Sixth in a series of candidate profiles to be published Feb. 7-Feb. 16. Profiles are being published in order names will appear on the ballot.
Like a lot of us, Chad Rollins found out that a TV show’s depiction of a crime lab wasn’t quite real. That discovery led him to a fulfilling career as a pharmacist.
“We get to help people, and I feel like that’s something that gives me something back,” Rollins said. “But at the same time, the career field itself, you can work anywhere, move to any state where there is a need. You can do a lot of different things, like work in a hospital, retail or long-term care.”
Rollins, 47, is director of operations for Health Direct, a pharmacy based in Ozark that serves nursing homes and hospice.
A resident of Springfield for more than 40 years, Rollins graduated from Glendale High School, then earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Missouri State University. As he pursued that chemistry degree, he found the TV show “CSI” to be intriguing, and wondered if he could become a forensic chemist. It didn’t take long for Rollins to learn CSI show over-glamorized the job a bit.
“When I found out what that kind of chemist really does, I realized I wanted to be a homicide detective instead,” Rollins said, joking.
A meeting with a Pfizer representative was no joke, however. As Rollins pondered his future, the rep encouraged him to take his chemistry talents into the health care field. Rollins enrolled at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and eventually earned a doctorate in pharmacology.
He has also been able to turn a personal quest toward better fitness into a mission of community service through better health.
About seven years ago, Rollins said he decided to start practicing healthier habits, and renewed commitments to training and exercising. Through fundraising workouts, he was able to help raise money to send children to a muscular dystrophy camp.
Rollins is an ambassador for Brace for Impact 46, a group founded by former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle McClellan that provides assistance for children in Haiti through schooling, and by providing clean water and medical care.
As part of training for involvement in Spartan’s series of races, Rollins became a Spartan Race brand ambassador. He even got a chance to try out for “American Ninja Warrior.”
While training for NBC’s “The Titan Games,” Rollins started Saturday morning workout sessions at Glendale High School. Those sessions expanded to include other people, Rollins said.
That’s been most rewarding for him, Rollins said. Watching people change their lives for the better keeps him focused and fulfilled.
“As you get dedicated to it, and you bring these habits into your life, you can really change your life and your mindset,” Rollins said. “Just watching people change over time and seeing the positive benefits they get from it, not just health and fitness but also their mindset, and I think that’s even more important than what you see on the outside.”
Motivation for running
If elected, this will be the first elected office Rollins has held. This is not the first time he has run, however. He ran for a seat on the board in 2023.
Rollins said he learned a lot from that first run, and is running again because he wants to answer a call to serve the Springfield community. He hopes to bring his leadership skills to help solve what he views as problems across Springfield Public Schools.
“The number one thing I’m looking at, and what I hear from a lot of people and coming from meetings, is that the classroom environment isn’t conducive to learning,” Rollins said. “I’m hoping through my example, my leadership, maybe I can be one of seven members who can help solve that problem.”
Strongest qualification
While Rollins says he brings a lot to the table, his strongest qualification is his experience as a parent. Rollins has seven children, all whom have graduated from Springfield schools, or are currently attending them.
He has been an SPS parent for about 15 years, he said, and that has given him perspectives.
“Fifteen years of experience as a parent, and having eyes on the ground through that experience with teachers, administrators and different connections,” Rollins said. “Being involved as a parent that long is the biggest difference between myself and the other candidates.”
Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series in the Hauxeda’s coverage of the April 2024 election for the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education.
