What Do I Believe

As a product of Springfield Public Schools and a parent of three current students in the district, I understand the importance of supporting and improving our education system. My family has a deep connection to SPS – my father taught in the district for 30 years, my mother volunteered and worked in SPS for 14 years, and between my immediate family, we have a total of 124 years invested in the district. I attended Disney, Cherokee, and Kickapoo schools and saw firsthand the dedication and hard work of my father and other teachers in the district.

As a candidate for the school board, I believe it is important to represent the values and interests of the community. I was raised by teachers and have a strong appreciation for the work they do. I also value the Christian, conservative foundation of our community and plan to represent that voice on the school board.

As a businessman with experience in building and selling companies, I believe I have the skills and knowledge to effectively serve on the SPS school board. My professional experience has equipped me to handle the responsibilities of a board member, including hiring and evaluating the superintendent, adopting and monitoring the strategic plan, implementing and monitoring policy, and providing fiduciary oversight. I have a strong understanding of financial principles and the consequences of mismanagement, which will be valuable in managing the district’s $340,000,000 budget.

One of my key responsibilities as a school board member would be to hire and evaluate the superintendent. This is a critical role, as the superintendent is responsible for leading the district and ensuring that it is meeting the needs of students, teachers, and the community. I believe that my professional experience and entrepreneurial success have equipped me to more than handle this responsibility.

In addition to hiring and evaluating the superintendent, I would also work to adopt and monitor the mission, vision, values, goals, and strategic plan for the district. This is an important task, as it sets the direction and priorities for the district and helps to ensure that we are working towards our long-term goals.

Another key responsibility of a school board member is to recommend, implement, and monitor policy. This includes policies related to academics, discipline, and other areas that impact the daily lives of students and teachers. I believe that it is important to carefully consider the impact of any proposed policy and to ensure that it is in the best interests of the district and its stakeholders.

One of my priorities as a school board member would be to prioritize academics and limit distractions in the classroom. I believe that the classroom has become filled with distractions that take away from the basics of academic education, and that academics must take priority. I also believe that classroom discipline and behavioral policies are a major distraction for both teachers and students, and that by improving communication and transparency with parents, we can help address these issues.

As a school board member, I would also serve as a community liaison and represent the public interest. This includes working to ensure that the district is transparent and responsive to the needs and concerns of the community. Communication and transparency are important to me, and I believe that parents need a seat at the table when it comes to their child’s education.

I am also concerned about the declining ACT scores and MAP scores in the district. In the past 11 years, ACT scores have been steadily decreasing, and Springfield’s MAP scores are the lowest compared to other local districts in all subjects. I believe that this is in large part due to talented teachers leaving SPS for districts that are doing a better job with the above-mentioned issues. As a school board member, I would work to address these challenges and support our teachers in providing the best education possible for our students.