Regardless of the organization Kris Thompson Callen serves, she always looks for opportunities to collaborate.
"I value the opportunity to work with others and collectively determine ways that our work can have a positive and lasting influence on the lives of those we serve," says Callen, whose day job is ministries coordinator at Messiah Lutheran Church.
Being a leader is a theme in Callen's life, and she's especially passionate about her volunteer work on behalf of public education.
Callen has served on the Springfield R-XII Board of Education for the past six years, most recently as president. A desire to help re-establish trust between the school board and public inspired her to run for a board seat.
"My personal commitment has been to help form a strong team that focused our efforts on the key work of (a) school board: improving student achievement," she says. "We engaged the community in a planning process that brought a wide range of perspectives into a common strategic plan, SP5."
During Callen's involvement, two school bond issues have passed, making possible more than $125 million in capital improvements. During her board tenure, the district also had its first operating levy increase in 20 years. Callen is proud that the board was one of five finalists for Missouri's Outstanding Board of Education for two consecutive years.
"I believe that a common thread runs through my leadership positions in each organization I have served: a strong belief in the mission of each organization, which allows me to inspire others to work on behalf of the organization and not on my behalf as the visible leader," Callen says.
She also is a member of Leadership Springfield Class XX, served on the steering committees for Character Education and Leadership is for Teachers, and is a member of the Alpha House Advisory Committee.
Callen's influence on the success of others extends to her personal life as the mother of three daughters. When her oldest daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy at 8 months old and then with significant developmental delays and learning disabilities when she was 3, Callen became her advocate.
"Serving as her advocate has not only led her to personal accomplishments that no one expected from someone with her physical and academic challenges - she is enrolled at Ozarks Technical Community College for the fall semester - but has opened the door for me to advocate for ... other children, both those with special needs and those who do not face those challenges," she says.
Callen takes seriously her role in helping to shape public education for the 24,000 students in the Springfield district.
"The seeds that quality public education sows in an individual's life can grow in ways that we never expect, and I take great satisfaction in my role in our district, which can influence the success of others each and every day," she says.[[In-content Ad]]
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