These six candidates are running for two three-year seats on the board of education at the Houston R-1 School District. Here’s a glance at the candidates and their responses to important issues related to education.
SUBMITTED BIOS
•Roger Brallier: I am 47 years old and born and raised in Houston. I attended Houston High School as did all of my family. I have worked in education for the past 12 years, starting as a substitute teacher, 6-8 grade social studies, high school embedded math, broadcast journalism and 7th grade science. I have worked as a public relations director at Hallsville Schools, and as an assistant principal at Houston elementary. Technology in education is one of my biggest strengths. I am a certified eMINTS trainer and have been a trainer and spoken at the national eMINTS conference and other conferences for the past eight years. I am a firm believer that technology is important for our students, but that is a tool — not the magic wand — for our students and education. For this tool to be used properly, our teachers must be trained and given the skills needed.
•Del Hicks: I am 62 years old, retired, a native of Missouri, and have lived in the Houston area for over 10 years. I have been married to my wife Nancy for 36 years, we have 3 children: Gabriella (13), Brianna (12) and Miranda (9). I retired from the U.S. Army as a master sergeant/first sergeant after 22 years of service in 1995, having joined in 1973. Last duty station was Ft. Carson, Colo., and my family and I remained there another 10 years, where I managed a number of Sherwin-Williams paint stores. We relocated to Houston to be near family in 2005. I worked at Dairy Farmers of America in Cabool for four years as a purchasing agent and supervisor leaving to take care of my wife and three adopted granddaughters. After my wife recovered from back surgery I began working as a paraprofessional in the Houston School District, serving in the elementary, middle school and high school. I left employment in the school district December 2015. I have a bachelor of arts degree from the University of New York in Russian language and history. I have a Certificate of Russian Area Studies at the master’s level from George Washington University. My family and I are members of the First Baptist Church of Houston, active in the AWANA program and youth ministry. Additionally I have taught Sunday school and am currently leading a Men’s Outreach Group and Bible Study.
•Curtis Hubbs: I have been employed with the Missouri State Highway Patrol for just over 19 years. I am 43 years old and a 1991 Houston High School graduate. I have been married for just over 20 years and we have two daughters that are students at Houston Schools. My family and I are members of the Ozark Baptist Church.
•Darren Ice: I’m 38 and I graduated from Houston High School in 1995. I attended Crowder College and earned an Ag Diesel Tech Certification. I was formally employed as a bus driver at the Houston School District. I am currently a bus driver at the Raymondville School District. I have a cow/calf operation in the Houston area. I am currently an MFA delegate, Texas County Fair Board chairman and on the Texas County Soil and Water Board. I have two daughters, Racheal and Abby. Racheal graduated from Houston High School in 2013 and Abby is currently a junior. My wife, Renee, is a first grade teacher at Raymondville Elementary.
•Chip Lange: I am 26 years old and married to Amber Lange, a teacher at Houston High School. We recently added our daughter, Lara Kathryn “Kate,” to our family. I graduated from first Cuba High School, then Westminister College in Fulton. I, then, attended University of Toledo to become a physician assistant. I currently work in the ER at Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla.
•Jennifer Scheets: I’m 35, and a 1999 Plato High School graduate. I received two bachelor’s degrees in human services and organizational leadership from Drury University. I will graduate from MSU-WP Nursing Program on May 14, 2016, with an ASN. I work for our family owned and operated real-estate business, VIP Properties and will be working for TCMH in the near future. I am married to Jarid Scheets and have five daughters, three of which that attend Houston Schools. We attend First Baptist Church, where I am an active member of our AWANA group.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD?
•Brallier: I want to be on the school board because I am a firm believer in education, in our youth and that Houston needs to see growth. I have five family members in the district ranging from pre-school to a senior in the high school. I want them to be properly prepared for the future they will be living in when they leave the school and I feel like we are missing the mark. We need to progress into the 21st century by giving them a skill set that includes more critical thinking, inquiry-based learning (where students are asking questions and solving problems), collaborative working and the ability to adapt.
•Hicks: I believe in quality public education for current and future students. I have a personal interest in preserving and improving the quality of our school system. I have a broad background of experience and knowledge and I think that education today is complex. I don’t believe simplistic approaches to education will meet today’s challenges. I consider myself tolerant and without prejudice and will strive to ensure that all members of the community have a voice in making educational and administrative decisions. I am well acquainted with most of the teachers in the school district and will be a conduit for the concerns and interest of teachers and parents.
•Hubbs: Three years ago I filed for the school board because I wanted to be a part of our children’s education, I wanted to try and help our administrators and teachers to make a difference and give our students the best education possible. I feel the same today. I want to help move our district further along and into the future.
•Ice: I would like to be on the school board because I want to do my part to help the community by making as many avenues of education possible for students in the school district. A quality education needs to be provided for students who want to stay in the community and for those who want to pursue careers that take them elsewhere. Each year, at the Texas County Fair, I have the privilege of spending time with many local children. As I watch them grow and change from year to year I realize that they are the future of our society. I want to do what I can to insure they have the best education possible.
•Lange: This area is my home. We have a responsibility as able citizens to make our community a better place by getting involved whether through local community groups, the school district or activities for local children.
•Scheets: I am excited to be running for the school board in the upcoming election. Our school system is huge part of the foundation of our community. Over the years, I have become more and more interested in the way the school system works and passionate about wanting it to serve both the interests of our school children positively, while engaging our community to the fullest extent possible. I want to be a part of ensuring that our children are provided the best opportunity for a great education. I am truly invested in this school system, not only with our own children in the school, but the children of all of our community members. I want to give back to the school system that has done so much for our family and the families of our great community.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE DISTRICT PROGRESSING?
•Brallier: We have some amazing teachers in our district, but sadly, many have left or are planning to leave in the near future. We need to make a concentrated effort to retain our quality teachers. Our professional development days should allow our teachers who are excelling in areas to share their expertise with others in the district. This will improve the quality of instruction and of our curriculum and will give teachers a sense of pride and ownership. Teachers and administrators who mentor each other and help each other is a great place to start. I have seen this be successful in other school districts and I think it will help us as well. You are welcome to visit my webpage, www.brallierforschoolboard.com, for more information or to ask me any questions.
•Hicks: I believe there must be balance between traditional skills, such as critical thinking, collaboration and problem solving, and “newer” skills such as information literacy and global awareness. We have to heavily invest in computer education instruction for our teachers before we can expect them to be able to teach curriculum to our students on the computers. Simultaneously, we can’t stop teaching the children the knowledge that is required for success. Also I believe we should expand our focus into more trade school teaching. We need to expand our welding program, teach automobile mechanics using advanced computer systems, and instruct on the use of lathes and similar equipment.
•Hubbs: We have to put a lot of focus on technology. We have become a computer-controlled world and we have to give our students the tools they need to prepare them to go out into the community and become successful. We need to include parents in this process because many of us, myself included, already are behind our kids when it comes to current technology.
•Ice: The school district needs to use technological advances to its utmost advantages without forgetting about basic fundamentals of education. I would like to see larger emphasis placed on vocational education.
•Lange: I see the school district progressing into the 21st century in multiple ways: utilizing excellent teaching, providing more resources, and increasing technology in the classroom. Teachers have and always will be the most important resource in schools and we must continue that moving into the 21st century. A school relies on its resources to give students more opportunities both in and out of the classroom. Finally, technology is a growing part of the classroom and our school needs to be ahead of the curve where possible.
•Scheets: I think that we have seen a positive start to how our school system will progress into the 21st century with the use of technology in the classrooms. Our students are becoming more familiar with the idea of testing on computers and seem to be adapting well to this tool. By integrating the use of technology, teachers are preparing our students for technological, cultural and economical changes. With these changes students get a more hands-on approach to learning, they get the opportunity to do their work and see how it helps them while in school and also prepare them for what life is going to be like when they graduate and go out into the world. This also benefits the school system, in ways that teachers can test and get their students results in a timely manner to help them see where they need to focus on and how they need to adjust their teaching. I believe we will see a positive transition.
WHAT IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE IN THE DISTRICT?
•Brallier: We live in a new communication world — I want to adapt and make sure I am setting a positive example for our students and our school.
•Hicks: Do everything possible to support the teachers in their efforts to educate our children. Make certain that our major focus is on the children and their education! Hold administrators accountable for everything that goes on in their buildings. Enforce all policies or change them. Maintain a positive learning environment.
•Hubbs: We need more programs to help our students that do not feel they want to go to a four-year college but want to stay in our community and be successful. I would like to develop a vocational program and continue to build our FFA program to give our students all the options that we can. I would like for us to have more communication with our area technical schools so we have the knowledge to pass on to our students. These things will not sacrifice the district curriculum, but only add to and strengthen them for the students that need it.
•Ice: I would like to see more opportunities for students to practice application of the current curriculum in real life settings.
•Lange: The focus of the school district must always be on academics and curriculum first. Improvements to the school district in all other areas — facilities, technology, equipment, etc. — are a close second. When making any improvements, it is important to look at long term academic goals of our district and how those improvements help meet those goals.
•Scheets: By taking a look at the resources the school has and allocating those to the fullest extent is a huge step in ensuring improvements to our district. Positive communication is one way to see improvements with our teaching staff. I am a firm believer that if you find something that works in your classroom with your students then you should share that with your colleagues, so they can integrate in their classroom to see if they can get the same results. In the same manner, what works for one may not work for another but the open line of communication among staff may open doors to help reach students in many ways. I believe we have a strong staff at Houston and by keeping an open line of communication and a positive work environment, we will see advances in teaching that will benefit our students to the fullest in the next century.
HOW ARE ACADEMICS AND SPORTS COMPATIBLE, AND WHAT ROLE DOES THE COMMUNITY PLAY?
•Brallier: Sports and academics are a great combination in schools. I would like to see more recognition for our students who are receiving high marks and have made great growth strides in learning — we do this in sports — we need more in the academic region. The community is a great source of support to our students and school. When our school succeeds, so does our community. Strong schools bring and retain strong people and jobs to an area.
•Hicks: There should never be a conflict between academics and sports. Sports can and should be a wonderful incentive in our school district. However, sports should always be subordinate to academics. Passing grades must be maintained at all times in order to participate in extra curricular activities. Particular care should be taken to make sure that help is available to students who wish to participate in these activities. No unnecessary penalizing of students; we want a positive learning environment. The community should play a huge role in both. However the district cannot cater to small cliques within the community to the detriment of the majority. Our community has bought into the sports program, the band and choir programs and willingly support monetarily and by being personally involved in them. In academics we need the community to support the staff in the areas of good study habits, homework and the enforcing of discipline. School administrators should always be accessible to the community for working out of problems. For policy disputes/changes the board should be accessible.
•Hubbs: Academics and sports compatibility: Academics is why we attend school and surpasses all other activities, however it is not that simple. I think we lose sight and it is not just football, basketball, volleyball, softball and baseball. We have other programs that mean the same to many of our students, band, choir, drama, FCCLA, student council. I think all these programs are very important to our students and go hand and hand with academics. Students build teamwork and relationships and avenues to have fun and pride in what they are doing. It allows our students to express themselves many ways and show their God given talents to our community. Our community has really came a long way in the last few years and the involvement has been great. We need to show our kids how proud we are of them. It has been so great to see the streets full before games cheering on our kids and to see the bleachers full at band and choir concerts.
•Ice: I consider FFA, FBLA, FACTS, choir, band and all other extracurricular activities to hold the same importance as sports programs. There are many leadership, teamwork, self-discipline and self-motivational skills to be learned through extracurricular activities and sports that our current society has devalued. These programs play a vital role in our school district and our community. Combining a quality academic education, with the life skills gained from the extracurricular activities, our students will be capable of being leaders and businessmen and women of the future.
•Lange: Both academics and sports require community support and cooperation to be successful. Qualities we look for in the classroom are qualities we look for on the field or the court. Teamwork, concentration, dedication, and professionalism are all vital to academics and sports. The skills learned in one area transfer to the other and those skills make successful adults.
•Scheets: I believe academics and extracurricular activities (not just sports) are very compatible. All of our extracurricular activities (sports, band, choir, student-oriented clubs, FFA, math club, etc.) give our students a positive outlet to explore their passions. The way children choose to spend their free time can affect their school performance both during school hours and even when they aren’t in school. With extracurricular activities students find their niche and sense of belonging, which gives them a reason to perform both in the classroom and out. Students that participate in extracurricular activities seem to have a desire to put in the hard work and time it takes to excel, which is an excellent attribute for their academics. Our community plays a huge role in how our students connect these two principles. Students get the opportunity to show our community members how hard they work both on and off the court. Over the past year we have seen an amazing boost from our community toward our school extracurricular activities and the support has been indescribable. This community values the importance of our youth and their accomplishments, both on the court/field/stage and in the classroom. The more the community can be involved, the more our students can excel. Restore the Roar!