Jackie Pritchett
Pritchett and her husband Ken are longtime members of the Fulton community, having raised their family here and sent their two children to Fulton Public Schools. Pritchett has previously been involved in the Fulton School District as secretary at Bartley Elementary for 14 years. Pritchett asks for your vote on April 3 to be a voice and an advocate for you and our incredible students and teachers.
Q) What do you think is the biggest issue you need to solve and how would you solve it?
A: "I intend to be a strong advocate for the provision and advocacy of mental health services for our students. As clinic coordinator at Westminster College, I have seen firsthand the impact access to mental health services has had on the ability of Westminster students to reach their full potential and weather difficult times. I recognize the need and impact are the same for younger children.
"I have a passion for advocating for school safety and upgrading our facilities which may, at times, benefit one another. I am also keen to address concerns regarding teacher turnover and remaining competitive with teacher salaries in order to keep the best educators here in Fulton with our students. Many of the aforementioned issues may be assisted by support for increasing the tax levy to provide the best, safest and most advantageous educational experience for our students."
Q) What makes you qualified for the position?
A: "It has been my desire over the past years to find a way to serve the community and school that has been so important to my family. That desire has led to discernment that one of the best ways to serve the school and the community is to be an advocate and a voice on the school board.
"To prepare for this opportunity I have spent the past several months speaking with community members and school officials about the challenges and opportunities in our community. It is my most sincere desire to serve the community and make decisions based on the needs of all students."
Q) What do you hope to achieve while in this position if you win?
A: "I want to be a part of the good things that are already happening within our district. Helping to shape and define the future of our students is my greatest hope. 'Doing what is best for kids' is my motto and I will apply this to every decision I would make as a board member."
Kristi Donohue (incumbent)
Donohue and her husband have lived in Fulton area for about 19 years. They have two students in Fulton Public Schools. The oldest is a senior this year and the youngest in eighth grade. Donohue love spending time with her family and friends and working to make Fulton Public Schools a better place for all of its students.
Q) What do you think is the biggest issue you need to solve and how would you solve it?
A: "We currently have several big issues, so it is hard to narrow down to one. I will say mental health is at the top of the list. We must educate ourselves, teachers, administrators and students."
Q) What makes you qualified for the position?
A: "I am willing to listen to the issues that we face and keep an open mind when coming to a solution that is best for our students."
Q) What do you hope to achieve while in this position if you win?
A: "I hope to keep our district moving forward and continuing to increase our graduation numbers. I also want to increase pay for our teachers and staff."
Leah Williamson Baker
Baker was born and raised in Fulton, where she attended Fulton Public Schools. She then attended William Woods University, obtaining a bachelors in social work and then received a masters in social work and a law degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia. She is married to Rhad Baker; and they have two children currently in elementary school in the district.
Q) What do you think is the biggest issue you need to solve and how would you solve it?
A: "Each school's administrators tell me mental health is an overriding concern. Mental health was also one of the top issues that the Citizen's Advisory Committee believes that the district needs to address. Principals are being asked to do more than they ever have and are dealing with students' complex issues. I think the next step would be getting social workers into the schools. A social worker would be able to provide additional support to students and their families and help hook them up with additional resources in the community. They would be able to free up time for the principals and teachers to focus on other areas, such as curriculum. However, additional positions require funding, which is why the levy that will be on the ballot this fall is so crucial."
Q) What makes you qualified for the position?
A: "I feel like my education and prior experience has prepared me to serve in this position. I hold degrees in social work and have worked previously in the mental health and social services fields. As an attorney, I primarily practiced criminal law but also have experience with employment/labor law. I have experience working with a vast range of individuals and I think I am an approachable person. Being an attorney requires a lot of research, not unlike being a school board member, where there is a lot to learn and understand. As a attorney, you also have to be a critical thinker and be able to ask the sometimes hard questions, which I am willing to do."
Q) What do you hope to achieve in this position if you win?
A: "I would like to get social workers into the school to support our most vulnerable students and our principals and teachers who are dealing with those issues in addition to their other duties. I would hope to address buildings' infrastructure and upgrade issues. Teacher pay is always an issue and I would like to see our district more competitive in that area. I would like to see more consistency in rules and implementation of policies, especially in the three elementary schools."