WILLARD BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATES
Name: Sutton Berry
Age: 45
Occupation – Product Program Manager – John Deere
Education: I have a bachelors degree from Evangel University.
Why should someone vote for you:
I grew up in Willard attending South Elementary through High School. I have a huge amount of pride and passion for our school and a desire to help the students in our community. This passion comes from a family of current and retired educators and the fact I have children attending both the middle school and high school. This opportunity would allow me to share my career and life experiences to benefit the Willard community in which I have been a part of for so long.
For the past 25 years I have worked for one the world’s largest OEM companies and held varying roles in manufacturing, sales and marketing, project management, and leadership. My job and my life experiences have prepared me for this task with my ability to listen, my experience in making tough decisions, my experience leading diverse cross functional teams, and my experience being a leader.
What makes me a good candidate for the school board is my belief that fostering teamwork and leading by example will get you the best outcome. We must work as a team to create a vision for the district, collaborate with others and be respectful of others’ viewpoints. Ultimately, advocating for the value of a strong public education system.
If elected, my top priority for our district is to aspire to be best-in-class when it comes to education, teacher retention, facilities, and community involvement. I believe in quality public education. My goal is to be a voice for our students, teachers, staff, schools, and community. If elected, as a board member I will serve the educational needs of all students in the district to enhance and enrich what goes on in the classroom. I will work with parents and district personnel, along with other board members to be partners in success.
Name: Lacee Blunt
Age: 32 years old
Occupation: First and foremost I'm a mother. I also substitute teach within the Willard District.
Education: I have a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Sports Administration from Missouri State University.
Why should someone vote for you:
Aside from my family, being on the school board would be my top priority. I'm a Willard alumni, a former full-time staff member, and I have children who attend Willard East Elementary School. Decisions made today will affect the outcome of my children's education and experience within the district. I am extremely detail-oriented, and I research every major decision before making it. I enjoy speaking with people from different backgrounds and bringing conversations together to align for the future success of Willard. I've spent more time in the buildings in the last three years than the other candidates. Because of this, I have a good understanding of staff and students' needs, and I would bring a unique perspective to the board based on my experiences.
Name: Wesley Burrell
Age: 32
Occupation: Wealth advisor
Education: I have a bachelors degree from Southwest Baptist University
Why should someone vote for you?
There is no ulterior motive behind my choice to run for the board. I do not have a platform that I am running on or a program to get, I simply want to help Willard Schools be at its best for our Willard students. I was blessed with a great education through Willard Schools and I have been afforded the opportunity to give my time and talents back to the students and community in this way.
In the last five years I have served as a board member and president of Willard Children’s Charitable Foundation. This experience helped me to better understand the needs of our students and staff.
As a financial advisor, I’m well versed in analyzing budgets and understanding the financial environment. I have learned through life not all people view things equally and many times we can make ourselves better by listening to all sides and then deciding on the issue.
Name: Jason Dixon
Age: 50
Occupation: I work in freight service for a Class 1 Railway.
Education: I attended Missouri State University but did not finish my degree.
Why should someone vote for you:
My family has lived in the Willard district since 2003 and we have been blessed by the families and educators from our community over the last 20 years. I was elected to the school board in 2020 and am running again for re-election. I bring a multi-faceted perspective to my seat on the board. One of a father, a spouse of a veteran teacher, a child of two lifelong teachers and coaches, a past high school coach, a promoter of the trades, a member of multiple past boards of youth, sports, and parent organizations, a church member, and a current sitting school board member. I am a strong listener and I try to speak much less than I listen.
My time on the board has been both encouraging and challenging, but always worth every minute because the outcome of our work is so very important. I feel we have great people in so many positions at Willard and I would be honored to again help our district problem solve our challenges and improve upon our success with Team Willard for the next three years.
Name: Curtis Martin
Age: 42
Occupation: Production Manager for a grass seed company.
Education: I have my bachelor's degree in plant science with a minor in agronomy from Missouri State University.
Why should someone vote for you?
Over the last 20-plus years I have worked at many different levels of management, from retail sales, warehouse and distribution management, general management, and product management. In management, I have gained a lot of knowledge in how to work with others. I have learned that communication is key, and when you stop and listen to others perspective, you often find a better path or solution to what you are trying to achieve.
Additionally, no one in my immediate family is or has ever been an employee of the district. Because of this, I am able to offer an outside perspective that allows me to make unbiased decisions when discussing matters of financial needs and employment for the district.
Jennifer Rowe
Age: 43
Occupation: Paralegal
Why should somebody vote for you?
For nearly seven years, I had the privilege of serving as city clerk and director of Emergency Management in Willard. During that time, I got a chance to see the inner workings of our city and decided that I wanted to take on an even bigger role in helping shape the future of our community. I am a mother of five amazing children, and I am proud to say that my two oldest boys are actively serving in the Air Force. My three youngest children are currently attending Willard schools, giving me strong ties to our community.
I believe that building trust between the community, local businesses, and the local government is essential. Willard is a hidden gem in Greene County, and I am committed to making it even better through strong, yet reasonable, leadership.
If elected, I will work tirelessly to help Willard become an even better place to raise families and start businesses. I will facilitate the growth of our newly created Office of Economic Development and work alongside our dedicated city employees to identify and recruit new businesses to become a part of our great community.
I am a hard-working, committed individual who is passionate about serving my community. If elected mayor, I promise to work tirelessly to make Willard a better place for everyone. I humbly ask for your vote in our local elections on April 4.
Samuel Snider
Age: 27
Occupation: Personal banker and small business owner
Why should somebody vote for you?
As a lifelong resident of Willard, I am passionate about and have a vested interest in ensuring the success of our community. Over the past two years as mayor, Willard has experienced an unprecedented amount growth. We’ve created a City Office of Economic Development and have enjoyed the recently built Dollar General store and TR Fitness center and have witnessed the construction of several hundred new homes in the past two years.
Quality and sustainable growth will continue to be a primary focus for my administration. Additionally, I will continue to focus on projects and policies that improve our community’s quality of life. Partnerships with organizations such as “Better Together” will afford us the opportunity of building an all-inclusive playground for Willard families to enjoy for years to come. I am grateful for the faith and trust the Willard community has bestowed in me and I would be honored to continue serving as your mayor.
Name: Eric L. Wilkins
Age: 46
Occupation: Branch Manager for 25 years
Education: High School with some college courses
Why should someone vote for you:
There is so much good happening in the Willard School district and communities and I want to help bring the good to light and allow that to help influence us to do more good. Not ignoring the troubled areas but using the positives to help lift and motivate children, youth, parents, staff and community to excel and be one Willard. We are all in this together and the more we can learn that as a community the better we can excel in all areas of education and community. I appreciate the support!
Category:
Lawrence County Record
312 S. Hickory St.
Mt. Vernon, MO, 65712
www.lawrencecountyrecord.com
