Category Education

How do you stay informed about current trends and developments in education?  Diane Hicks, District 2 candidate: I stay informed about current trends and developments in education in many ways. I continue to enjoy reading books about education. I attend local school board meetings, am…

Chris Holloman, 72  Hometown: 50 years in Cottage Grove Married with six adult children, a CGHS junior, and grandchildren in the district Employer and occupation: Nebraska Irrigation, Director of Business Development Public sector work experience: South Lane Fire and Rescue, Board Member Private sector work…

Jeff Gowing, 63 Hometown: Cottage Grove Marital Status: Married Partner occupation: accounting/finance Children: 3 adult children Public Sector work: US Army 1982 – 1988 Private Sector work: Production Operator 1989 – 2004; Millwright 2004 – 2023; currently retired Elected Offices held: South Lane School District…

Tony Lefler, 55  Hometown: Cottage Grove  Marital status: Married  Partner occupation: Housewife  Children: Ages 34, 32 Ward/neighborhood: Mount David neighborhood  Employer and occupation: Brad’s Chevrolet, service manager Private sector work experience: GM- Les Schwab, Brad’s Chevrolet  One word to describe your leadership style: Honest  One…

Colleen Valley, 58 Hometown: St Louis, Missouri Marital status: Married Partner occupation: Acupuncturist  Children: Ages 21, 18 Online election platforms: southlane.org Employer and occupation: South Lane Mental Health, QMHP Private sector work experience: Retail, holistic health care Elected office held, with dates: South Lane School…

South Lane School Board District 7 Candidate Bill Parsons, 61  Hometown: Cottage Grove  Family: Married 40 years  Occupation: Retired Captain, Firefighter/Paramedic, South Lane County Fire & Rescue, 28 years; owner/operator of Parsons Tree Service. Leadership style: Lead by “Example”  At your best: “Hardworking”  At your…

Amber Langworthy, 44 Position 5 candidate Springfield School Board ■ Hometown: Lebanon, Ind. ■ Family: Married, spouse senior director of Core Facilities Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact … 9-year-old at Yolanda Elementary and 25-year-old Student at PCC’s EMT program. ■  Employer, occupation: Full-time parent…

Justin Martin, 41 Position 3 candidate Springfield School Board ■ Hometown: Dexter ■ Family: Married, spouse is an educational assistant at SPS. … two kids in SPS, one 17 and another 14 years old. ■ Employer, occupation: Umpqua Bank, Assistant Vice President Portfolio Manager ■…

Jonathan Light, 69  Incumbent, Position 3 Springfield School Board ■ Hometown: Springfield ■ Family, Married  ■ Partner occupation: Retired … children, Gavin, 37 and Bria, 36  ■ Employer, occupation: Retired  ■ Public sector work: Teacher for 15 years ■ Private sector work experience: Business owner…