Every January schools celebrate School Board Member Appreciation month, and the Tahlequah Public School district is blessed with the best! I would like to thank our school board members for their dedicated service to the students and staff at TPS. Lorraine Walker is our Board President and represents Seat 1. Shawn Coffman is our Vice-President and represents seat 5. Dr. Dana Eversole represents seat 3, Stephanie Crawford represents Seat 2 and Chrissi Nimmo serves for seat 4. These five ladies are dedicated, non-paid, public servants. They choose to give of their time and talents to ensure that the families and staff of TPS have the absolute best experience possible.
I recently asked them why they wanted to serve in this capacity. Lori Walker answered, “Promoting academic achievement was the primary focus of my 28-year career as a teacher and remains my top priority as a school board member. Early in my career, I realized whatever happened in the board room directly affected what was happening in the classroom. So, my purpose in seeking office was to bring the classroom teacher’s point of view to the discussions about running the school district. How money is spent dictates class size, classroom supplies, teacher training, and teacher salaries, and all these matters influence academics. However, I have come to understand that paying the utilities, repairing roofs, keeping the buses running, and managing all the other complex systems required to keep a school district functioning, also, influence academics. Nevertheless, my voice remains a constant reminder that our central purpose as a school district is to prepare our students academically to face their future careers.” Stephanie Crawford added, “For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher, and after 28 years of teaching, I just couldn't walk away from the students I loved. The school board seemed like a way to stay connected and make a difference in young lives, so when the seat for my district opened, I felt it was time to serve. Since I had worked in accounting for 15 years before I began my teaching career and two years after retirement, I believed the combination of financial understanding and classroom experience made me a viable candidate. I still get to celebrate the victories and work to address the issues that are inherent in the complex world of education which brings me great satisfaction.” Dr. Dana Eversole said, “I wanted to serve on the Tahlequah Board of Education because I believe in giving back to my community. My background in education helps guide my decisions.”
When asked what some of their favorite things or programs about TPS are, Chrissi Nimmo answered, “My favorite program at TPS is the various services/programs/resources available through the Outreach Center. We remove obstacles for students and their families that help students focus on learning. Students do better when they don’t have to worry about food, clothing, and shelter and the outreach center helps families overcome those issues. I am also extremely proud that we were able to offer free lunch to all students this year and hope that we can continue to do so.” Shawn Coffman added, “I love all of the outreach programs we do for parents and students who desperately need help. School is not just about learning. It is also about preparing students for the future. TPS goes the extra mile for these students.”
Each of these five women serve only with the intent of increasing student achievement, helping every student have the best possible chance at a successful life and helping school staff have the most productive work environment. They appreciate and validate the hard work all staff members put in every day. I am confident that with this board member team, Tahlequah is in great hands! Thank you for all you do!
It is my honor to lead Tahlequah Public Schools. As always, if you have any comments, questions, or concerns, I am available. You may contact me by phone at 918.458.4100 or by email at jonest@tahlequahschools.org. Thank you and remember, “Once a Tiger, always a Tiger!”
Written by Tanya Jones/Superintendent