Revitalize Rockwood Rockwood School Board Candidate Questionnaire

1. What is your educational background? (Degrees obtained, schools attended, etc.)

LEONARD KEITH KINDER Telephone: 1-636-384-9204 Email: lkkinder@charter.net Education: Degree preparation: 1. Undergraduate (1965 - 1968) Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri B.S. Secondary Education: Major: Mathematics 2. Graduate (1971 -1972) Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, Mo MA Mathematics (1974 1978) University Missouri Saint Louis, Mo. Secondary Principals Certification (1988 1992) Saint Louis University Doctorate in Education Educational Employment: (1968 1969) Huron Valley Schools, Milford Michigan, Mathematics instructor (1969 1971) United States Army- Tour of duty--Vietnam (1971 1972) Central Missouri State University Graduate assistant in Mathematics (1972 - 1976) Meramec Valley R III Schools, Pacific, Mo. Mathematics instructor, Assistant High School Principal (1976 1986) Sullivan High School, Sullivan, Mo. Assistant High School Principal/ High School Principal (1980 1984) adjunct instructor, East Central College, Union, Mo. (1986 2003) Rockwood School District, Eureka, Mo. (1986 -1993) Assistant/Associate High School Principal, Lafayette High School (1992 1995) Director of Rockwood Summer School programs (1993 -1996) Associate High School Principal, Marquette High School (1996 2003) High School Principal, Eureka High School (2002 -2003) Adjunct instructor for Lindenwood (2003- Present) Assistant Professor for Maryville University

2. Tell us about your involvement in the Rockwood School District.

I have lived in Rockwood for 27 years Both of my children are graduates of Rockwood I was employed as an administrator in Rockwood for 17 years: 7 years as assistant/associate principal at Lafayette High School 3 years as associate principal at Marquette High School 7 years as principal at Eureka High School My daughter is currently an assistant principal at Rockwood Summit High School My grandson is a student at Babler Elementary School I have taught or currently teach many teachers and administrators from Rockwood in my present position as assistant professor in the graduate school of education at Maryville University. I am currently a Rockwood School Board member

3. What other organizations are you involved with and what is your capacity with that organization?
I belong to the Missouri Professors of Educational Administration (voting member). I am a lifetime member of the National Association of Secondary School Administrators (member)

4. How will you move the district forward in a positive direction?

I will continue to make informed and intelligent decisions which are best for the students, employees, parents and patrons of the Rockwood School District. I will be a leading advocate for the Rockwood School District and our students. I will continue to be transparent with all decisions and be ready to explain any decisions, based on research and best practices. What is essential and best for our students education must be the driving force for any decision I make. I will help maintain a balanced budget through constant review of the revenue and expenditures and allocate monies for the educational growth of our students. I will encourage involving the Rockwood voters by seeking their input on changes to the current educational processes.

5. How will you ensure the new Superintendent is successful? How will you support him/her in their first year of work?
The board must inform the new superintendent about the great educational initiatives Rockwood has, the successes and the struggles we face, and help him/her understand the culture and expectations of Rockwood. The board must encourage the superintendent to observe, evaluate, and implement research based improvements as needed. We cannot be micromanagers. We must allow the superintendent to make informed decisions and then support those decisions. As a board, we must strongly encourage the Missouri legislature to reinstate the monetary support for public education to full funding. We must encourage and support the new superintendents efforts to become familiar, in any st way possible, with the cutting edge educational innovations for the 21 century and how they will help our students grow educationally.

6. What qualities do you think are important to be a member of the Rockwood School Board? What makes you qualified to be a member of the Rockwood School Board?
Having a vested interest in the Rockwood School District and the education of our youth is essential.

A board member should, above all, have no hidden agendas or think they know better than the professionals we employ to educate our students. I firmly believe that an understanding of the culture of Rockwood and West Saint Louis County is advantageous and necessary. I believe a knowledge about the district and the schools, the curriculum, the budget, test scores (including graduation rates and our comparisons to other districts), the employees, and the patrons is imperative and an advantage for board members. Learning to be a functioning board member is a steep curve and starting with a knowledge of all aspects of the total operation of the district and public education is a definite advantage. Board members must be able to work cooperatively, in the spirit of what is best for all, with other board members and understand that the board functions best as one unit. As a board member, we must be available to the voters and seek out information from all constituents about their concerns and questions about Rockwood. Board members must be able to explain, in simple and understandable terms, why education is the cornerstone of success in America. Being a board member is not just going to board meetings twice a month and making decisions. We must, constantly, research and become informed about all aspects of this great school district. Finally, there must be a burning desire to ensure that the education we provide is the best possible for our students.

7. Is there any other information you would like to share about yourself?
I have lived in and been active in Rockwood for many years, (27 plus), and have kept informed about all aspects of the district. I hope to continue that as a director on the Rockwood School District Board of Education. I sincerely thank the Revitalize Rockwood organization for the opportunity to express my views about the Rockwood School District. I greatly appreciate what Revitalize Rockwood is doing and I support your efforts. Thank you. Keith Kinder