Candidate Profile: John Crooks for Avon Lake Board of Education

Name:  John R. Crooks

Date of Birth:  Sept. 9, 1962

Occupation:  Higher Education Administration; Associate Provost,   University Partnership at Lorain County Community College (LCCC).

Education: 1985 BS (cum laude) Biology Northeast Missouri State University (Now Truman State University);  1987 MS Biology Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University); Master’s Thesis: Respiratory studies of brain and liver mitochondria isolated from rats and   shrews. 1993 PhD, Biology Bowling Green State University Doctoral Dissertation: Regulation of cytochrome P-450 dependent steroid hydroxylase activity in Manduca sexta: Effects of the juvenoids hydroprene and methoprene on ecdysone 20-monooxygenase activity.

Family:  Wife, Kathleen, married 20 years, daughters Elizabeth (17 – graduated from ALHS 2011), Amy (15 – sophomore at ), Andrew (7 – Redwood)

Years residing in Avon Lake:  12 years

Political Affiliation:  Unaffiliated

Office Sought: Avon Lake City Schools Board of Education

Previous Political Office Sought or Held: 2007 Avon Lake City Schools Board of Education (sought)

Email:  crooks173@oh.rr.com

Campaign page: John R. Crooks for Avon Lake City Schools Board of Education – via Facebook

Candidate Statement:

The Avon Lake City Schools are a tremendous community asset, one of which we all should be very proud. ALCS’s high quality programs demonstrate daily the community’s commitment to academics, athletics, and the arts. The state report card has shown success at all levels of the district and we must maintain that success, while being fiscally responsible and serving the needs of all students in our community.

I believe strongly in the community of Avon Lake. I have coached for the Avon Lake rec programs in baseball, basketball, soccer and softball. I often attend school performances and events and am proud of the talent in Avon Lake. I strongly commend the work of our local library and the great synergies that have been developed between the library and our local schools. I have also seen our community respond compassionately to those in need. I believe strongly in education and value its impact on lives.

My wife, father, uncle, and sister have all taught in the K -12 system. I have been in education and worked in higher education in Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa and Ohio. I  am a member of Lorain County’s REACHigher (P -16, educational organization), and am a member of Boards for the Ohio Academy of Science and the Ohio Math and Science Coalition. I served on the Ohio Department of Education Academic Content Standards for Science in 2001. As an academic administrator I have managed budgets and served on the LCCC joint salary and benefits committee. I have also received grants from the National Science Foundation, Ohio Department of Education, and Ohio Board of Regents. I have been involved in Columbus and throughout the state of Ohio and this experience will allow me to propose best educational practices in an effort save money and maintain excellence in our school.

It is an honor to run for the school board and support the district that continues to provide an excellent education for my children, neighbors, and friends. This campaign allows me to meet more people in Avon Lake and to learn about educational issues that are important to them. I hope I can earn your trust to vote for me as I commit to assist in maintaining the excellence of our local schools – as I believe this is a major factor of the high quality of life we enjoy in Avon Lake.