Mamrak to Run for Superintendent

By now you may be aware that I am running for Superintendent of the Choctaw County Schools. Unlike some of the other candidates, I am not a life-long Choctaw County resident. I did not arrive here by the circumstance of my birth. It is safe to say that none of the candidates chose to be born here. Some were just lucky. I, however, made a deliberate decision to live here. I’ve traveled throughout America, in Asia, Europe, and Latin America – but Choctaw County is where I chose to raise my family. When my parents got too old to care for themselves, I brought them to Choctaw County as well. I buried my Dad in South Union cemetery in 2005.

At this point it is customary to tell you all about myself. I’m not going to do much of that for two reasons: First, it would probably bore you. Second, I wouldn’t want you to vote for me because of who I am. I want you to vote for me because I understand what is wrong with Choctaw County’s schools and I know how to fix them. Still, for those who have no idea who I am let me say this: I am in my 20th year pastoring New Zion Baptist Church which was founded 165 years ago. Prior to my arrival, the longest any one man ever served our church was seven years. (Statistics show that Southern Baptist pastors serve their churches an average of about two years before moving on.) I’ve been married to the same wonderful woman for 36 years; we have two grown children and one grandchild. Call me if you want to know more, and I’ll tell you my life story.

I will, however, list my academic qualifications, as they are pertinent to the superintendent’s position. I have a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in public relations. I have a master’s degree in educational leadership. I have finished the coursework for a doctorate in educational leadership and should have my PhD before the year ends. I am a nationally certified English teacher, and I am certified by the state of Mississippi in English, art, journalism, and administration. I have successfully competed for government grants that I used to study the school systems in both Japan and Germany.

It is unlikely that I will come to your house and personally ask for your vote during this campaign. I firmly believe that one of our school system’s problems is that we tend to elect the most popular candidate for superintendent rather than the most qualified. That may be OK for high school yearbook Who’s Who elections, but it is a mistake when selecting the person charged with shaping the future of our children. The ability to knock on doors, hand out business cards, and shake hands are not the best qualifications for the superintendent of our schools.

Whoever you vote for in this election, please vote based on the issues. Above all, don’t vote for anyone who tells you that our schools are doing fine, and that there are no serious issues. Over the next few months I will address several different issues. Most of them, however, stem from one over-riding problem: the public has lost control of our public schools. For too long our schools have been run like a private business.

We say we want parental involvement when in reality we only want parental approval. We say we want to hire the best certified educators available when in reality we don’t recruit beyond our friends, families, and aquaintances. We allow public educators, paid with our hard earned tax dollars, to make decisions behind closed doors and without our input: decisions that will determine our children’s futures. Perhaps it is acceptable to run a privately owned candy store this way, but not schools established to serve the public. It has got to stop. It is time to take back our schools.

A serious discussion of the issues cannot take place in small advertisements, on yard signs, and on business cards. Therefore, I suggest that all the candidates appear before the voters in a public panel discussion where they can explain their positions and answer the public’s questions. In addition, I will post all of my positions and proposals on the Internet (http://bobmamrak.blogspot.com/) so voters can evaluate them thoughtfully.
Until next time, may God bless you and your children.
Bob Mamrak

PS: This article was initially posted on March 22, 2007. It was reposted when this blog was created.