Lori Prussman
Prior offices
St. Joseph School District school board, At-large
Personal
Contact
Lori Prussman is a former at-large member of the St. Joseph school board in Missouri.[1] She won election to the board in the general election on April 8, 2014. Prussman did not seek re-election in 2020.
Biography
Prussman has spent the last 20 years involved in numerous PTA activities and also as a volunteer for the St. Joseph School District. Her appointments now include Missouri State PTA Treasurer, Executive Board member of the St. Joseph PTA Council and Chair for the Clarence J. Carpenter Memorial Fund Board. She is also the owner of a real estate website.[2]
Elections
2014
- See also: St. Joseph School District elections (2014)
Prussman was opposed by fellow challengers Jeff Bird and Kappy Hodges for the two at-large seats on April 8, 2014.
Results
St. Joseph School District, At-Large General Election, 6-year term, 2014
| Party |
Candidate |
Vote % |
Votes |
| |
Nonpartisan |
 Kappy Hodges |
33.9% |
8,453 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Lori Prussman |
33.8% |
8,414 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Jeff Bird |
32.3% |
8,055 |
| Total Votes |
24,922 |
| Source: Buchanan County, Missouri, "General Municipal Elections Official Results," June 20, 2014 (dead link) |
Funding
Hodges reported $3,000 in contributions and $414.31 in expenditures to the Missouri Ethics Commission, leaving her with $2,585.69 on hand.[3]
Endorsements
Prussman did not receive an endorsement in this election.
2012
Prussman ran unsuccessfully for one of three at-large seats on April 3, 2012. She was opposed by Martin Rucker, Dennis Snethen, Chris Danford, Hamilton Henderson and Walter Hanabury.
Results
St. Joseph School District, At-Large General Election, 6-year term, 2012
| Party |
Candidate |
Vote % |
Votes |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Martin T. Rucker |
21.1% |
6,712 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Chris Danford |
19.1% |
6,063 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Dennis Snethen |
15.4% |
4,896 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Hamilton Henderson |
14.3% |
4,542 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Lori Prussman |
13.7% |
4,344 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Walter Hanabury |
12.9% |
4,116 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Write-in votes |
3.6% |
1,137 |
| Total Votes |
31,810 |
| Source: Buchanan County, "Election Results 2012," accessed July 3, 2014 |
Prussman's campaign website listed the following as her campaign themes for 2014:
| “
|
I would like to take just a few moments to say a few things. Would each of you close your eyes and share in my vision for the future of our community? First, I see our schools...modern, each a shining jewel. Ready for twenty-first century learning. A place where all students feel safe, happy and ready to learn. A place where they can be free of fear from being bullied. A place where they can dream big dreams and be taught the skills and confidence that will allow those dreams to become a reality.
A place to inspire teachers and staff to dare to dream those big dreams along with their students. A place where they can feel confident that they are truly preparing the next generation of leaders. A place where they can bring in their perspective and ideas on how to reach their students without fear of backlash. A place where really knowing their students and developing relationship with them. Meeting them where they are and showing them the path to a brighter future. Giving their students the power to see past their current circumstances and to see that there is a better way and that no child would ever feel trapped or stuck in poverty.
I see our schools as a place for not just a few parents who are active but all parents are an active part of their child's future. Giving all parents the confidence to know that their child is important to us and that we believe in them. I see a place that all parents are free of fear to come into their child's school and know that they are welcome. Giving the parents and community the opportunity to take ownership and know that their opinion counts and makes a difference. We will never all agree on everything but if we can vet our differences and have an opportunity to come to agreement. Knowing that the goal is to do what is right for all students.
Our leadership...I see a team!!! I see us all coming together (admin, school board, teachers, parents, community members, elected official's) and working for what truly should be our goal, to make the St Joseph School District the best that it can be by doing what is right for kids. I see a team that will develop plans together, hearing all points of view and formulating a plan to make our district the best in the state...the country. I no longer see us as a training ground for teachers. I see a place where the best and brightest teachers and admin are fighting to come and work for our district.
Then I see our community as a whole. I see businesses looking at our community and saying..."They've got it right! This is a community where education is a priority. This is a place where my executives and employees would feel confident in sending their children to. This is a place where I know that I will be able to fill the positions in my company with graduates who are prepared!" I see us then in a position to draw companies here that will be able to offer our community good paying jobs, so that Mom and Dad don't each need two jobs to be able to pay their bills.
Imagine what this would do to our schools and students. We would no longer have a 60-65% free and reduced lunch rate. Parents would have more time to be involved with their children's education, the PTA, PACT, to volunteer in the schools and help mentor other students, have time to work with their children's teachers to come up with strategies that they can use at home to help their children excel. It takes a village to raise a child. Each school would have a strong PTA where we can bring in even more programs and help to our schools with projects. Our tax revenue would be much higher, so we no longer make cuts that will hurt the education of our students. Teachers will have the resources they need to properly teach their students. Adding to, not taking away!
[4]
|
”
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| —Lori Prussman website (2014)
[5]
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See also
- Ripple effect from St. Joseph scandal felt across the district and state (June 25, 2015)
- St. Joseph School District by the Numbers: Part II (June 8, 2015)
- St. Joseph School District by the Numbers: Part I (June 4, 2015)
- St. Joseph reacts to the school district scandal (June 1, 2015)
- Superintendent Czerwonka skips dismissal appeal, quits St. Joseph (May 4, 2015)
- Education experts weigh in on St. Joseph School District scandal (May 1, 2015)
- Musser lawsuit settlement released (April 13, 2015)
- St. Joseph School District settles Musser lawsuit (March 27, 2015)
- St. Joseph investigation widens; acting superintendent considers new job (March 25, 2015)
- Ballotpedia publishes video report on St. Joseph School District scandal (March 18, 2015)
- Dan Colgan resigns seat on St. Joseph Board of Education (March 6, 2015)
- Another firing, more fallout in St. Joseph School District (March 2, 2015)
- Board votes to fire St. Joseph School District superintendent (February 21, 2015)
- Criminal investigation called for in wake of St. Joseph School District audit (February 19, 2015)
- St. Joseph School District rated "poor" in financial audit (February 18, 2015)
- St. Joseph School District administrators placed on leave (January 22, 2015)
- Secret tapes revealed, scathing audit expected in St. Joseph School District saga (January 19, 2015)
- St. Joseph school board CFO deals with $2M shortfall, emotional return (December 11, 2014)
- St. Joseph school board rescinds CFO suspension (November 18, 2014)
- FBI narrows probe in St. Joseph stipend scandal (July 28, 2014)
- Stipend scandal erupts in St. Joseph, Missouri (June 30, 2014)
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External links
- ↑ St. Joseph's School District, "Board Installs New Members, Says Goodbye to Outgoing Members"," accessed April 16, 2014
- ↑ Lori Prussman for School Board, "About Me," accessed April 1, 2014
- ↑ Missouri Ethics Commission, "Campaign Finance Reports," accessed April 9, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Lori Prussman for School Board, "My Vision for Our Community," accessed April 1, 2014
