2 vie for Clarke Community School Board position

Incumbent Brian Crawford is running against Barry Mateer in the race for a seat on Clarke Community School Board.

Both candidates received the same Osceola Sentinel-Tribune profile questionnaire.

The election is Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Barry Mateer

Tell about yourself / background.

I was born and raised in Clarke County, attended country school through sixth grade, then junior high at West Ward and was a freshman at the old high school building, graduating in the class of 1964.

I majored in elementary education at what is now called University of Northern Iowa.

In my senior year of university, President Kennedy’s Peace Corps caught my attention. I was accepted into Peace Corps service and was in Nepal, where I taught vocational agriculture, science and English for three years.

At the completion of Peace Corps service, I got a job at the school set up for the children of American embassy and USAID staff. I taught there for nine years.

From Nepal, I went to Japan in 1983. Private schools in Japan were beginning to offer “oral communication” classes to supplement their grammar-translation approach in the teaching of English. I was fortunate to be the first such teacher in Nihon University’s Buzan Junior and Senior High School, where I taught for 19 years.

During that time, I took courses at the School for International Training in Vermont and received my MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. With that degree, I transitioned into teaching university classes. The last 10 years of teaching in Japan, I was fortunate to be able to devote full time to Tamagawa University, to help design the English curriculum in their newly forming Liberal Arts Department.

The university had an age-mandated retirement and in 2012, I returned to the house I was born into. Though I don’t call myself a farmer, I own a farm bought from old family friends and neighbors when they were ready to retire back in the 90’s.

Why are you running for this position?

I was shocked to learn nobody had run for this seat in the previous school board election, and when it seemed that this time it was going to be uncontested, I decided to run. In general, I believe that there should be a choice in elections.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

Though I spent over 40 years teaching overseas, Clarke Community Schools kept re-appearing in my life. In 1980, when I was home from Nepal for a year sabbatical, my adopted son attended his senior year at Clarke Community High School. That year, I was a substitute teacher.

Again, from 1988 through 1991, Clarke Community High School opened its doors for groups of 20 or more Japanese junior high school students who came for three weeks of homestay with local families.

When I retired and returned home, I had not considered there being an enticing career opportunity in Osceola until I saw an ad for an instructor at SWCC in their Adult Education and Literacy Program.

For two years, I have taught English as a Second Language classes. In addition, I do online testing for high school equivalency diploma (replaced GED). This term, SWCC asked me to teach a course to help prepare students for the U.S. citizenship exam.

I enjoy my classes and contacts within SWCC and have discovered that much has changed in public education since I was a student.

Being a school board member is one way in which to become more aware of changes, issues and policies within Iowa public education and specifically within Clarke Community Schools. It is also a chance to give back to the school and community that continued to support me, even when I was teaching halfway around the world.

If elected, what goals do you have planned in relation to the position?

I have no specific goals in mind, no agenda. If elected, I will be active within school board meetings, become more knowledgeable of our schools, and put in the necessary work to understand the issues and policies that influence the quality of education that students can strive for, both within and outside the classrooms of Clarke Community Schools.

I would appreciate your vote and the opportunity to serve.

Brian Crawford

Tell me about yourself/background.

I am a graduate of Clarke CSD and William Penn University. I am married to Molly Crawford for 18 years and we have four children enrolled at Clarke.

Most recently I have fulfilled one year of service as a school board member at Clarke and have previously been on multiple different community boards including Clarke County Development Corporation and Osceola Water Works.

I am employed at McKinstry, a design-build, operate and maintain general contractor as their operations manager for Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota. We live in Ward Township and enjoy family and school activities.

Why are you running for this position?

I personally believe that we must all contribute and give back positively to our community and the next generation with the talents and gifts that we are blessed with. I look forward to continuing to serve this community and students of Clarke.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I realize that I personally am not going to change the world, but together we can work to make Clarke School District better. This can be done by listening to parents, students, faculty and citizens of Clarke to implement policies and procedures that will enrich the learning environment at Clarke CSD. It is important to challenge the status quo and expect excellence from all.

If elected, what goals do you have planned in relation to the position?

I believe it is import to make sound decisions as a board member that is in the best interest of promoting the learning environment of all students at Clarke. My goal is to promote the teaching and learning environment of all students at Clarke so they will become positive citizens and wage earners in our community and nation.