WBCH offers this space to area superintendents to highlight activities in their districts. This posting is from Lakewood Schools Superintendent Randy Fleenor.

 

YOUR BOARD OF EDUCATION

“As citizen leaders, individual school board members face complex and demanding challenges. They are alternately described as having the most important volunteer jobs in the country and facing the toughest challenge in elected American government. Yet, our school board members are just ordinary citizens with extraordinary dedication to our schools.

 

"I would invite all Clarksville, Lake Odessa, Woodland, and Sunfield citizens to join me in recognizing the vital contributions these men and women make and the crucial role they play in the education of our children.

 

"Your Board of Education is: Mrs. Jamie Brodbeck-Krenz (Lake Odessa), Mr. Gary Foltz (Sunfield), Mr. Jeff Gibbs (Sunfield), Mrs. Lynn MacKenzie (Woodland), Mr. Frank Pytlowany (Lake Odessa), Mrs. Melissa Schuiling (Lake Odessa), and Mr. Steve StLaurent (Sunfield).

 

"Their job is to establish a vision for the education program, design a structure to achieve that vision, ensure schools are accountable to the community and strongly advocate for continuous improvement in student learning. The job of a school board member is tough, the hours long and the thanks few and far between. Too often we’re quick to criticize school board members without really understanding the complex nature of their decisions. Now is the time to thank them for their untiring efforts!

 

"Our school board members come from a variety of backgrounds, yet they share a common goal—helping students achieve success in school and life. We often forget about the personal sacrifices school board members make. Board members contribute hundreds and hundreds of hours each year leading the Lakewood District.

 

"The time spent in board meetings represents just a small fraction of the hours school board members spend leading in the Lakewood District. Collectively, they spend thousands of hours on professional development, keeping informed on the latest trends in educational leadership, community activities, extracurricular events, as well as board meetings and strategic planning.

 

"The month of January marks the annual observance of School Board Recognition Month. This is the time to show our appreciation and begin to better understand how local trustees work together to prepare today’s students to be tomorrow’s leaders.

 

"As we close out this month we want to salute the men and women who provide grassroots governance of public schools, especially Lakewood Public Schools.”

 

Lakewood Board of Education: (front)  Jamie Brodbeck-Krenz, Frank Pytlowany, Melissa Schuiling,(back) Jeff Gibbs, Steve St.Laurent, Gary Foltz, Lynn MacKenzie.

(photo supplied)