[Ed. Note: Brad Wittrock of Kingfisher has authorized the Times & Free Press to publish the following announcement of his candidacy for Kingfi sher Board of Education, Office No. 3, subject to the April 4 general election.]

My name is Brad Wittrock and I’m requesting your vote for Kingfisher Board of Education on April 4.

My roots in this town run deep as a Kingfisher native and 1999 graduate of Kingfisher High School.

I earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Oklahoma State University. Currently, I own and manage a hydroexcavation service company based here in Kingfisher.

My wife, Starla, has a master’s degree in speech pathology and has worked in the education system for more than 15 years. We have two children enrolled in Kingfisher Public Schools, Teegan, 10, is in fourth grade and Braylee, 8, is in second grade.

Below are a few things I feel are important for our school system and leadership:

Transparent communication – I am a firm believer in open and honest communication in my professional endeavors. Running for school board became an interest of mine this most recent summer when we lost another superintendent and several teachers. There is no doubt the current board members have faced extremely difficult situations and I believe improving communication from the school system to the community concerning hardships at hand and the decisions being made would create more community trust and understanding. At a time when the school system faces hard decisions, high turnover rates, a pending lawsuit and a financial situation that we have not been in before, a more transparent method is vital for our town’s support.

Unity in leadership – Overcoming differences for the greater good of our children and teachers is a priority of mine. I believe board members and leaders within the school system should work together to commit to a vision of high expectations for student achievement and quality instruction, defining clear goals in order to obtain that vision. School board members should lead as a united team, each from their respective roles, alongside the superintendent and maintain the ability to collaborate in a strong and positive manner while maintaining a mutual trust for each other.

Make teachers and staff a priority – In my professional career, I have constantly prioritized cultivating a culture where people feel valued and I plan to bring this approach to our teachers. Prior to moving back to Kingfisher, I founded TerraStar, Inc., an oil and gas service company, located in Pennsylvania. Within two years, we added service lines and expanded into Ohio, growing our staff to just over 95 employees. In order to succeed, we had to attract and retain the best employees possible. We had to train them properly, set them up for success by providing the correct tools and equipment and then allow them to do their job. Our employees were our biggest asset and without them we could not succeed. I am passionate about mirroring the same belief and culture when it comes to staffing our school system. We need to prioritize our teachers, realize they are our biggest asset, provide continuous professional development opportunities and ensure they feel valued and empowered within our schools.

Strength in diversity – I also feel that I would bring some diversified experience to the board. I believe having young children in the school system gives me helpful insight and perspective to bring to our qualified and experienced school board. While we absolutely need advisement from members who have raised kids prior and understand the environment, I feel we should also have representation from someone who is living the day to day with kids at our different school buildings and education levels.

In closing, my intentions are to help create the best environment for our children and teachers today and tomorrow.

I do not intend to run for this position with any particular agenda. Rather, my goal would be to resolve any current issues and move forward together in a positive and productive manner.