Community members write in support of Hough, Smart for Springfield school board
I am, therefore, proud to support Gail Smart for Springfield school board.
Gail has dedicated herself to service, education, and uniting people to improve our community.
Her work with organizations, including the Springfield Public Schools Foundation and Every Child Promise, has demonstrated her deep commitment to ensuring that students are given every opportunity to succeed and that teachers have the resources they need.
Our schools must be safe places of learning, free from political division and distractions. Gail understands that parents should have a voice in their children's education; teachers should feel empowered to do their jobs; and all students should have the chance to reach their God-given potential.
Good stewardship and accountability matter, and Gail will ensure that taxpayer dollars are used directly to benefit students and classrooms. She will bring transparency, fairness, and steady leadership to the board — qualities that meet the needs of today.
On April 8, I encourage you to vote for Gail Smart for school board. Springfield needs leaders who will put students first. I am confident that Gail will do so. She will serve with wisdom, fairness, and a heart for this community.
Rev. Kenneth L. Chumbley
United Springfield's mission is to endorse our local Springfield Public Schools board candidates who will serve with skill and commitment to support our students, their families, and our educators with excellence and care. Our children really are our future, and they deserve the strongest support to achieve their highest potential.
As the largest and most complex school district in Missouri, we need a school board with a clear focus on our students, teachers, the administration and staff along with the needed resources and facilities that ensure a strong and healthy school system.
Sarah Hough and Gail Smart are two candidates with a passion for our students, families, educators, staff and all that is needed to have a thriving SPS. They have personal experience as SPS parents, PTA leaders, volunteers, advocates, and fundraisers. Equally important, Sarah and Gail have a demonstrated history of supporting the continued development of SPS. They have a clear focus on serving all students, families, and educators to nurture student success and a thriving community. In addition, they bring a wealth of professional, legal, and community experience with large, complex organizations. They each demonstrate a clear understanding of the critical role of a board member and the ability to collaborate and track progress. And an added benefit is their experience advocating for our schools at the state level.
United Springfield encourages eligible voters to join us in voting for Sarah Hough and Gail Smart for our SPS board.
United Springfield steering committee includes co-chairs Jim Anderson and Terri McQueary along with Alexis Childs, Orin Cummings, Steve Edwards, Emily Givens, Jay Guffey, Jeff Johnson, Mark Powell, David Ross, Debbie Shantz-Hart, Carol Taylor, and Claire Whitlock.
For years, I've had the privilege of being the voice of the Missouri State Bears, calling the plays and sharing the excitement of college athletics with our community. I've always believed in the power of teamwork, preparation, and leadership — qualities that make a winning team both on the field and in life.
That's why I'm supporting Gail Smart for Springfield School Board. While I've been the voice of the Bears, I know Gail will be the voice for our students, teachers, and parents.
Gail understands that education is about opportunity, preparation, and putting people in a position to succeed — just like in sports. She will work to ensure that our students have every resource they need to thrive, our teachers are supported, and our tax dollars are spent wisely. Gail is committed to keeping politics out of the classroom and focusing on the real issues: student success, school safety, and fiscal responsibility.
Springfield Public Schools need strong, thoughtful leadership, and I have no doubt that Gail Smart will be a tireless advocate for our kids and community. Just like a coach leads their team with purpose and vision, Gail will lead with integrity and a deep commitment to our schools.
I encourage you to join me in voting for Gail Smart for School Board on April 8 — because strong schools make for a stronger Springfield.
Art Hains, Springfield
As former Springfield school board members, we have seen firsthand the responsibilities and challenges that come with governing our district. Board decisions directly impact students, teachers, parents, and the entire community. That's why this election is so important — and why we strongly support Sarah Hough and Gail Smart for Springfield Public Schools.
We are steadfast in support of Hough and Smart and here is why:
We are confident these individuals have the best interest of students and teachers in our school district as their number one priority.
These two candidates believe every child deserves to feel safe in their school, and every parent deserves to have a voice in their child's education.
These two candidates are endorsed by SPS teachers and will listen to teachers' input, as teachers have expertise in managing a classroom so that it is a safe environment for learning.
We believe Hough and Smart understand the role of an SPS board member is to stay focused on governing the district and working collectively to improve student learning.
These two candidates did not seek the political endorsement of either political party, rather they chose to follow the state law which states school boards are to be nonpartisan.
We support Hough and Smart because they are each committed to ethical leadership and honest and respectful discourse with other board members, staff and citizens about the issues that come before the board.
As former SPS board members, we all believe a strong public education system is the backbone of a society — of OUR society in Springfield, Missouri. We are proud to have served on the SPS board with others who focused on supporting the district so students are safe, can learn and thrive. Please join us in voting for Sarah Hough and Gail Smart on Tuesday, April 8.
Annie Busch, Kris Callen, Dr. Denise Fredrick, Gerry Lee, Dr. Alina Lehnert, Jill Patterson, Bruce Renner, Tim Rosenbury, Dr. Charles Taylor and Jean Twitty are former members of the Springfield Board of Education.
As a retired Springfield Public School teacher and principal, I lived the challenges facing Springfield Public Schools. Every day, teachers walk into classrooms dedicated to preparing students for the future, working to inspire, encourage, and equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
That's why I am proud to support Sarah Hough for Springfield school board.
It was not surprising Sarah was endorsed by our SPS teachers. Sarah understands the importance of supporting teachers, prioritizing student learning, and ensuring that classrooms remain focused on educating our students. She has spent years working alongside educators, parents, and community leaders to strengthen our community and ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.
We need school board members who will listen to perspectives of teachers, students and parents, advocate for thoughtful policies that enhance learning, and ensure that resources are directed where they are needed most — in the classroom. Sarah is a collaborator and holds a solution-oriented mindset. She is committed to making sure that teachers have the tools, funding, and respect they deserve to do their jobs effectively and has the experience and leadership skills to ensure that tax dollars are used efficiently to benefit students, educators, and families.
As a retired educator, I care deeply about the future of Springfield Public Schools. That's why I'm encouraging you to vote for Sarah Hough on April 8.
Janell Bagwell, Marshfield
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Community members endorse Hough, Smart in SPS board election | Opinion
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
12 hours ago
- USA Today
Democrats try to force nuns to pay for abortions. Sounds authoritarian to me.
Blue states like California and Pennsylvania refuse to leave the Little Sisters of the Poor alone – and couldn't care less about their religious beliefs. The Little Sisters of the Poor are back in the news. In case you've forgotten who they are and why they matter, let's briefly review what they're all about. According to the group's website, the Little Sisters' mission is to ensure that "the elderly and dying are cared for with love and dignity until God calls them home.' The Little Sisters work in 31 countries and began work in America in 1868. Today, the nuns operate about 20 homes in the United States. It's a lovely mission and one that they should be allowed to do in peace, free from interference from the government. No such luck, however. Blue states like California and Pennsylvania refuse to leave the Little Sisters alone and couldn't care less about their religious beliefs. Since the Obama administration's Affordable Care Act birth control mandate that required employers to provide contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs in their health insurance plans, the Little Sisters have been locked in a legal battle for the past 14 years. Despite clear wins for the nuns and religious liberty at the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016 and 2020, Democrats continue to persecute the Little Sisters. Will they ever stop? Will the Little Sisters have to make a third trip to the Supreme Court? That's 'absurd.' A federal district court in Philadelphia has revived the vindictive fight, siding with Pennsylvania and New Jersey against a 2017 Trump administration religious conscience rule, which offered the nuns and other religious groups protection from the mandate. Now, these states want the Little Sisters to offer contraception and abortion drugs or face millions of dollars in fines. 'The district court blessed an out-of-control effort by Pennsylvania and New Jersey to attack the Little Sisters and religious liberty,' Mark Rienzi, president of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and lead attorney for the Little Sisters, said in a statement. 'It is absurd to think the Little Sisters might need yet another trip to the Supreme Court to end what has now been more than a dozen years of litigation over the same issue.' The Little Sisters will appeal this decision, but it truly is ridiculous that they must waste time fighting the government in this way, when all they want to do is serve people in need. And lest you think it's odd to be talking about nuns and contraception, the Little Sisters employ lay people who work as nurses, cooks and serve other roles in the group's homes for the elderly. The nuns don't want to be complicit in providing services that directly violate their deep belief in the sanctity of life, which guides their work. They shouldn't have to. There are other ways the government could provide contraceptives to these employees without pushing the nuns to do it. Progressives claim Trump is an authoritarian. They should look at themselves. For all the times we've been scolded about how Trump and his supporters are fascists and Nazis, progressives ought to take a hard look at themselves first. Democrats have decided their views on culture are the only ones that should matter, religious liberty be damned. Look at how liberal governments have gone after Catholic adoption agencies, Christian bakers, website designers and farmers and tried to force them to betray their faith just to participate in the public square. These are often yearslong court battles, much like the Little Sisters have undertaken. Thankfully, we have a strong First Amendment that protects our speech and religious freedom. And the Supreme Court keeps ruling on the side of protecting these essential liberties, which are promised in our Constitution. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, in writing the majority for the 2020 case, observed that the Little Sisters 'have had to fight for the ability to continue in their noble work without violating their sincerely held religious beliefs.' Five years later, the fight continues. It's time for Democrats to leave these nuns alone. Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@ or on X: @Ingrid_Jacques
Axios
2 days ago
- Axios
Religious rights scholar in running for UT Liberal Arts deanship
Among the finalists for the deanship of the College of Liberal Arts (COLA) at the University of Texas is a religious rights scholar who's worked at the university's new conservative-minded institute, Axios has learned. Why it matters: The appointment could set the trajectory of one of the university's most prominent divisions. Zoom in: Vincent Phillip Muñoz, a non-resident fellow at UT's Civitas Institute (formerly known as the Liberty Institute), is one of the five finalists for the COLA job, according to UT faculty members familiar with the job selection process. They asked for anonymity because they're not authorized to discuss personnel issues. Muñoz is also a professor at the University of Notre Dame and specializes in how the constitutional framers regarded religious liberty. He is the founding director of the Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government at the University of Notre Dame — which receives money from foundations and families interested in promoting free enterprise and individual liberty, including the Charles Koch Foundation and the Menard family. "Through cultivating research and teaching excellence on constitutionalism and Catholicism," Muñoz said at the center's 2021 launch, "we will equip and empower a new generation to secure our God-given natural rights and liberties, exercise responsible self-government, and pursue the common good." Muñoz did not respond to an Axios interview request. Axios requested the names of the finalists under the Texas Public Information Act, but the university declined to provide them, citing the ongoing search. By the numbers: COLA has nearly 800 faculty members spanning 25 departments, over 600 staff members, and more than 10,000 students. Two of the other candidates have served as chairs of university departments — including one at UT — and two have served as deans. What's next: A new dean could be named soon, now that the university has named William Inboden as its new provost. Inboden did not respond to an Axios interview request about the deanship posting. Inboden could opt to name a dean outside the list of finalists. Meanwhile, the UT System Board of Regents this week is likely to name interim UT President Jim Davis, who previously worked as a deputy to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, to that position permanently. The big picture: Amid pressure on universities from the Trump administration over concerns of a woke agenda, conservative scholarship has been in ascendance at the University of Texas. This spring, the Regents — appointees of Gov. Greg Abbott — announced they were investing $100 million to renovate an old biology building as the permanent home of the recently launched School of Civic Leadership. The school houses the Civitas Institute, championed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as a way to bring "intellectual diversity" and teaching on limited government and free markets to campus.
NBC News
5 days ago
- NBC News
Taliban leader warns God will severely punish Afghans ungrateful for Islamic rule
The Taliban leader warned God would severely punish Afghans who are ungrateful for Islamic rule in the country, according to a statement released Friday marking the fourth anniversary of the militant group's return to power. The Taliban seized Afghanistan on Aug. 15, 2021, as the U.S. and NATO withdrew their forces at the end of a two-decade war. Since then, they have imposed their interpretation of Islamic law on daily life, including sweeping restrictions on women and girls, based on edicts from their leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. Akhundzada, who is seldom seen in public, said in a statement that Afghans had endured hardships and made sacrifices for almost 50 years so that Islamic law, or Sharia, could be established. Sharia had saved people from "corruption, oppression, usurpation, drugs, theft, robbery, and plunder." His statement was shared on the social platform X by the Taliban's chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid. "These are great divine blessings that our people should not forget and, during the commemoration of Victory Day (Aug. 15), express great gratitude to Allah Almighty so that the blessings will increase," said . "If, against God's will, we fail to express gratitude for blessings and are ungrateful for them, we will be subjected to the severe punishment of Allah Almighty." He also instructed the Cabinet and ministers to drop the word "acting" from their job titles, signifying the permanence of a Taliban administration in Afghanistan and the lack of challengers to their rule. On Wednesday, at a Cabinet meeting in Kandahar, Akhundzada said the stability of the Taliban government lay in the acquisition of religious knowledge. He urged the promotion of religious awareness, the discouragement of immoral conduct, the protection of citizens from harmful ideologies, and the instruction of Afghans in matters of faith and creed, according to a statement from another government spokesman, Hamdullah Fitrat. Akhundzada ordered the Kabul Municipality to build more mosques, and there was a general focus on identifying means to "further consolidate and fortify" the Islamic government, said Fitrat. Flower showers outside, women protest inside The country is gripped by a humanitarian crisis made worse by climate change, millions of Afghans expelled from Iran and Pakistan, and a sharp drop in donor funding. This year's anniversary celebrations are more muted than last year's, when the Taliban staged a military parade at a U.S. airbase. Officials have planned aerial floral showers and a sports display in the capital, Kabul. Cabinet members gave speeches earlier Friday listing the administration's achievements and highlighting diplomatic progress. Rights groups, foreign governments, and the U.N. have condemned the Taliban for their treatment of women and girls, who remain barred from education beyond sixth grade, many jobs, and most public spaces. Some venues for the official anniversary celebrations are off-limits to females because they are forbidden from entering parks and other recreational areas. Members of the United Afghan Women's Movement for Freedom staged an indoor protest on Friday in northeast Takhar province against Taliban rule. "This day marked the beginning of a black domination that excluded women from work, education, and social life," the movement said in a statement shared with The Associated Press. "We, the protesting women, remember this day not as a memory, but as an open wound of history, a wound that has not yet healed. The fall of Afghanistan was not the fall of our will. We stand, even in the darkness." There was also an indoor protest in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. Afghan women held up signs that said "Forgiving the Taliban is an act of enmity against humanity" and "August 15th is a dark day." The women were fully veiled, except for their eyes, in the photographs.
