OAK HILL R-I FOR BOARD MEMBER - THREE YEAR TERM
NATHAN RAGSDALE
My name is Nathan Ragsdale. I have a rich history in Dent County by being a lifelong resident. I attended Oak Hill R-1 from Kindergarten to 8th grade and Salem High School from 9th to 12th grade. After graduating in 2005, I jumped into full-time work and married my high school sweetheart, Judy (Fetters) Ragsdale, in 2006. We've been married for nearly 18 years and have three boys: Hayden, Trenton, and Westyn. Hayden, a sophomore at Salem High School, plans to pursue diesel mechanics at State Tech. Trenton, currently in 8th grade at Oak Hill, aims to become an agricultural engineer and will begin attending Salem High School next year. As for Westyn, currently in 7th grade at Oak Hill, his future plans are still open. I work for Salem R-80, driving a school bus, and I'm also self-employed. I find fulfillment in supporting and assisting children, believing in providing every child with opportunities to succeed, whether through college, technical school, or finding a job they're passionate about. I am dedicated to supporting and guiding our children toward their future self’s.
Why are you running for a board position? What are you wanting to change, what are you wanting to keep in place?
I've served on the Oak Hill School Board since May 9, 2013, holding positions as a Member, Vice President, and President. Witnessing the remarkable achievements within our small school, I'm constantly reminded of the reputation our R-1 students have for being respectful, responsible, and diligent. Our data reflects significant improvement, with students advancing full grade levels. While there's always room for enhancement, the responsibility lies with the School Board to ensure every child receives ample opportunities for growth and a quality education to thrive in society. Equally vital is providing our staff with the necessary tools and support for this endeavor. My passion for children's development and learning fuels my candidacy for the School Board. I'm dedicated to ensuring every child receives the best education and opportunities possible. Adhering to requirements like MSIP6 is essential for our district's advancement, despite the challenges inherent in navigating public education. Our commitment to growth and improvement isn't merely about aligning with the direction of public education but about providing our children with the opportunities and quality education they deserve.
What is your assessment of the most recent statewide annual performance test scores for the district? Acceptable? Or pointing to obvious work that needs to be done? What would that work be?
I commend our dedicated staff and students for their hard work and success in the past year, especially considering the challenges we've faced since Covid. Despite the setbacks, our teachers and administrators are guiding students toward achievable goals. Moving forward, we must continue to encourage students to strive for excellence and acknowledge their accomplishments. It's crucial to stand behind and support our students, teachers, and support staff to ensure continued progress. Looking ahead to the next school year, I aim to foster a culture of celebration for each student's achievements, empowering them with a sense of ownership in their school. This, I believe, will instill respect for themselves, others, and their environment. However, certain aspects should remain unchanged. We must maintain accountability for both staff and students, providing education on real-life scenarios, and exposing them to diverse experiences like technical schools, colleges, and various career paths. Our focus should remain on enhancing our Continuous School Improvement Plan and doing whatever it takes to enhance our school for the benefit of students, staff, and the community.
What other single issue of the school district do you believe needs to be addressed, and how would you address it?
An area requiring immediate focus within our district pertains to employee compensation. By "employee," I am referencing support staff, teachers, and administrators, all of whom shoulder significant responsibilities. Many individuals within the public school system hold multiple jobs to make ends meet. Thankfully, at Oak Hill, we've initiated the examination of staff compensation. As a board, we must engage our community in discussions regarding this matter to explore viable solutions for funding adequate compensation.
What are some positives that are happening within the district and what can be done to take advantage of or build on to those positives?
At present, we have a fantastic team of enthusiastic teachers eager to educate our children. They're diligently crafting a curriculum, participating in professional development sessions, and putting students first. While they may not be flawless, they're certainly making an effort. It's crucial that we continue to uplift and provide these teachers with the support and resources they need to thrive. When we empower them to succeed, they'll be better equipped to guide our children toward success. It's a collective effort as a community to ensure every child thrives; they can't do it alone.
RHONDA WOLFE-HUTSELL
No response received.
MIKEL CHAMBERS
No response received.
OAK Hill R-I FOR BOARD MEMBER - ONE YEAR TERM
APRIL GREENER
I am grateful for the opportunity to run for Oak Hill R1 school board.
My husband Cam and I have four children. We have lived in Salem now for nearly two years. We are happy we chose Salem as home.
I earned a Doctorate degree in Nursing Practice with a minor in epidemiology. I took additional classes with my Master’s Degree to receive a teaching certificate. I have worked in the healthcare field for over 26 years. Currently, I am employed as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Dent County Health Center. In addition to always working clinically, a large portion of my career has also been spent as an educator, teaching in the Master and Doctorate Nurse Practitioner programs and mentoring Nurse Practitioner students.
Why are you running for a board position? What are you wanting to change, what are you wanting to keep in place?
“If I do not advocate for my children, who will?”
I am running for school board because two of my children attend school at Oak Hill R1. I care deeply about our school and all of the children who attend there. My husband and I made the decision to move here because we wanted our children to grow up in the same small-town environment that we did. One of the appealing things about moving here was the small school size and what we envisioned the small school size environment would be like: a community. Oak Hill Raider families show up for each other. I hope this never changes.
I would like to see this sense of community extend past just Oak Hill families though. The reputation of Oak Hill R1 in the community is not a truthful reflection of our school.
What is your assessment of the most recent statewide annual performance test scores for the district? Acceptable? Or pointing to obvious work that needs to be done? What would that work be?
Oak Hill R1 Data from 2022-2023 assessment shows that 69.4% of our students are below proficient in Mathematics, 66.7% are below proficient in English, 59.2% are below proficient in Science. These numbers have improved over the last few years. We must continue this work to keep this improved trajectory. We have neighboring schools who have scores that are essentially opposite of ours. I would like to see less competition between school districts and more collaboration. All our children will eventually be at Salem R-80 school district. The success of ALL our children is important to the City of Salem.
Oak Hill R1 has a 28.6% 3-year retention rate for teachers, this is the lowest in all the school districts. Faculty and staff retention is critical for the success of our school. We need a unified team that is onboard with a common mission and vision. We need to provide top tier support to teachers so they can provide the best support to our students and foster an environment where educators enjoy being.
What other single issue of the school district do you believe needs to be addressed, and how would you address it?
I was shocked to be asked to sign a consent that would allow corporal punishment for my elementary aged children. This is archaic. And a terrible ask of school administration. All current research shows that inflicting pain as a way to control children is not beneficial. It may be effective in getting children to comply immediately, but there are significant long-term harms. Research shows that in the long term, children are less likely to cooperate, not more. It has also been linked to stress, low self-esteem, depression, and less success in school and life.
It needs to be removed as a policy.
What are some positives that are happening within the district and what can be done to take advantage of or build on to those positives?
Our test scores are improving. We need to continue to prioritize education and raise the academic bar. We are first and foremost an academic institution.
I have spent many hours volunteering and spending time with our students at Oak Hill R1. Oak Hill students are capable, bright, kind, talented, and have so much to offer this world.
My children have had AMAZING teachers. Teachers have a challenging job. I see the effort they are putting into their careers with limited resources and time. Supporting faculty is important to me.
Our children and our faculty are our greatest assets, and we must invest in them.