Springfield NEA Recommends School Board Candidates

Springfield NEA’s school board committee, composed of volunteer SNEA members, recently completed an extensive interview process for school board candidates and has issued the following three recommendations for the April 7 election (in alphabetical order):


Jill Patterson
Francine Pratt
Bruce Renner



Jill Patterson

Springfield educators are quite familiar with Jill Patterson as the face and voice on mandated reported training videos over the years. Her considerable experience working on behalf of abused and neglected children in our community was a strong factor in her decision to run for the school board and in SNEA’s recommendation. Patterson served as a prosecuting attorney with Greene County for 15 years. She has served on numerous boards relating to education and child advocacy. Governor Nixon appointed Patterson to the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board in 2013. She has worked as a debate coach and has volunteered for numerous school-related activities, including PTA and Early Childhood tutoring. Ms. Patterson is the only candidate with children who currently attend Springfield Public Schools. SNEA believes she will make an outstanding school board member.


Francine Pratt

Francine Pratt is currently the Executive Director for Multicultural Programs at Missouri State University and was formerly Program Coordinator for Drury University’s Scholars Program as well as Executive Director for Isabel’s House, the Crisis Nursery of the Ozarks. Pratt also has served on the advisory committee for OTC Middle School program as part of a long list of civic activities and leadership. Ms. Pratt worked as a mentor in all five Springfield high schools to develop college preparedness for diverse students and is quite familiar with Springfield schools, having worked with many teachers, counselors, school nurses and principals. Pratt’s extensive civic activism leaves her uniquely qualified to serve on the school board.


Bruce Renner

Nobody knows the Springfield school district better than Bruce Renner, who has served for 21 years on the board of education. Renner has seen five superintendents come and go over the span of his volunteer work on the school board, and he has never lost his passion for making Springfield Schools a better place to teach and learn. SNEA knows firsthand through years of experience working with Renner that there is no stronger advocate for public education, teachers and students. He is considered the board’s in-house archivist, and he’s particularly adverse to watching the district repeat mistakes it has made in the past – nor is he adverse to speaking up about it. Renner graduated from Parkview High School and worked as a teacher and counselor at Central and Parkview before becoming Director of Admissions and Dean of Student Services at OTC. He currently teaches part-time at OTC. Some board members may become complacent with longevity, but such is not the case with Renner. SNEA heartily recommends another term for this dedicated educator.


Other Candidates


Patricia Ann Ingold

Patricia Ingold is making her first run for public office after being asked to run by friends in the community. She has taught in private and public schools in Virginia, California and Missouri and offers strong support for teachers. She currently works as a property manager. Ingold expressed concerns about the public schools asking parents and families to abandon their values. She also expressed concerns about top down social engineering by the government through public schools.


Swayne Loftis

Swayne Loftis chose not to participate in the SNEA interview process, but he did submit a partial questionnaire. Loftis was in the news last year, when he attempted to be on the school board ballot but did not submit enough valid signatures. At that time, he raised serious questions about the integrity of the process and those who counted the signatures. This year, Loftis is on the ballot. He describes himself as a conservative contractor working on contract with the US Forest Service and Missouri Department of Conservation. Loftis says that, as a board member, he would never tolerate any curriculum, teacher, or administrator to pressure or bully a child to sin against Almighty God in any way.