Amanda Smallcomb, (Central Nebraska Today, KGFW)
KEARNEY — Amanda Smallcomb is one of the nine candidates who is running for a seat on the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education this election season.
Smallcomb has been a resident of Kearney for 29 years and has lived in Nebraska her entire life.
She said her husband is a third generation Kearney High School graduate and their two children, both middle schoolers, attend Kearney Public Schools, (KPS).
Smallcomb said many of her family members have been educators but said she decided to pursue a career in healthcare. Then eight years ago she chose to be a full-time stay at home mother to ensure that their children had a parent at home to raise them.
As time has gone on, Smallcomb said she has become increasingly involved in the school system.
When she learned that Kathy Gifford was not seeking re-election to the school board, Smallcomb said she decided to enter the race herself. “I feel like I would be a benefit to the Kearney Public School system.”
Speaking of her qualifications, Smallcomb said she worked for 20 years as caregiver, behavior support coordinator and nurse in a facility for adults and children with disabilities and learned more about advocating for others.
The work provided her with several skillsets, patience, compassion, creative thinking, problem-solving, finding solutions to issues and the importance of communication.
When asked why she is seeking a position on the Kearney school board, Smallcomb said she feels she has a wide knowledge base of how the school system and that she has the energy to be invested in the success of the district.
“I feel I would work hard for Kearney Public Schools,” she said.
Speaking to the issues facing the district, Smallcomb said its no secret that public schools have been the subject of criticism in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.
She noted teachers have been under a microscope and don’t have the support of the general public like they once did. “They have been under fire for a while,” she said.
Teachers are choosing to leave the profession, and this is a detriment to public schools and students, she said, adding that teachers need to be supported.
Smallcomb cited information provided during one of the superintendent committee meetings, which included a 10-year survey of teachers in the county.
The survey indicated that the percentage of teachers who feel like their communities treat them as professionals has dropped from 77 percent in 2011 to 46 percent in 2022.
Also, the percentage of teachers who marked ‘very satisfied’ with their job has dropped to 12 percent recently, the number at its height was 64 percent in 2008.
Smallcomb said she plans to be “boots on the ground,” and speak with staff members face-to-face to see if there are any issues that need to be addressed and to give them a voice in what is going on.
She also added that the school board is a team and needs to work together to get the best results for the students, the staff and the district.
In closing, Smallcomb said she would be honored to have the opportunity to work more for Kearney Public Schools and that she is proud of the work that the teachers and students do.
Editor’s Note: Amanda Smallcomb appeared on 1340 KGFW and this article was written using information provided during that interview. The full interview can be found here.
