir promises “sweet heat” and that’s exactly what it delivers without ever overpowering the meat or the taste buds. It’s probably the most

versatile sauce you can have in the pantry, enhancing the flavor of everything from meat and fish to eggs and vegetables.

“People are putting it on literally everything that you can eat,” Keith says. Like the sauce, the name of the product also works on several levels. On the surface, it draws from slang, describing the greatest of something. But it’s also a brand and a business philosophy all rolled into one – the product lives up to its billing and reflects on the ethics and integrity of the inventor. And, there are more personal elements to the name as well.

“The name originated from a nickname my people gave me. They used to call me Truth, so I just incorporated it with my brand, Truth Sauce,” he said. “It was a perfect little mix and it was a great name for the sauce. If you look at the logo, you’ll see a halo and wings which represents The Truth as well.”

Family plays a big role at the company. Keith Jr. might still be small-time had Keith III, his sixteen-year-old son, not pushed him to think bigger.

“[Keith III] definitely gave me the push when I first started,” Keith Jr. said. “He said, ‘Hey Dad, you know it’s more than just for family and friends. I believe this is something that can possibly change the world.’ I listened and I’m so thankful that I did.”

Keith III, who’s president of the company, has continued to be involved with the venture right alongside of his father. An honor student and athlete, Keith III has shown a particular flair for the marketing side of things, creating videos and other content for social media. He’s also ridden along on sales calls and has appeared in numerous media reports about the family business.

“I believed in this product so much and I just wanted to see him win, to succeed,” he said. “I knew his dedication to the sauce. He had a big drive and a big motor to make it happen, too.”

For his part, Keith Jr. has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, a byproduct of his energy for his product that fuels his nonstop promotional messaging. One video clip, caught on his phone, finds him alongside Arkansas’s own Scottie Pippen at a restaurant.