Here's a look at the 15 Hoover School Board candidates
Here’s a look at the candidates for Hoover School Board opening; deadline for applications is Thursday March 26 at 5 p.m.
Thursday March 26 at 5 p.m., is the deadline for candidates to apply for the opening on the Hoover Board of Education. Seven individuals had applied as of Wednesday and three more applied this morning.
Applications must be brought in person to the Hoover City Clerk’s office. The Hoover City Council will interview applicants in a public meeting on Tuesday, April 6 at 2 p.m. in council chambers and is expected to vote during the City Council meeting on April 20. The person selected will replace current board president Donna Frazier, who is stepping down effective June.
Here is a look at the candidates who have applied so far:
1. RONALD F. BRADSTREET
About the candidate: Bradstreet lives on Southview Drive in Hoover and has no children in city schools. Bradstreet is a retired Army major who entered the military at age 21 in 1967 and served two tours of duty in Vietnam before being honorably discharged in 1971. He taught JROTC at Ramsay High School in Birmingham for 14 years before retiring in 2014. Bradstreet is a substitute teacher in Hoover city schools.
Bradstreet says effective communication channels and feedback are the keys to success in Hoover public schools. Channels of communication he stresses include town hall meetings, focus groups, the school system website, email, social media and post-board meetings.
Quote: “The school board must have a collaborative relationship with staff and the community, and establish a strong communication structure to inform and engage all stakeholders involved with the school system.”
2. SEAN GREHALVA
About the candidate: Grehalva, of Regal Circle, has lived in Hoover for six years, and is employed as an auto services support specialist at Regions Bank on Parkway Office Circle. He has a son who will soon be old enough to attend Hoover City Schools, and says a desire to play an active role in helping the city continue to provide high-quality education sparked him to seek the position.
Quote: "I have a vested interest in making sure that he attends the best schools possible, as there is no greater influence on success than a quality education. "Hoover should be a model city for our state and should be ranked with national prominence. To achieve this goal, a neutral and unbiased view is essential."
3. SCARLETT NAFTEL
About the candidate: Naftel, who has lived in Hoover nearly nine years, lives on Napier Drive and has a 7 year-old child at Green Valley Elementary School. She is a former program manager at UAB who became a stay-at-home mother in September 2007 after having her child.
Naftel says the most critical issues facing Hoover city schools are busing, mandatory breakfasts for all students, large student population in both city high schools, maintaining the budget.
Quote: The most important responsibilities of a school board member are “to represent the people of the community, listen to their concerns, make sure their voices are heard, maintain the quality and integrity of our system.”
4. CURT POSEY
About the Candidate: Posey has a 7-year-old child at Bluff Park Elementary and says he was inspired in part to run after the city was divided over a controversial rezoning plan “that landed us on the 5 o’clock news.”
The plan sparked creation of the Bluff Park United group, and led the Hoover school board to drop the rezoning plan. Posey is currently a supervisor and audio visual engineer at Children's of Alabama.
Quote: A Hoover native, Posey remembers his father telling him how creation of the Hoover School system when he was in the fifth grade “was going to make a difference in the quality of education that I would receive.”
“I believe the most critical issues facing Hoover City Schools in the coming years are funding, higher-ed preparedness and public relation.”
5. DENNIS QUIRK
About the candidate:
Quirk lives on Ross Avenue and has lived in Hoover for two and a half years. He has three children in Hoover City Schools, two 6-year-olds at Deer Valley Elementary School a 11-year-old at Brocks Gap Elementary. He also has a 36 year old child. Quirk graduated in 1977 from Carnegie-Mellon University. He is a board member of the Hoover Softball Association and a library volunteer at Deer Valley. He was formerly employed by the United States Steel Corporation and is currently retired.
Quote: “I believe that the school board must be transparent in everything. The school board must be proactive in reaching out for public views and issues. I would like the school board to be out in the schools, in all areas of Hoover and at any opportunities to partner with the community or business leaders to build relationships.”
6. STEPHANIE B. TURNER
About the candidate: Turner lives on Park Avenue and has lived in Hoover for three years. She has four children in Hoover City Schools. One attends Hoover High School, one attends Simmons Middle School and two attend Bluff Park Elementary.
Turner graduated from UAB in 1995 with a degree in nursing. She is currently an assistant professor at the University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing.
Turner, who has spent 13 years teaching in the community college and university level, says she is running to serve her community and to have a voice in helping the city provide a top-quality education system.
Quote: “I think the school system and the home should share in the responsibility of learning. The Chromebook and iPad initiatives have been a great addition. My vision would be to continue to build strong family-school relationships with the community through the use of technology. This includes reaching out to families who struggle with poverty and other issues that may affect the education of their children.”
7. JILL GANUS VEITCH
Abut the candidate: Ganus Veitch is a former Jefferson County Judge who is now an assistant district attorney in Tuscaloosa County. Her husband, Bill Veitch, served 10 years on the Hoover Board of Education from 2002 to 2012. He opted not to seek a third 5-year term in 2012.
In her application, Ganus Veitch cited her career as a child advocate as making her the best candidate as a school board member. She served seven years on the Bessemer Domestic Violence Task Force and is currently on the Tuscaloosa Domestic Violence Task Force. She also served on the YMCA Hoover board of directors over the past five years.
Quote: “I have been trained, made numerous presentations and work daily in order to assist children that may be victims of cyber bullying, sexual harassment, sexual assault, physical abuse, emotional abuse and especially in this technology-driven world.”
8. WALTER COLLIER
About the candidate: Collier is a Key Accounts Manager at Shell Oil Company. He lives on Creekside Loop and has been a resident of Hoover for nine years. Collier has an 11-year-old who attends Brock's Gap Elementary and a 5-year-old who will attend Trace Crossings in the fall.
Collier attended Jacksonville State University and previously worked with Philip Morris USA as a TSM/Sales Development Associate. He has also been an active member on the YMCA Hoover branch board of directors since August of 2013.
Quote: "My passion for servicing the community is evident in my direct serve as a board member with the YMCA Hoover Branch, and my dedication to youth development."
9. LAURA KLECKLEY (Not pictured)
About the candidate: Kleckley is a compliance engineer with Alagasco. She lives on Steward's Glen and has been a resident of Hoover for 11 years. She has three children currently in the Hoover school system: a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old both at Berry Middle School and a 7-year-old at Greystone Elementary.
Kleckley attended Auburn University and studied Civil Engineering. Before working with Alagasco, she worked as a senior civil engineer for Jefferson County. She has volunteered with the Service Guild of Birmingham, as a Brownie Troop Leader and at Greystone Elementary in various capacities.
Quote: "The most important responsibility a school board member has is to each and every HCS student. It is a member's responsibility to make sure that every student graduates from HCS well-educated and fully prepared to further their educations or enter the work force."
10. CHARLES EUGENE FULLER (Not pictured)
About the candidate: Fuller is the owner of REMTECH, Inc., an aerospace and computer technology company. He lives on Founders Park Drive and has been a resident of Hoover for nine years. Fuller has three grandchildren currently attending Hoover City Schools including a 10-year-old at Gwin Elementary, a 13-year-old at Simmons Middle School and a 7-year-old at Bluff Park Elementary.
He and his company developed an application called TimeMAPS, a web-based program to enhance the teaching and leaning of financial literacy for students and adults. The program is currently used at several local high schools including Spain Park.
Quote: "I believe my experience with life and business would bring a new and different element to the Board. Being an advocate for the children is a primary concern. I would like to support the use of technology to enhance the teaching/learning experience."
11. KATHERINE MCCARTHY KING (Not pictured)
About the candidate: King has spent the last year completing her educational doctoral degree in educational leadership at Samford University. Prior to that, King was assistant principal at Prince of Peace Catholic School and John Carroll Catholic School.
King lives on Persimmon Place and has been a resident of Hoover for 18 years. She currently serves on the Carver High School Science Academy Advisory Board, the Samford University Dean of Education Executive Board, Samford University Honors Program Advisory Board and the Samford Education Department Advisory Board.
Quote: "While Hoover is a big city, powered by technology and manpower, it is fully capable of approaching educational outreach in meaningful face-to-face ways. Outreach, specifically with promoting a real plan for Hoover City Schools that Hoover citizens can trust, must be done proactively and consistently and on the front-end, not retroactively for damage control."
12. CHRISTINE BAIN (Not pictured)
About the candidate: Bain is a certified elementary teacher with 13 years of experience in early childhood and elementary education. She has a master's degree in elementary education from the University of Montevallo and a bachelor's degree elementary education from Birmingham-Southern College.
She lives on Russet Crest Lane and has been a Hoover resident for 11 years. She has two children in Hoover City Schools. She is active in church children's ministries and is also a Girl Scout Troop Leader.
Quote: "I believe Hoover City Schools has developed a negative reputation over the past two years and I would like to see that change. As an educator and parent I firmly believe in Hoover City Schools."
13. LONITA WALKER-MEDE (Not pictured)
About the candidate: Walker-Mede is currently employed at Mede & Mede, Attorneys at Law. She has a bachelor's degree from Jacksonville State University and a Juris Doctorate Degree from Miles Law School.
Walker lives in Lake Point Lane. She is a volunteer at the Birmingham City Schools Career Fair and a member of the Ronald McDonald House Board. She is also an educational career prep advisor for Huffman High School.
Quote: "I believe that I can contribute to the Board with my skills and versatility to see the opinions and views of many individuals. My background has exposed to me to various individuals from various income levels."
14. SHELLEY SHAW (Not pictured)
About the candidate: Shaw is the PTO president-elect at Rocky Ridge Elementary School. She volunteers at her children's schools, Spain Park High School and Rocky Ridge. She has a bachelor's degree in communications from Auburn University.
Shaw lives on Meadow Woods Drive and has been a resident of Hoover for 14 years. She has two children in Hoover City Schools. She is active in the Spain Park Band Parent Association and is a member of Shades Mountain Baptist Church.
Quote: "Community outreach and involvement is a large part of who I am. I have learned that becoming a trusted and valued part of the community takes outreach and approachability on every level."
15. DOMINICK WALLACE (Not pictured)
About the candidate: Wallace is currently the managing director at Wallace Capital Fund, LLC and has a bachelor's degree and master's degree from the University of Virginia.
Wallace lives on Laurel View Drive and has been a resident of Hoover for 10 years. Wallace has one child at Rocky Ridge Elementary School and is involved with Birmingham Business Alliance and Business Network International.
Quote: "I have personally helped hundreds of businesses and worked within the school system. I have worked with troubled youth throughout Jefferson County."