Chambers, Lee, Martin vie for two Dora school board positions in April 6 election
By Sue Ann Jones
Two of Ozark County’s five school districts, Dora and Thornfield, and one of its three incorporated villages, Gainesville, will hold elections in the April 6 general municipal election. This week, the Times is publishing brief profiles of the three candidates who are running for two three-year terms on the Dora board: incumbents Terry Martin and Robert Lee and challenger Gwen Chambers.
The profiles were created from the candidates’ responses to questions that were emailed to them by the Times. The edited profiles published here have been approved by the candidates.
Profiles of the two candidates running for the Center Ward seat on the Gainesville Board of Aldermen, Dana Crisp and Debbie Miller, and the three candidates running for two seats on the Thornfield School Board, Darrin Clayton, Joshua Mayberry and Travis Tucker, are scheduled to run in next week’s Times.
Absentee voting for the April 6 election continues through April 5. In-person absentee voting may be done at the Ozark County Clerk’s Office in the courthouse. To request an absentee ballot for mail-in voting, call the clerk’s office at 417-679-3516. The last day to register for the April 6 election was March 10.
Gwen Chambers
Personal/family information: I spent most of my life in Jefferson County (just south of St. Louis). I married Calvin Chambers (a lifelong Dora-area resident) in 2013 and moved from Jefferson County to Dora full time in 2017.
Do you currently have children attending school in this district? I have two grandchildren who are in seventh and fifth grade at Dora School.
Education, experience and employment background: I am a local Realtor with 28 years of experience helping people negotiate in highly emotional situations. I am open to new ideas, I try to see conflicts from both sides of view and I base my decisions on the merits of the situations and not my own personal feelings.
How long have you lived in the school district? I’ve lived here four years full-time, four years part-time. I plan to retire in this community.
In what ways do you support the school district? I currently support the school district by supporting the students of the community. I’m a big supporter of the youth of Dora, and most every Friday night, you will find me at Dora Youth Connect, where we can connect with students on a personal level.
What changes would you like to see in the school board and/or the district? Until I get into the job, this is a difficult question to answer. I want to treat everyone fairly, and I believe my goal when negotiating within the board about school board issues needs to be a win-win for everyone. I feel like some fresh ideas and a few fresh faces would improve the district overall. As a newcomer to the area, I bring no personal agenda. I just want to make sure the students get the best education with our tax dollars.
Robert R. Lee
Personal/family information: I grew up in Dora, graduating in the class of 1988. I have been married to Traci Pendergrass Lee since 2012. Between us, we have five children and six grandchildren. We own property in Douglas County and raise cattle.
Do you currently have children attending school in this district? No. My youngest, Kyle Lee, graduated in 2020.
Education, experience and employment background: I am currently working full time in the Active Guard and Reserve for the Missouri Army National Guard in Fort Leonard Wood. I enlisted in the Army Reserves in 1987 and transferred to the Missouri Army National Guard in 1989, attending monthly drills. I then deployed to Desert Storm in 1990. In 2001, our military police company deployed in support on Noble Eagle Fort Leonard Wood. I started active duty with the Missouri Army National Guard in 2004 with the 1138th MP Company in West Plains after my third deployment, which was in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to Kuwait and Qatar. My fourth deployment was to Bagdad, Iraq, in 2009. I have a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Columbia College. My current position is as the operation non-commissioned officer for the 35th Engineer Brigade, where I ensure that the 1,815 soldiers assigned to the brigade are trained and ready to deploy. This includes budgeting, spend plans, initiating training and providing transportation means. I have been on the Dora School Board for five years.
How long have you lived in the school district? I have lived in Dora most of my life. I moved away for only a few years for employment in surrounding areas and spent a short time in North Carolina.
In what ways do you support the school district? I love helping the FFA in any way that I can. I have purchased numerous projects the program has completed. I also attend fundraisers and shooting competitions. We try to attend as many school events as we can.
What changes would you like to see in the school board and/or the district? I would like to see stability and a sense of security in the district. This past year has been hectic with the current situation related to the covid-19 virus. I hope the community sees the work the administration and board have accomplished to ensure the safety and the continued education of the children in the school.
Terry Martin
Personal/family information: I grew up in Dora and graduated from Dora High School in 1991. I have been married to my wonderful wife Elizabeth for the last 19 years, and we have four children.
Do you currently have children attending school in this district? All four of my children are currently attending school at Dora. Dylan is a senior, Lauren is a sophomore, Olivia is in seventh grade and Jackson is in third grade.
Education, experience and employment background: I hold a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Missouri State University. For the past 20 years, I have worked for Jack Henry & Associates as a software engineer.
How long have you lived in the school district? Dora is my hometown, and I spent my entire childhood in Dora. I returned to Dora with my family, and we have lived in Ozark County for the past seven years.
In what ways do you support the school district? I have had the privilege to serve on the Dora School board for four years. My wife, Elizabeth, teaches at Dora High School, and our children are very active in sports and various clubs. Usually, if the doors are open, we are there to support the kids of our community and the school district in any way that we can.
What changes would you like to see in the school board and/or the district? In working with the school for the past four-plus years, I believe we have a great school district that continues to have community support. With the recent challenges created by the pandemic, changes will be needed to continue to provide our students with the education and tools they need to succeed. I was blessed to grow up with hard-working, dedicated parents, and I genuinely believe that with hard work, anything is possible. I want that belief for all the students in our district. By offering college-level courses and keeping our focus on core education values mixed with technical innovation, we can make sure our students can have the tools they need to achieve their future goals. Whether students choose college or trade school, or transition to the farm or workforce, all students can succeed.