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Susan Ward, President, was elected to the board in 2003. Susan has a Bachelors Degree in Nursing from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC and a Masters Degree in Administration and Health Planning from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Nursing to become a Nurse Practitioner. Susan is currently the Nursing Administrator at Ransom Memorial Hospital. Susan became a board member to be involved and because she felt she would be able to contribute due to some of her experiences in the work places. Susan has two sons and one daughter. |
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David White, Vice President, was elected to the board in 2010. David has a Bachelor of Music Education from Kansas State University and Master of Science in Counseling from Emporia State University. David taught grades 5-12 vocal and instrumental music in Wellsville from 1989 to 2000 and grades 6-8 band and orchestra at Argentine Middle School in Kansas City, KS from 2000 to 2004. During his time at Wellsville, David won a Teach America Grant to study portfolio assessment in Music, served as the Wellsville Educators Association President and served as High School Band Chair for the Kansas Music Educators Association -North East District. Since 2005, David has worked in sales and currently serves as a Direct Support Manager for COF Training Services in Ottawa. David and his wife Tracy have 8 children, 7 of whom are enrolled in USD#290 at elementary, middle and high school levels. David ran for school board because he believes that proper stewardship of the education of the community’s children is critical to our future success as a community,state, and nation. |
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Bill Allegre grew up in Lebo, Kansas. It was there that he met and later married Stephanie Allegre, currently a school social worker at Olathe South High School. Bill went on to the University of Kansas to study pharmacy, following in the footsteps of his brother, father and grandfather. Shortly after graduation, Bill purchased Reynolds Drug Store in Ottawa in 1982. He renamed it Allegre Pharmacy and later owned Briscoe Pharmacy, also in Ottawa. Bill has served on the Ottawa Public Education Trust, the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce, the Ransom Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, as an elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church and previously on the Ottawa Board of Education. Bill and Stephanie raised three daughters - Adrienne, Jenna and Eliza - all of whom received a well-rounded education in USD 290. Bill's driving philosophy is that service to others is an honor and privilege, based on his belief in Jesus Christ. He feels that a strong public education system has and will be the cornerstone for success in Ottawa, Kansas and the entire country. |
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Dennis George, was elected to the board in 2003. Dennis has a Bachelors Degree from Washburn University with a dual major in Accounting and Finance and a MBA from Webster University with an emphasis in Health Services Management. He is currently the CEO of Coffey County Health Services. He worked in health care administration at Ransom Memorial Hospital, Miami County Hospital, Ottawa Family Physicians, Omnicare Home Health Agency, and as an auditor for Blue Cross Blue Shield. Dennis feels his experience in improving facilities, finance, and government could be of help to USD 290. Dennis and his wife, Teri, have two children.
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Brandon Jones, was born and raised in Osage County where he graduated from Lyndon High School in 1993. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and then graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law with a Juris Doctorate in 2000. He started his career as an Assistant County Attorney in the Franklin County Attorney's Office in May of 2000, was hired as an Assistant District Attorney in the Douglas County District Attorney's Office in August of 2003 and remained there until he was appointed as the Osage County Attorney in April of 2007. He was elected as Osage County Attorney in November of 2008 and still holds that office in Lyndon, Kansas. He is married to Heather R. Jones, the Franklin County Attorney, and has two children, Sydney, age 6, a 1st grader at Garfield Elementary School, and Landon, age 3. Brandon and his family live in Ottawa. He is a member of the Ottawa Optimist Club, Chairman of the S.O.S. Board of Directors (a battered women's shelter), and a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Brandon was elected to the U.S.D. 290 School Board in April 2009, started on the board in July 2009, and is now serving his second year of a four year term. |
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Brian Kane, was elected to the board in 2007. Brian served in the United States Marine Corps for eight years, stationed out of Camp Pendleton, California. Brian moved to Ottawa in 2005 and married Jennifer (Testorff) Kane. He is currently employed by Steanson Plumbing and is also a member of the Kansas National Guard. Brian wanted to serve on the board because he has a passion for youth and seeing them reach their full potential. He believes that education is an important foundation for all children. |
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Marge Stevens, has been a board member since 2001. Marge has a Bachelors Degree in Education form the University of Kansas and taught elementary school for 27 years in the Ottawa School District before retiring in 2000. She continues to subsitute teach in neighboring districts. Serving as a board member gives Marge the opportunity to continue to be an active influence in the educational community. Marge and her husband, Chuck, have been married for 52 years. They have 3 children, 13 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.
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