Fair Grove School Board Elections will be held April 7, 2015

Meet the Candidates.

This year there are three candidates running for two open seats.  Successful candidates will serve a three year term.

Mike Gilbert

Mike has lived in Fair Grove since 1978.  His two sons, Sean and Cameron Gilbert attended every grade in Fair Grove. One is a police officer and the other one has an engineer degree and will graduate as a doctor from Missouri University in May. Mike’s wife (Kari) passed  away in 2004, they ran the Mighty Mite program from 1989 – 1999.

Mike has his Microsoft Certification and is employed as the IT director for Commerce Bank.  He is also a member of the Springfield Crime Stoppers Board and has served as it’s president in the past.

Mike has served on the school board for the past nine years, acting as President for the past six years. Mike enjoys working on the school board and has attended every meeting since 2006.  He most enjoys being able to give back to future generations.

If reelected, his top three agenda items for the future of Fair Grove Schools are Technology, Curriculum, and Finance.  He would work to continue the Technology upgrades to train our children to be able to compete in the work force.

Mike can be contacted at  417-894-8478

Anita Oplotnik

Anita and her husband Brad, along with their four children, have lived in the Fair Grove School District since 1994.   Their oldest daughter, Kristen graduated from Fair Grove and is currently a sophomore at MSU, Kelli is a junior at Fair Grove and twins, David and Darin are in the 7th grade.

Anita has a MBA in Finance from MSU.  For the past 10 years she has been  employed as Vice President and Branch Manager for the Morgan Stanley office in Springfield.  Prior to her current position she worked for Bank of America for 16 years.  She serves on several charitable boards and volunteers in Springfield  with organizations such as Community Foundation of the Ozarks, United Way and Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks.

Anita has served on the school board for six years, acting as Treasurer and currently as VP.  If reelected Anita’s top three agenda items for the future of Fair Grove Schools are to continue to monitor budget and expenses so that we are using tax payer dollars in the most prudent manor, make sure the superintendent transition is smooth in the upcoming school year, and focus on the needs in the elementary as it is such an important building block for success in our school district.  Anita will continue to focus on hiring and retaining quality teachers and administrators.  They make a difference in our children’s future.

Anita can be reached at home at 833-541 and by cell at 830-8288.

Jennifer Harp

Jennifer and her husband Jason have two children, Charlie is in 3rd grade and Finnegan is in Kindergarten.    Jennifer and Jason both graduated from Fair Grove High School ( 1996 and 1992) and returned to the area in 2005.

Jennifer has a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Florida.  She worked in child welfare for 12 years before leaving employment to become a full time home maker.   Jennifer has worked as a paraprofessional at Fair Grove Middle School, as an adoption specialist and foster/adopt/ kinship family training and licensing worker for the Children’s Division.  For the past two years, she has served as Fair Grove PTO President and volunteered in the elementary.

If elected, Jennifer’s top three agenda items for the future of Fair Grove Schools would be to increase school partnership with parents and the greater community, advocate for rigorous curriculum that is developmentally appropriate and prepares each student for increasing success through graduation and focus the district’s resources so that teachers have the tools they need to educate the whole child.

Jennifer will bring her experience engaging with parents and advocating for children of all abilities to the board.  She has attended six board meetings in the past year.

Jennifer welcomes questions and feedback from voters and can be reached at 818-1570 or by email at jen.harp12@gmail.com.