Name: Joyce Sweeney
Age: 55
Occupation: Executive director of Council for Drug Free Youth
Hometown: Jefferson City
Why run? "I believe that education is the pillar of our community and want to do everything in my power to ensure that excellent educational opportunities exist for all children."
First elected in 2009, Sweeney is the only incumbent trying to retain her seat on the board.
With an election scheduled for April 7, five candidates are vying for two open seats on the Jefferson City Board of Education. In order of their ballot appearance, they are: Pam Murray, Sweeney, Michael Couty, Dan Renfrow and Adrian Hendricks.
Since the majority of JCPS employees are women, Sweeney believes it's important to retain at least one female perspective on the board.
"We need a female candidate," she said. "And we need someone with experience on the school board, to help support the new superintendent in his endeavors."
Sweeney said it's also important to retain as much experience as possible on the board. She noted three of her fellow board members have four or fewer years of experience.
Sweeney noted the current board has embraced the Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Program - a federal initiative that started as a way to help manufacturers improve the quality of their products - to improve the district's culture and climate.
"I feel that is vital to moving the district forward in a positive way," Sweeney said.
She feels being able to offer a quality education is a cornerstone to a community's well-being. Good schools not only attract new people to Jefferson City, they are also vital for ensuring the city's long-term economic success.
Sweeney was a stay-at-home mother while her children were growing up, and three of her four children are Jefferson City graduates. All of them have pursued advanced degrees from prestigious universities and careers in fields like law and engineering. She noted those successes were due in part to the dedication of teachers at Jefferson City High School who prepare their students well.
She currently serves as executive director of the Jefferson City Council for Drug-Free Youth. But she is also involved in several other community organizations, serving as a member of Downtown Rotary, as secretary for the Council of Clubs and as a newly appointed board member for the Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association.
"Everything I'm doing is to support and improve the lives of the children in our community," she said.