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Dr. Kent Runyan Candidate for State Board of Education
District #9
Why Is He Running ?
Most of my life has been about being in school, learning about
schools, teaching in schools, and teaching others about teaching in
schools. I have been a student, teacher, school administrator, local
board member, and now a teacher of teachers. Over the past five
decades, I have been around the greatest profession in the world, a
professional occupation that really makes a difference in the world,
one child at a time.
As I watched the present board over the past several years, I
witnessed a change in my profession, a change in the direction of our
state’s educational system. At first, I was simply embarrassed because
of the lack of professional demeanor in their public dialogue; it
served only to lower the stature of the board. Now, as the direction
has turned away from providing a world-class educational system to
implementing a conservative political agenda, I am afraid this
fractured board is not working to pass policies based on research,
logic, and progress; instead, they are imposing a political agenda.
The national ridicule and political division caused by the addition of
Intelligent Design to the science curriculum has done little to move
our system forward and possibly has weakened our state’s economic
development. The hiring of a non-education commissioner, who seems to
lack the statewide respect needed to lead, has put our state’s
educational vision adrift. The support for funding religious schools
through vouchers and the removal of local control over charter schools
has put our state at risk of future costly litigation and will, as
witnessed in other states, result in limiting resources to our public
schools. As they continue to send overtures towards expelling our
immigrant children, weakening the availability of a sex education
curriculum to our young people, and lessening the licensure
requirement of those who teach in our classrooms, I believe they have
lost the vision of providing an educational system of which Kansas can
be proud.
I have a hard time viewing myself a politician. As corny as it may
sound, I am running because I love the educational profession and want
to see a strong school system for my grandchildren. I was blessed with
three wonderful children who each benefited from an excellent Kansas
school system. Now, I want to play some small part in making sure
other families can say the same for their children. I want to use my
character and experience to restore reason and pride back in our
educational system. Even more importantly, I want to make sure my two
grandchildren are prepared for a future I will never see.
His Qualifications
Kent is a dedicated family man and educator who wants to use his
character and experience to help restore reason and pride to the
Kansas State Board of Education. Graduating three children from the
Kansas public school system, he knows the power of a quality
education. Being an educator who has worn many hats, he has the
background to help Kansas create a supportive educational environment
where all children can succeed.
As a professor at Pittsburg State University, Kent has gained the
leadership tools to make things happen. At Pitt State, he serves as
the senior professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction
and teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses. Known for
creating and teaching such innovative graduate courses as
Restructuring the American School, Current Teaching Practices, and
Trends and Issues, he advises graduate students towards their Master’s
degree and supervises student teachers in the public school system.
Over the years, he has been in nearly every school in southeast
Kansas. He is most proud of his work over the past decade in
developing a multifaceted mentoring program for first through third
year teachers in southeast Kansas. He is also proud of his involvement
in helping to found the Kansas City Teaching Fellows, a new Master’s
degree alternative certification project designed for Kansas City’s
USD 500.
Active nationally, Kent has gained a professional reputation and broad
knowledge base in the field of education. He has been invited to
present at over fifty national and international conferences in
America, Canada, and Russia over the past twenty years. He is also a
popular local presenter with over sixty state, regional, or local
presentations to his credit. Recently being selected into Who’s Who in
America, he has authored over thirty articles and papers, has edited
journals, and has written several books, all in the field of education.
In Kansas, Kent has been involved in a number of endeavors that has
given him a special understanding of southeast Kansas’s needs. He has
served as a North Central Resource Specialist for eight different
school districts and a folio reviewer for nine different institutions
of higher education. In his community, he was elected to Pittsburg’s
USD #250 Board of Education, and served as its president for one term.
He also has been elected to the Kansas Teachers Credit Union Board of
Directors, serving for two terms as its Chairman.
As to his family, Kent is most proud of his children and wife. All
three children graduated from Pittsburg High. His oldest son, Keith,
is a Pittsburg State graduate and owns his own landscaping design
business. Married to Stacy, they have two wonderful children and get
plenty of advice from grandpa. His daughter, Jaime, a University of
Kansas graduate, is an ER nurse and is married to a former Kansas
House of Representatives legislator, Jeff Peterson. His youngest son,
Scott, graduated from Kansas State University and is a graphic
designer. He recently accompanied his father on a two-week trip to
Russia to examine the country’s public school system. His college
sweetheart and wife of over 30 years, Linda, is presently a National
Board Certified 5th grade teacher at George Nettels Elementary and was
a 2000 State Teacher of the Year semi-finalist in Kansas.
Before entering higher education, Kent was a classroom English teacher
for sixteen years, coaching basketball and golf for a number of years.
While in the West Virginia public school system, he also served as the
Director of the Putnam County Beginning Teacher Induction Program.
During his last three years, he was an adjunct assistant professor at
Marshall University and, while developing and implementing Putnam
County’s Induction Program, taught West Virginia’s first graduate
course on The Mentorship at the West Virginia College of Graduate
Studies. Dr. Runyan received his B.S. in language arts, an M.A. in
school administration from Marshall University, and his Ed. D. in
educational administration from West Virginia University. While in
college at Marshall, he played basketball, was a member of Sigma Alpha
Epsilon, and served as a student senator. With his father and mother
both teachers, he had no chance to enter any other field but
education. In essence, Kent’s professional and personal life has been
one developing the skills and knowledge needed to effectively
represent Southeast Kansas on the Kansas State Board of Education.
Beliefs and Vision for Kansas Schools
Kent will strive to use research and common sense to advocate for
directions that improve our Kansas’s schools and prepare our children
for a changing world. A number of key beliefs guide him in taking
positions on specific issues. Kent believes in:
Equitable high-quality public schools in each community.
“For our Kansas communities to be truly healthy, they each need strong
public schools in which they can be proud.”
A scope and sequence 21st century curriculum that truly prepares young
people for an ever-changing society.
“Our schools have to go beyond the basic 3 R’s to prepare kids with
the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to be successful in a
future most of us will never see.”
Value-oriented curricula to develop in each child the values of
persistence, responsibility, and mutual respect.
“After raising three kids, I’ve come to realize even more the
importance of our schools helping to develop the values of hard work,
responsible behavior, and respect for others.”
Supportive school structures that allow teachers time and resources to
develop their skills and techniques; integrate curriculum, and make
collaborative decisions.
“The single determining factor of student success is the classroom
teacher. With each year bringing more demands, schools need to rethink
how they use their resources and teachers’ time.”
Positive school climates that are student centered, achievement
oriented, technologically strengthened, and high in expectation that
all children will succeed.
“Every child from every family deserves a school that has the
curriculum, technology, and expectation that each is important and
will succeed.”
Safe and orderly schools where students feel secure and teachers can
focus on teaching.
“Classroom disruptions cheat both teachers and students; schools must
have firm and consistent discipline policies and avenues to provide
alternative learning environments.”
Active instructional and assessment systems that provide for different
learning styles, performance assessments, and alternative methods of
learning.
“One size does not fit all. Schools need to appreciate and accommodate
the various ways our kids learn and show what they know.”
Effective administrative orientations that develop consensus building,
site-based management, positive home-school relations, and community
support for public schools.
“Communities and parents need more than test scores to judge how their
schools and kids are doing; multiple and frequent two-way avenues of
communication tend to produce mutual understanding and support.”
Quality teacher preparation, recruitment, retention, and development
ensures an effective teacher in every classroom.
“Though teacher supply will not keep up with demand, weakening teacher
licensure qualifications is not an answer. Not increasing beginning
teacher support, competitive compensation, and continuous teacher
training sets our state on a course of educational disaster.”
Fiscal accountability that ensures school funds are spent efficiently
to support student achievement in the classroom.
“As schools continue to show that they are good stewards of taxpayer’s
money, that there are tangible returns to their tax dollars, the more
community support there will be.”
TO CONTRIBUTE TO KENT RUNYAN'S CAMPAIGN OR TO FIND OUT MORE CONTACT:
Kent Runyan
2203 S Homer St
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Phone: (620) 232-8044
Email: kent.runyan@gmail.com |
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