Advance School Board candidate Ron Simmons

Name Ron Simmons

Age: 38

Place of Birth: St. Louis

Spouse, children's names

Jenifer Simmons

Tyler Simmons

Occupation: Supply Chain Operations

Employer: Ameren UE

Business owned, all or part

none

Previous offices held or sought

none

What makes you the most qualified candidate for this position?

I grew up in Southeast Missouri and moved to Advance in 2007. I have been an active member of the community for 10 years, faithfully attending church at Advance First, coaching t-ball, and serving on several school committees. I have worked at Ameren for 15 years, starting as a gas apprentice and working my way up. I pride myself on my commitment, stability, strong values and I will bring those qualities to the school board.

What do you see as the opportunities and challenges in the district?

The Advance school district enjoys tremendous community support and has a great cadre of teachers. They have a long history and great traditions to build from. There are always opportunities for improvement in any organization. I believe one of the greatest challenges is keeping up with changing technologies, skills, and job markets to adequately prepare our students to be productive, successful members of society.

How will you communicate your work to your constituents?

I believe one of the most important roles for a school board member is to listen to constituents and represent their needs and concerns to the school administration It is also important to communicate back to them what the administration and board are doing to meet their needs. I would love to see greater attendance at board meetings and a summary of the minutes of what took place posted where people can access it.

What are the factors on which you will base your decisions as a school board member?

I believe my strong faith and values, my commitment, and my ability to problem solve are the assets I would bring to the school board. I will base decisions on striking a balance between what is best for students, teachers, and the district as a whole and will apply these decisions fairly and equally. I strongly believe in consistently, applying standards and expectations to create a safe and conducive learning environment for all students.