New JC Schools Board candidate Tapiwa "Felix" Madondo's top priorities include teacher recruitment and retention, supporting teachers, and opening the channels of communication at all levels.
Madondo, a general services coordinator for the Missouri Lottery Commission under the Department of Revenue, said he wants to consider taking a different approach to recruiting new teachers. That may mean recruiting at more places or recruiting students earlier, when they are more likely to be undecided about their career path. He said that also means selling Jefferson City as a great place to live and advertising its benefits, such as a local university where teachers can further their education if they desire.
Madondo said it's also important the district supply teachers with the resources, support and training they need to accomplish district goals. That requires communication with the teachers to see what they need.
He'd also like to see increased communication between students, teachers, administrators, the board and parents.
"I would have an open door policy. If you have an idea, if you have a concern, let's talk about it," he said.
Madondo, whose wife is a teacher in the district, has occasionally visited his wife's classroom or had lunch with his daughter and chatted with students.
"You'd be surprised some of the things that you hear," he said.
Sometimes people make assumptions about what students think, Madondo said, when they could just ask a student.
Madondo also suggested a partnership between the district and state government to help students get training or internships in positions that may not require a college degree.
Madondo said his people skills and strength at forging connections qualify him for school board. He said he has the ability to talk with and listen to people to get their ideas and come up with solutions, and his career has given him opportunities to work across departments.