GENTRY -- One school board seat is contested in the Gentry School District, with incumbent Coye Cripps challenged by Sheryl Braun for the at-large position Number 6. The post is for a five-year term.
In order to give voters more information on each candidate in the contested race before the Sept. 16 election, the Eagle Observer sent the following questions to each candidate by email, with the intent to publish the candidates' answers in the Sept. 10 issue.
Since both candidates have responded promptly, their answers are being published a week earlier, in this issue of the Eagle Observer;
The questions and answers follow in unedited form:
Dear Coye and Sheryl,
Since you are in the only contested school board race in the Gentry School District, I would like to ask you both a series of questions and ask you to limit your answers for each question to 50 words or less. Please email your responses back to me at [email protected] no later than Thursday, Sept. 4, so that I can run your answers in the Sept. 10 issue of the Eagle Observer. My intent is to run your answers as written without editing (even for spelling and grammar) except to not allow answers longer than 50 words.
Answers of Coye Cripps
1. Why are you running for a seat on the school board?
I have been on the board for a number of years and have always put the students' needs first. I have always had open ears for what the parents' concerns are and I like to think that over the years I have made some positive impact on your students' education.
2. What do you hope to accomplish if elected?
I would like to see our schools at the top of the list of the state standards test, along with overall higher ACT scores.
3. What experience or expertise do you bring to the position if elected?
I am well connected in the community, serving the community in several capacities such as a volunteer firefighter for 22 years, active supporter of the Gentry Booster Club, GYO baseball and basketball coach for 10 years each, competitive league basketball coach, and Gentry School Board member for the past 8 years.
4. What is your stake in the school district?
I am a graduate of Gentry and have had three daughters also graduate from Gentry. My stake is to continue to see the school and community grow and give students the best education possible.
5. What do you see as the greatest positive asset of the school district?
I believe we have some of the best assets in the State, our teachers. Children that see teachers that care and are excited about his or her job tend to excel in learning.
6. What do you see as the greatest need for improvement in the district?
As we will all have different ideas for improvement, I believe the need to upgrade our elementary campus is high on the list. Along with that is the need to continue to strive for excellence in state exams.
Answers of Sheryl Braun
1. Why are you running for a seat on the school board?
I have a passion for education and children and want to continue using my expertise and experiences for the betterment of all children in the Gentry School District, be a liaison for parents, students and the community, and provide an open ear and mind for administrators and staff.
2. What do you hope to accomplish if elected?
My hope is to collaborate with the board in making positive changes that will encourage more involvement from the community, make district information more available to patrons, raise district expectations for state testing, and encourage teacher input and ownership of what they feel is instructionally sound for children.
3. What experience or expertise do you bring to the position if elected?
I have 14 years of teaching experience, 16 years of administrative experience in education and thousands of hours of educational training. Positions held include principal, supervisor, assistant principal, director, team leader, teacher, and multiple committee memberships. My expectations are high and support for teachers and students unwavering.
4. What is your stake in the school district?
I am vested in the Gentry School District because my three grandchildren attend Gentry schools. I want only the best in educational learning for them and intend to support schools and stay involved to make sure they are challenged and acquire the education needed to succeed.
5. What do you see as the greatest positive asset of the school district?
I feel the greatest positive asset of the school district is the size. Families are a tight community and know each other's children and about their home lives. Siblings share teachers and the teacher becomes an integral part of the family.
6. What do you see as the greatest need for improvement in the district?
After attending monthly board meetings for the last school year, I feel that more transparency of school information needs to be shared. For interested community members information is often difficult to understand and hard to locate on the district website. More open communication is needed.
General News on 09/03/2014