Two more people have taken the initial steps to run for Springfield’s public school board in April. One is Judy Brunner, a lifelong educator who has focused on anti-bullying after retiring from the Springfield Public Schools district; the other is Chad Rollins, a pharmacist and father of seven, five of whom are enrolled at SPS schools currently.
Retired from SPS, Brunner continues to work in education industry as learning skills consultant
Eighteen years of Brunner’s education career were spent as a Springfield Public Schools administrator. She retired from the district in 2006 after serving as Parkview High School’s principal, and then returned in 2019-2020 to become a temporary co-principal of Central High School while the district sought a more permanent candidate for the leadership position.
“I've had the privilege, the true privilege, of having been a teacher in Springfield, an administrator at all three levels, and even had some time in the central office last year for part of the years, as I filled in on the position of coordinator of student and school services,” Brunner said. “I've looked at the district through a lot of different lenses. And it just seems to me that the timing is right for me to maybe expand that, and should I be privileged enough to be elected, then I'll use those areas of expertise as I deliberate and listen closely to what citizens and educators have to say to me.”
Brunner, who also teaches courses in Missouri State University’s Department of Reading, Foundations and Technology, said she first considered running for school board during her time back at Central High, but said she wanted to fulfill her commitment to serve as co-principal for a year before pursuing a board seat. Asked why she wanted to serve on the board, Brunner pointed to the school district's impact on the community as a whole.
“I'm a native Springfieldian, as is my husband,” she said. “We're both products of Springfield Public Schools. We have stayed here because we love the community, and in particular, we have faith in the school district. Our children have gone through here, our grandchildren are either graduates of Springfield Public Schools or still enrolled. And Springfield, Missouri, is a great place to raise a family, and I truly believe that our schools are part of that.”
Brunner has also been a business owner since 1999. Along with former SPS director of security Dennis Lewis, Brunner co-wrote a guide to help educators address bullying at all grade levels. They also teamed to co-found Edu-Safe, which developed school safety staff programs and training resources. She then co-founded Instructional Solutions Group, a consulting group designed to “help educators teach children of all backgrounds and with all types of learning strengths.” Brunner has co-authored or authored several books targeted at developing study skills among different age ranges of students. She said her background in both educational and business settings will help her if she is elected to the board.
“When you have areas of expertise and life experiences that you learn from and grow from, I think that shapes who you are,” Brunner said. “And I'm a good listener, I think anybody that's worked with me would say that. I consider it very important to really hear what people have to say. And I think my experience as both a business owner and educator will work very well and how I can deliberate and make decisions.”
Glendale graduate, former ‘American Ninja Warrior' contestant, says he wants to give back
Rollins graduated from Glendale High School and said his educational experience in the district was a positive one that led him on a path to graduate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy.
Along with working as a pharmacist, Rollins in recent years dedicated himself to a fitness journey that led him to compete on “American Ninja Warrior,” an NBC reality show in which athletes compete on obstacle courses. He now leads a pre-dawn workout group that meets regularly at Glendale High. Rollins has never run for public office before and said he believed the school board was an opportunity to help make people successful.
“I feel like I got a good education here,” he said. “I went to pharmacy school. I've been able to be a leader in other parts of my life. I think a good, strong foundation when you're growing up is important. I want to make sure that I've got a part in giving back to where I came from.”
Rollins has five children currently at SPS schools, with two having also recently graduated from Glendale. He said their collective experiences have been positive ones. He said he believed the school system “should really just focus on making our kids feel comfortable and making them strong and doing what we do in Southwest Missouri,” which he said is focusing on teaching math, English, athletics and an environment where students can excel.
“I think for me, I mean, it's about winning,” he said. “It really is. Building winners, building leaders. And it starts at that young age of our kids, and just giving them the best environment so they can do the same.”
Early field of candidates for two seats grows to five; time left for others to enter
Brunner and Rollins bring the field of candidates who have picked up packets to five. See our previous coverage of the other three. Current board member Shurita Thomas-Tate is running for re-election. J. Michael Hasty and Landon McCarter have also first taken steps to run for the two seats up for grabs next April. Board president Denise Fredrick, whose fourth term in office is up next year, said she will not seek a fifth.
Picking up forms is the first official step in the process of running for the school board. They are available to pick up during regular hours at the district office, 1359 East St. Louis. After doing that, prospective candidates must turn in at least 500 certifiable signatures of registered voters who support their candidacy. The first day to turn in signatures will be Dec. 6, and the deadline is Dec. 27. Certification day is Jan. 24.
Candidates who turn in their completed forms on the first day will be entered into a lottery to determine the order their names appear on the ballot if their petitions are certified. Anyone who turns in forms after Dec. 6 will be listed on the ballot in the chronological order of when their forms were received. The full set of rules is available here.
