Two people have applied for the remaining year on Kent Adams’ seat on the Warsaw School Board as of 8 a.m. today.
Adams submitted his resignation at the school board’s November meeting, which is effective at midnight Jan. 1. He has one year left on his term, and was elected to the school board in November 2008. He resigned to become clerk-treasurer for the town of Winona Lake.
Applications were due in to Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz’s office by noon today.
Candidates who have filed are Christie L. Gale, 2667 Harmony Court, Winona Lake, and Charles E. Sauders, 1798 S. Packerton Road, Warsaw.
Interviews for qualified candidates for District 4 are scheduled for 5 p.m. Jan. 3. The interviews are open to the public.
The school board will appoint someone to Adams’ District 4 position at 6 p.m. Jan. 5.
According to her application, Gale currently is “staying at home with my three children, who are ages 6, 4 and 2.” She is a licensed attorney in Ohio and Illinois, and practiced transactional real estate from 1999 to 2009.
She received her bachelor’s degree in 1996 from Bowling Green State University, and her juris doctorate in 1999 from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Under community organizations she has served, Gale wrote Jefferson Elementary School PTO.
As part of the application, each candidate is asked to answer three questions.
When asked why she is interested in serving as a member of the Warsaw School Board, Gale wrote, in part, “I believe an important role of parenthood is instilling an appreciation of education in my children. For me, this means giving my time, capitalizing on available resources and establishing a routine for learning. School board membership is an ideal way for me to incorporate my professional abilities toward my goal of educating children and planning for their current and future development.”
Asked to describe the leadership experience specific skills that she would bring to the board, Gale wrote, in part, “As an attorney I was trained to work zealously on behalf of my clients, which required commitment and due diligence. I was lead attorney on several condominium and commercial projects in the city of Chicago. Each project required me to conduct due diligence, organize, communicate, delegate, problem solve and work diligently on meeting all the affected parties’ needs. Commitment to the process was vital to be well informed, communicative and facilitate problem solving.”
The third question was, “What do you envision for the future of the school corporation.”
Gale replied, “I envision a community in which students are continuously learning and progressing toward their goals; and a community in which the students play a large role collaborating with a guidance teacher or professional to make their dreams a reality, including through the creation of a portfolio that can be submitted to any type of higher education or occupation upon graduation of any student, that is inclusive of their goals, education, services, athletics and arts.
“I envision a community that commits to making appropriate revisions to and maintaining the Strategic Plan, as well as technology advancement. I also envision a curriculum in which foreign language classes are available for elementary and middle schools.”
Sauders previously held the District 4 school board seat until he was beaten in the 2008 election by Adams.
Sauders is a retired school teacher with 36 years of public school teaching experience. He taught for 34 years with Fairfield Community Schools, and for two years was the principal at Silver Lake Elementary School.
His two daughters graduated from Warsaw Community High School, and his grandchildren now attend Warsaw schools.
Sauders served on the school board for 15 years, and served on “many committees that included the search for a new superintendent (two times), searches for building sites for the new schools and I worked with Mr. Robinson and Mr. Yeiter and the architect for the design of the new schools,” he wrote.
Since Sauders’ retirement, he has taught at Ball State and Grace College, and is presently teaching at Ivy Tech.
Sauders received his bachelor’s degree from Grace College, his master’s degree from Saint Francis University and did further graduate work for his principal’s license at Ball State.
Under roles in community organizations where he served, Sauders listed the Warsaw School Board for 15 years, Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church member and 18 years as owner and operator of Sauders’ Nursery & Landscaping, Warsaw.
He said he is interested in serving as a school board member because “... I know that there are many young people, like I was, who could achieve in both public school and college if challenged by caring teachers. I can bring a different perspective to the board.”
As for leadership experience and specific skills he brings to the board, Sauders said he has won several awards as an “outstanding teacher” and “teacher of the year” and can often give the board the teachers’ viewpoint and often the students’ viewpoint.
“I know what inclusion, IEPs and state standards mean in the classroom,” Sauders wrote.
He was active in contract negotiations for 20 years as a teacher and building representative at Fairfield, and served on the Warsaw School Board for 15 years.
“Warsaw Community Schools is one of the best school corporations in the state, in my opinion,” Sauders wrote for what he envisions for the future of the school corporation. “We have many outstanding teachers, administrations and programs. By staying on the cutting edge and doing what’s best for the students, we can lead our students to the best opportunities available.”
