Two incumbents and one new candidate entered the race Tuesday for a three-year spot on the Jefferson City School Board of Education, and one incumbent filed for a second term on the Blair Oaks R-2 Board of Education.
Lori Massman
Incumbent Vice President Lori Massman filed for a second term as a board member. Massman said her passion for children and interest in community partnerships are important.
"Anyone who knows me knows that I am very passionate about kids," Massman said.
"I'm very proud of the connection that I have with the district and our not-for-profit community partnerships."
The district has partnerships with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jefferson City and ABLE Learning Center - a volunteer program that brings community members into sixth-grade classrooms for one-on-one reading, she said.
Massman is the community development manager for Scholastic in Jefferson City and a parent of one JC Schools student.
Over the years, the district has made strides in improving reading levels and test scores, but there is room for improvement, she said.
Other goals for Massman include addressing student's behavior and mental health.
Additionally, she hopes to focus more on teachers.
"It's important that we figure out a way to really show our teachers that they're valued in our district and in our community," Massman said.
Scott Hovis
Incumbent board Treasurer Scott Hovis filed for a second three-year term. After working with the school board, Hovis wants to continue moving the district forward.
"In the last three years, I felt like we've made some good strides as a district," he said. "However there are more things that I would like to see us do and improve on."
As a Jefferson City resident, JC Schools alum and parent of two JC Schools students, he is passionate about the district's future.
If re-elected to the board, Hovis' goals include working to lower discipline referrals, creating a focus on student's mental health, and increasing reading and APR scores.
"I think that it's very important to get a grasp on how mental health affects our students," he said. "In my mind, the discipline and grades and mental health all go hand in hand."
Hovis is the executive director of the Missouri Golf Association in Jefferson City. He will bring his background knowledge of recent years and what he knows about the district's past. His parents were JC Schools teachers for 30 years.
"I think I bring a knowledge of the district," Hovis said. "Of what it has been and what has worked before and what could be working even better moving forward."
"I'm very passionate and I care deeply about the community," he said. "I want this district to get to be a premier district in the state. I'll do everything I can to help us."
Brad Bates
Jefferson City resident Brad Bates filed for a seat on the board. Bates announced last month he is intrigued by the work that remains to be done.
"I think it's an opportune time; the school district seems to be pointed in the right direction," he said.
Bates is a JC Schools alum with two children in the district.
He has been involved with major district initiatives on quality and improvement since the early 2000s, including chairing the 2007 school bond campaign, adding all-day kindergarten and construction of Pioneer Trail Elementary School, he previously said.
If elected, his goal would be to focus on academics and discipline. Academics are the main reason students come to school, and without discipline, there is no academic gain, Bates said.
Bates is the executive director of MBWA in Jefferson City. He also serves as a Jefferson City Parks and Recreation commissioner.
Doug Moeller
Incumbent Doug Moeller filed for a second term Tuesday on the Blair Oaks R-2 Board of Education.
He is excited about the district's growth and hopes to see current projects through such as building the second Blair Oaks High School.
"I think it's exciting times," Moeller said. "The community is really a nice community to work with."
Moeller is a farm assistant on Carver Farm for Lincoln University in Jefferson City.
His goal for the board is to remain consistent, he said.
"There really isn't anything that needs to be changed," Moeller said.
He enjoys being a member of the community and cares about the student's education.
Moeller has no students in the Blair Oaks district.