Mary Prows, who is running for Sumter County School Board District 4, shares her candidate profile:
“Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which fulfilled can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation, one person can make a difference and everyone should try.” – John F. Kennedy, 35th President
My name is Mary Prows and I am running for the District 4 seat on the Sumter County School Board. I am committed as a candidate to use my skills and related experiences to work with the Superintendent and the other four elected members of the Sumter County School Board to ensure our school system creates the best possible education system for the children and families in Sumter County. It is important to me to keep the educational, physical, and social/mental well-being of each student and the families we serve present in our decisions.
A school board member’s duties consist of creating & maintaining school district policy and procedure, fiduciary responsibility, and to provide each child the opportunity to receive a complete education program in accordance with the Sunshine State Standards. One of the greatest rewards of being a part of the education system is to witness a child or adult gain understanding and knowledge of lifelong learning.
A governing board should be receptive to new ideas, responsive to all community stakeholders, encouraging open dialog, and seeking continuous improvement in all aspects of the District. My top priority is to ensure all students are served in the best ways possible based on their individual needs, and providing the best support to school staff as they are the foundation of a student’s success.
Areas of Priority in Pursuing Excellence in Education:
- Early Childhood Learning Opportunities
- Improved Proficiency Rates – Math/Reading
- Student Achievement
- Marketplace Readiness for Lifelong Success
- Fiscal Responsibility
- Grow Community Connections
Personal Information:
I was born and raised in Grant County, Indiana, living there until my husband and I made the decision to move to Sumter County in 2020. Married the same year I graduated high school, my husband Phil and I are excited to celebrate 50 years of marriage as of March 2024. We are the proud parents of three adult sons who reside in Indiana with their wives and our eight grandchildren. I had the opportunity to attend college with my younger two sons.
Education Information:
Mississinewa High School – Gas City, Indiana – High School Diploma
Indiana Wesleyan University – Marion, Indiana
Associate in Business – 2001
Bachelors of Science in Management – 2003
Masters in Business Administration – 2005, Accounting – 2007
Indiana University’s Lilly School of Philanthropy – Indianapolis Indiana
Certificate in Not for Profit Fundraising – 2019
Lead, Inc.
Certificate in Community Engagement – 2020
Extensive training working with at-risk youth in relation to education and learning.
Employment & Skills Related Information:
Indiana Members Credit Union – 11 years
Finance, Not for Profit
New Horizons Youth Ministries – 3 yrs
Finance, Social/Emotion, At-risk Youth, Not for Profit
Indiana Wesleyan University – 16 years
Higher Education, At-risk Youth, Finance, Not for Profit, Grant Writing
The Training Center – 14 years
Not for Profit Start-Up, Finance, At-risk Youth, Education, Grant Writing, Community Relations, Human Resources
Community/Volunteer Information:
Current:
Church Volunteerism – Leadership, Youth
Encounter Church – Wildwood, FL – 2 years
Choices Pregnancy Center – Wildwood, FL- 1 year
Assist with their independent 501c3 status and leadership
Previous:
Prevent Child Abuse Council – 13 years – Served as Treasurer
Purdue University/Grant County, IN Extension Board – 10 years
Served as Secretary
4-H Youth Development Board – Grant County, IN – 12 years
Circles of Grant County, IN (Building Community to End Poverty) -Start-up – 11 years
Community Forum to Combat Poverty – Grant County, IN – 2 years
Elected Service:
Marion Community School Board – Marion, IN – 2 years of 4-year term, resigned prior to moving to Florida. My tenure included service throughout the period of Covid-19, resignation of a long-term superintendent and the hiring of a new School Superintendent and his leadership team.
Served in the following area:
Contract Negotiation Team
Policy and Procedures Review Committee
Representative to Head Start (early childhood learning)
I have two fundamentals from the Bible that drive me: One – Train up a Child – give them the tools to be successful, two – Each child is created for a purpose, unique to them individually, children need to understand they have worth can succeed no matter circumstance, but only they can choose to find the path to complete the purpose.
I am passionate about seeing children and adults reach their full potential. Each person is created to do amazing things. Life’s journey with adverse experiences, traumas, and poor choices can lead us to settle for less. However, I believe it is our duty as a community to build each other up and create opportunities to make the community we live in a better place.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. My education and life experiences provide me with the tools to serve as an effective member of the Sumter County School Board. A community is only as strong as its next generation. Why do I want to run for the School Board? It’s for the Kids!
-Mary Prows
