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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 10:13 PM CDT
Mattingly announces candidacy for regional superintendent

By ROB STROUD, Staff Writer
rstroud@jg-tc.com

CHARLESTON — Bobbi Mattingly said she has learned a lot about the Regional Office of Education and its services during her 21 years on the job with this office.

The Paris resident, who has worked 13 years as an education administrator, said she now wants to put her experience to work as regional superintendent of schools. She officially announced her candidacy, as a Republican, on Wednesday.

“I just feel like it is time for me to step out and be in leadership in the position of regional superintendent of schools,” Mattingly said.

Her resume includes 15 years of experience as a public school teacher and a doctorate in education administration. She was hired by the Regional Office of Education in 1988 when Rosemary Shepherd was regional superintendent.

“She was a great lady and I have always aspired to be like here,” Mattingly said.

Mattingly said she started as a truancy worker and is now the administrator of the regional office’s truancy program. She is also the administrator for the homeless student program and the Regional Safe Schools Program (Bridges) for students subject to suspension or expulsion due to confrontational behavior.

“Every student is valuable. We can’t afford to lose any of them. Every one of them needs to graduate from school,” Mattingly said.

Bridges provides smaller classroom sizes and more personalized attention for students at school sites in Lerna, Paris and Shelbyville, Mattingly said. She added her office is in Lerna but she regularly visits the other two Bridges sites as well as other schools throughout the region.

“My office is pretty mobile because we serve seven counties and I get to all seven counties on a pretty regular basis,” Mattingly said.

If elected, Mattingly said her top priorities would be providing great student services and operating the office as efficiently as possible. She said efficiency regarding financial and human resources is especially important as state funding for the office continues to diminish.

John McNary retired as regional superintendent of schools on July 1, more than a year before his term was set to end. Prior to McNary’s retirement, the Regional Office of Education Board appointed Nik Groothuis to complete his term. Groothuis had previously served as McNary’s assistant superintendent since July 2005.

The primary election is scheduled for February 2010 and the general election is slated for November 2010.

Groothuis, a Casey resident, said he had heard prior to Wednesday that Mattingly planned to run for regional superintendent. Groothuis said he indicated when he was appointed that he would run for election to the position, but will wait until later this fall to officially announce his plans. He said he will be on the Democratic ticket.

Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 238-6861.

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