Tell a little bit about yourself (current work, education, experience, background).

I am Cheryl Owen. I grew up in Italy, attended our schools, and graduated from Italy High School.  I attended Baylor University on a grant for economically disadvantaged students. I worked part time and turned my check over to the university each month to help pay my way. I was able to go to Baylor because of our wonderful school counselor, Lorene Kirkpatrick. No one in my family had gone to college, so I did not have a clue about how to even fill out an application for college. She believed in me. She walked me through the whole process and was very instrumental in my obtaining my Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in 3 ½ years. I have been married to Robert Owen for 40 years this summer. We have three children and six grandchildren. I taught for 26 years and retired from Italy ISD.

What ties do you have to the Italy school district (i.e. children enrolled, family employed, former student)?

My husband and our three children also received their primary and secondary educations from Italy ISD. I began my teaching career in Italy with a self-contained classroom of 39 students. I worked for 4 years before having my first child. I stayed home with my children for 6 years. After our youngest children, twins, started school, I went back to teaching. I worked at Midlothian ISD until a position became available to return home. I have been blessed to teach 3 generations of the same families in this community. I retired from Italy ISD in 2004. My oldest granddaughter will be in third grade at Stafford Elementary next fall while her younger sister will begin Kindergarten. That will be our 3rd generation of Italy Gladiators! I hope there will be more.

Why are you seeking a seat on the school board?

One of my fellow board members said that I should seek re-election because the board needs the stability. I totally agree with that. Some of our problems in our district have been due to instability. There has been a big turnover in our district. I feel that the new administration has a vision that has addressed our weaknesses in our district and continues to work toward making Italy ISD what it once was for the kids. I want to be there to support them and see these changes through.

What qualifications or experience do you possess that voters should consider?

My years of experience in education and my service of 6 years on the board enable me to understand the many points of view of the issues raised in our school system. I was so busy in the classroom as a teacher, I did not even begin to grasp what it takes to run a school district. I never thought about it because good people were on the board taking care of everything. I firmly believe that you hire good people and let them run it. I work well with the new administration and the other board members. I feel that I have tried very hard to make us cohesive, transparent, and good decision makers. I am cool headed, a good listener, and an activist on issues that need to be resolved.

What do you consider your primary responsibility as a school board member?

My primary responsibility as a school board member is to oversee the hiring of a good superintendent and to set goals and objectives which are governed by the policies we set. I also think that it is extremely important for the board to be responsive to the community.

What do you consider the most important issue facing our school district today?

No doubt the reduced funding from the state during this last legislative session has caused major problems for school districts. We had to make some tough decisions about freezing salaries, doing away with some positions, and making cutbacks every place possible until we knew the amount of funds our district  would receive. Classes were combined in the lower grades to comply with the 1 to 22 ratio which is the limit by the state. We had been fortunate to be able to have much smaller classes for many years. These are obviously some tough changes during some tough times. Hopefully, some of these can be reversed because the board was so cautious planning. Another major issue is the required testing by the state of Texas. I fear we are making our kids test takers and not thinkers. Yes, I do voice my concerns to our legislators and educators about this and will continue to do so.

What do you consider the most positive and negative aspect of being a member of the school board?

The most positive aspect of being on the school board is the ability to make things better for the children and to see them succeed. The most negative aspect is not being able to change everything or please everyone.

What do you think should be the top priorities of the school board after this election?

I think the top priority of the school board should be to support our administration and allow them to do their jobs. We should tend to the things that we are responsible for and give the administration the tools to do theirs.

Are there any policy changes you would seek to implement at the school district? If yes, which ones?

The Texas Association of School Boards sent a representative to look at our policies and update them. We had a workshop to discuss any needed changes. We made them. I feel that they are current and effective.

What community services have you given the school district or community in the past?

I have served on the Italy ISD Board of Trustees for the past 6 years. I am the secretary/treasurer for the Italy ISD George E. Scott Memorial Scholarship. I am in charge of collecting transcripts and distributing money to the recipients each semester. I also accept and acknowledge donations given to the fund. It is a lot of work, but it is a joy to watch these kids become college graduates. In the past I have been a member of the Representative Jim Pitts Teacher Advisory Committee. It was comprised of educators from Ellis County who advise Representative Pitts on issues concerning our schools.

Explain your position on hiring non-certified teachers.

I don’t think that this will be an issue because so many teachers are looking for jobs. Hiring certified teachers should be a top priority. If non-certified teachers were hired for some reason, they should be closely monitored and mentored while working toward the proper certification.

How would you maintain a healthy balance between education and athletics?

I believe academics should always come first. In the hiring of qualified teachers and coaches, the academics and athletics should instill teamwork, discipline and good work ethic, which is also necessary in the classroom. Good coaches are good teachers first and will insist that their athletes succeed in the classroom as well as on the field.

Title IX laws pertain to all state funded districts. How do you feel the Italy ISD performs in this area?

Title IX laws are in place to see that girls and boys are treating equally. All aspects are being carefully scrutinized right now to make sure that this is being followed to the law. The district is doing its best to change anything that might not be exact.

Because discipline is a nationwide problem, what ideas or changes would you like to see to continue to improve school discipline?

I see parents, teachers, and administrators working together to implement an effective model of discipline.  Parental involvement and strong leadership are the keys.

With the current state funding crisis, what ideas do you have to keep the budget trim?

I think everything is being done to keep the budget as trim as possible. We, the board, have been in awe at the way everyone has rallied without complaint to see that money was saved.

What positive changes within the infrastructure of our schools might be made to retain and/or attract quality teachers to educate our children?

We need a competitive pay scale in order to hire and retain quality teachers. We did pay $3500 above base before the freeze on salaries  because of the reduced funding from the state. It will be to our district’s advantage if we can reinstate that. The teachers earn it and deserve as much as possible. A positive work environment that is supported by staff and administrators will keep quality teachers.

In what ways can the district’s school board be more open to listen to teachers and parents about their concerns?

I think that our board excels in the area of communication with teachers and parents. I personally listen and pass on concerns through the proper channels to the best of my ability.

What incentives, if any, do you think should be implemented to motivate students to improve their performance in the classroom?

I think that self-motivation is a very important character trait to instill in our students. Giving students a vision of their future is a powerful motivator. Our administration has several plans to see that our students are motivated to be the very best they can be.

I am seeking to continue my service on the school board in order to guide the evolution of our schools for the children of this community. The ability to serve gives me a sense of satisfaction in continuing my life’s passion of education. I would appreciate your vote.