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BOE Appreciation: Jerad Larkey


Posted Date: 01/22/2021

BOE Appreciation: Jerad Larkey

January is school board appreciation month. We will be recognizing each of our board members during the last few weeks of January. For those unaware, serving on the school board is a significant volunteer time commitment. This year has truly highlighted the important role that they play. Decisions affect a lot of people and each of our members carefully considers each issue. We are thankful for their guidance!

Today’s board member is Jerad Larkey. He joined the board along with Jennifer Coltrane and Nancy Toland a little before their terms actually started towards the end of 2017. Jerad and his beautiful bride, Molly, met at Allen Community College and will be celebrating 7 years of marriage this year! Currently they have 2 “fur babies'' a Red Heeler and a Terrier Mix rescued from ACARF. If there was a “most spoiled” dog contest they would definitely take 1st and 2nd place!

Prior to joining the BOE Dan Willis invited Jerad as a business owner/community member to be on a committee to look at why the previous bond attempts had failed. Through that early committee of just a handful of people it blossomed into a large community interaction and eventually the successful plan that a majority were able to strongly support. Jerad enjoyed that process and watching the fruits of all those meetings and discussions come to life through the construction process going on now. As the facility needs were being studied, a BOE position was vacated and needed to be filled. Jerad is hardwired that when he sees a need he must fill it, if able, so he went for it. In addition to his business/management experience, growing up in Texas his high school alone had 2000+ students which he felt would bring some different perspectives.

As a past soccer coach watching the kids he coached grow up and walk across the graduation stage has been tremendously fulfilling. As a district Jerad feels Iola has so many things to be proud of. Especially with all the career paths that are offered to the students. If anyone hasn't toured the RRTC in LaHarpe, Jerad strongly encourages you to do so. It's a prime example of how USD257 is so much more than the sum of its part. "Showcasing how our small communities can all unite on common ground towards providing our students as many opportunities as possible."

Finally, we end with a fun and very important fact: Yes, Jerad grew up less than 30 miles from the Dallas Cowboys stadium. NO, he has never been a Cowboys fan. “GO CHIEFS!”

Thank you, Jerad, for taking the call to fill the vacant BOE position. We are grateful for your time, energy, and expertise in serving our school board.

Jerad