4 candidates battle for 3 open board seats

Felisha Smith
Business Manager

Elections will be April 5, for the three positions on the Board of Education. Four candidates are running: David Addison, Amy O’ Brien, Emerson Smith and Amy Clendennen.

Addison is running for the school board for the second time. He received his master’s in business administration from Washington University in St Louis and his undergraduate degree in mathematics and statistics from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Addison is an active volunteer and a father of three: Emma a freshman at the high school, Sarah in eighth grade at Hixson and Christopher in second grade at Clark.

He is a professional financial actuary and “is dedicated to managing
the district’s financial assets effectively and efficiently,” said Addison.

“My long history of volunteer activity as well as having three children in the school system has given me great insights into the school system and the ability to hit the ground running. My strong financial background will enable me to ask the right questions and to ensure that the Webster Schools continue to thrive,” Addison continued.

O’Brien has been on the Board of Education since 2008 and has recently completed requirements for Advanced Board Member certification through Missouri School Boards’ Association. During
her first term on the board, O’Brien served on the Curriculum
Coordinating Council, the Policy Review Committee and the district’s Wellness Committee, and has been the board liaison to the Special School District Governing Council and the Webster Groves School District Foundation.

“I would like to continue to serve as a school board member because there are currently many issues, such as open enrollment and eliminating teacher tenure, that are being decided by our lawmakers
in Jefferson City. I feel strongly that these decisions that have such an extensive impact on our local schools should be decided
by the members of our community. As a board member, I’ve established relationships with our local legislators and have been a strong advocate for local control of public schools. I will continue to have this as a priority in my second term,” said O‘Brien.

O’ Brien and her husband have lived in the district for 18 years. They have a daughter, Megan, and a son, Sean, who are both seniors
at WGHS.

Smith has served one term on the Board already. He is Vice President-Consumer lending at the American Eagle/ Anheuser-Busch Employees’ Credit Union.
Smith has one child, sophomore Maddison Smith, in high school and one high school graduate, Mackenzie Smith.

Smith served as chairman of the Juvenile Conference Committee of St. Louis County and as an Advisory Board member for the Academy of finance on the St. Louis Public School District. He has also served three years on the Board of Adjustment for the city of Webster Groves.

Clendennen serves on the District’s Finance Advisory Committee;
she was appointed by the Board of Education.
Clendenmen is from a family of educators. Her parents and two brothers are teachers
and administrators, and other family members serve in various educational leadership roles throughout the state.

Clendennen and her husband, Andy, have three Webster students:
twins, Allee and Owen, fifth graders at Clark Elementary. and daughter Jensen at Early Childhood Education Center.

Clendennen is an attorney with other Board members at a firm that represents school districts throughout the St. Louis area.