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Joe Nastasi - President Joe was elected to the Center School Board in 2005. He was elected vice-president of the board in 2006 and was elected Board president in 2010 where he continues to serve. In 2011, he was elected to serve on the Board of Director’s of the Cooperating School District’s of Greater Kansas City. He is an attorney and has his own private law practice in the South Waldo area. Joe and his wife, Angie, have lived in the Center district for 20 years. They have a son attending Center High School and another son and daughter attending Center Middle School.
Prior to his election to the Board he served the district and youth in a variety of ways including: Co-chairman of the 2004 Bond Election Campaign Committee, Co-President of the Boone PTA and a member of the Red Bridge YMCA Community Advisory Council. Joe has served as Cubmaster & Den Leader in Pack 62, currently is the Pack Committee Chairman, member of Troop 62’s parent committee and youth sports coach through the Red Bridge YMCA.
His goals for the Center School district include continued academic achievement demonstrated by maintaining full accreditation with distinction, being fiscally responsible to the taxpayers and helping to create a stronger sense of community in the Center district. He is proud that the Center School District has achieved the distinction of being the top performing urban school district in the state of Missouri. He would like to see our board, administration, staff and students continue to reach for excellence in everything they do in the Center School District. Contact information – joelaw1 AT juno DOT com Phone 816-221-1896
Julie Mattson - Vice President Julie was elected to Center Board of Education in 1997. She is an early childhood teacher. Julie is an alumni of Center High School. Julie has been an active Center patron through Booster Club, PTA and the Multicultural Task Force. Julie’s priorities for Center involve emphasizing the importance of K-12 reading; providing facilities for future generations; promoting an educational team approach that includes parents, staff and the community; and accountability to ensure distinction/achievement.
Greg Westfall Greg was elected to the Center Board of Education in 2006 and has lived in the Center district since 2003. His daughter, Hannah, will be a Junior at Center High School during the 2008-09 school year. Greg works for Covansys and volunteers his time with YouthFriends among other organizations. He feels strongly that increased parental involvement in the education of children is very important, as well as preparing students for the innumerable opportunities that will exist outside of school. He thinks that this collaborative approach helps get a better feel for the needs of an individual student. And while he understands that absolute perfection may be unattainable, it remains a worthy goal we should aim for nonetheless. Contact information - 816-363-4141 glwestfall AT netscape DOT net
Beverly Cunningham
Beverly was elected to the Center Board of Education in 2010. She has lived in the Center School District for six years with her two daughters who attend Red Bridge Elementary. Beverly is active in the community with volunteer positions within the Red Bridge PTA, Girl Scouts of NE Kansas/NW Missouri and the Kansas City Metro Junior Golf Club. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and a Masters in Public Administration. As a member of the Center School Board, Beverly would like to improve efforts for increasing achievements in MAP and AYP scores within the district, improve upon parental involvement with school activities and teacher relations as well as continuing to support school and community relationships with local businesses. Contact information - 816-506-2880 (cell) Bcunningham7 AT kc.rr DOT com
Merrell Bennekin Merrell served on the Center School Board from 2006-2010. He served as president from 2007-2010, and then rejoined the board in 2011. Merrell is the Deputy Director of the Board of Police Commissioners Office of Community Complaints in Kansas City, Missouri. He and his wife, Kedra, have resided in the Center district for nine years. Their daughter, Avery, will be a student at Red Bridge Elementary beginning in the Fall of 2011. Merrell currently serves as the president of the Metropolitan Community Service Program, an operating division of the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission, a member of the Kansas City Metro CARES Mentoring Movement Board of Directors, Polemarch of the Independence Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He previously served on the YouthFriends Board of Directors and is a graduate of the Centurions Leadership Development program.
Merrell plans to focus on increased parental involvement, continued academic achievement at all levels, and strengthened relationships with the patrons and community partners of the district. Contact information – 816.941.7969 (home) merrell.bennekin AT kcpd DOT org
Steve Stricklin - Stephen Stricklin was selected to the board in May of 2011. He has been an employee of a Global Communications company for over 15 yrs and has lived in Center School District since 1995. Stephen currently serves as Cub Master of Pack 62, has served as fundraiser chairman, as an assistant den leader and has volunteered in other areas in the district. His wife, Marla, and their daughter are both graduates of Center. They currently have sons attending Center Middle School and Red Bridge Elementary. Stephen feels Center schools have great leadership in administration and educators who are committed to seeing the students succeed. It is no mistake that Center is the #1 urban school district in Missouri. Stephen believes all students should have every opportunity to excel in the classroom beyond their own expectations and to grow as an individual that positively affects the community. As a Board member, Stephen would also like to see as many students as possible explore extra curricular school activities and see increased parental involvement in the PTA. Center School District exemplifies excellence, passion and hard work. Let’s keep it up. Please feel free to contact him at sgstrick3 AT yahoo DOT com.
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Cathy Jolly - Cathy Jolly is honored and excited to be a member of the Board of Education. Her professional career has been in public service; as an elected public official and as an attorney. She represented Center in Jefferson City as State Representative from 2001 – 2006. She also served a four year term on the Kansas City Council from 2007 through 2011. She is an attorney and former assistant Jackson County prosecutor. Cathy received a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia and received her Juris Doctorate degree with distinction from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
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Cathy and her husband Scott are proud parents of a second grader at Red Bridge Elementary. She has served as “room parent”; coordinated school activities, and serves as a Board Member for the Center Foundation. Cathy was also involved on the campaign for Center’s successful levy in 2011.
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Cathy’s goals for the District are to continue Center’s excellence in academics with high test scores and excelling in accreditation standards. She wants to focus on building community partnerships to assist the District in meeting challenges. She is most proud of the partnership she worked to establish as City Council Member between Center, the City, LINC and Swope Health Care in opening the Health Clinic across the street from Center High School to serve our community’s families in their health needs.
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Jan McMein
Jan McMein is the Board of Education Secretary. She can be reached at: 349.3310 or jmcmein AT center.k12.mo DOT us
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