John Harris III, candidate for Mascoutah 19 School Board
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Name: John W. Harris III
Political party (if applicable): N/A
Age as of April 6, 2021: 47
Campaign website or social media page: facebook.com/John-W-Harris-III-for-Mascoutah-School-Board-136202323553282
Office seeking: Mascoutah Community School District 19 Board
Are you an incumbent? Yes
Previous offices sought: Mascoutah Community School District 19 Board
Occupation: Business Owner, Advanced Pattern Works
Education: BS: Manufacturing Engineering/Management minor, MS: Operations Management
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement: I am an active member at St. John UCC and previously held positions as Director of Stewardship Ministry and Council member. I am concluding my first four-year term as a member of the Mascoutah District 19 School Board and recently appointed to City of Mascoutah Financial Audit Committee.
Why are you running? I have always been proud of my Mascoutah education and, as such, I have a desire to give back to Mascoutah. One way I am able to give back to the community is to continue to support the Mascoutah School District as I have for the past four years. My parents, both Mascoutah High School teachers, prioritized education and individual growth, both have been a constant throughout my career. As a board member, I will continue to strive to provide the best environment possible to allow our students, staff, and administration to be successful, while also supporting our taxpayers and families.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? The most critical area is our students’ academic achievement and growth. This was a focus prior to COVID-19 but has become more of a challenge this past year. The disruption of limited in-person education and extracurricular activities has created a very fluid and sometimes difficult environment. Our staff and administration have worked through many obstacles to maintain our focus on education. Working towards 100% in-person attendance for those able is important not only from an academic perspective but also from a social/emotional perspective. Our current push is to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 so that our students maintain their growth. The past couple of years have included changes to our curriculum, staff, and our approach to address our academic opportunities.
Why should people vote for you? I am passionate about our children’s education. I will continue maintain an open door, to listen to the families, residents, staff, and administration to ensure myself and the board are well informed. While I may not have all of the answers, I am committed to Mascoutah schools, and will work diligently to be a sound leader, listen to all Mascoutah stakeholders, and maintain a strong focus on our customers.
What we strive for, our “product” as you might say, is the future success of our students. Our other customer is the taxpayers of Mascoutah. The balancing act is meeting the students’ and staff’s needs while being prudent and good stewards of our taxpayer’s money. The school board is tasked with providing guidance and direction, hiring the right people, and setting goals for years to come. Graduating from Mascoutah, family in the school district, being a small business owner provides a well rounded perspective to continue to be a member of the Mascoutah School Board.
This story was originally published March 2, 2021 at 9:58 AM.