High Point R-3 School Board Candidate Marie Raychel Fulks
Years with address in the school district? While I have only lived in the area for a short period of time (2½ years), I feel like this community has been a part of my life since I was young. My sister, Melanie Porter, has lived in High Point since I was only 10 years old, so I spent many nights and weekends attending High Point events with her and her family. Also, my husband Kyle was raised in High Point and now works on his family's farm which is located in High Point.
High school graduated from: I was born and raised in Jefferson City and graduated from Jefferson City High School. I went on to earn my Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management at the University of Missouri.
Occupation and title/position: I am a Financial Representative Associate for a Financial Advisor.
Family: My husband is Kyle Fulks, and we have three boys -- Kaiden, 7, Everett, 5, and Grayson (almost 2). Kaiden is currently attending High Point as a first grader and Everett will begin kindergarten in the fall.
Leadership experience: I believe my experience in business over the last 10 years has given me the experience needed to serve on the board. For the last 8 years, I have worked for a financial advisor and am responsible for making sure our client's needs are met within our practice. I know that if given the opportunity, I could do the same for this community.
Volunteer experience: This past year, I helped work the concession stand at the school carnival. I know that as my children continue to become more involved with school, there will be many more opportunities to volunteer within the school and at events.
Why run for school board? I have chosen to run for school board member for a number of reasons. One of the main reasons is because I know that High Point has always provided their students with a great education. I want to be a part of making sure High Point continues to provide their students with the best teachers, education, and opportunities. I also want to ensure all teachers are provided with the tools they need in their classrooms to make learning more effective.
Why is public education important? Public education is important because it gives every child the opportunity to learn the skills needed to be successful.
What skills or knowledge do you possess that could benefit the district? My experience in business has taught me organizational skills, how to work well with others and make decisions in a timely manner.
What are the district's strengths and weaknesses? High Point is a small, tight knit community that cares about our students and school. Since we are a smaller school, our teachers are able to give more one-on-one time with students. We have a really good group of teachers that also care about making sure our students get the best education. No district is perfect but there is always room for improvement. I would like to see our district implement a preschool program to help ensure our incoming kindergartners are prepared for the classroom.
What issues are most important to you? I want to make sure that our district continues to hire the best teachers so we able to give our students an education that not only helps them get through school but helps them succeed in life.
What else should voters know about you before they go to the polls? I am proud to live in this small community and would love the opportunity to serve you on the High Point School Board for the next three years. I would appreciate your support in the election on April 5.
The High Point R-III School District has two other candidates running for school board: Perry Cook and Daniel Carender.