Dolores Brooks

The retired educator served on the steering committee that laid the groundwork for OTC and was later elected as one of the school’s six founding trustees. She served as president of the board of directors 1990-1992 and, more recently, 2002-2004.

In April 1990, 61 percent of voters who went to the polls in Springfield and 13 surrounding public school districts favored the creation of a community technical college. The school – housed at Cox North in Lincoln and Graff halls – opened in September 1991 with 1,198 college credit students.

Enrollment at OTC grew at an annual rate of 16.7 percent between 1991 and 2004, and during the 2004-05 academic year, the technical school served nearly 22,000, with more than 9,000 students enrolled in college credit classes.

Brooks’ connection to OTC has remained steady since the school’s inception.

She recently served as co-chair of the school’s presidential search committee, which conducted a national search before selecting Hal Higdon, who was vice president for administration at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Finding a strong leader to succeed longtime president Norman Myers was important to Brooks.

“The leadership at OTC impacts students, economic development and businesses in our region, so great care was taken in the selection (of Higdon),” she said.

Brooks spent much of her career as a school administrator for Springfield Public Schools. She was the first woman to become a high school principal in Springfield when she took the reins at Parkview High in 1983.

Brooks, who also served as principal at Jarrett Middle School and assistant principal at Kickapoo and Central high schools, said she is proud of the countless students and educators she mentored throughout her career.

In her years as an educator, Brooks was active in the Springfield Education Association and the Missouri State Teachers Association.

Brooks has been affiliated with numerous civic groups, including the United Way of the Ozarks, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the Boys & Girls Club, Salvation Army and the Dogwood Trail Girl Scout Council.

“Through the work I did with the Girl Scouts and other organizations, I tried to set an example, teach skills and guide young people,” Brooks said. “I have always tried to serve as a role model for girls and women by demonstrating strength and compassion.”

Personally speaking

Please tell us about your family.

My husband, Alden, is a retired professional engineer. We have three grown daughters and two grandsons. One is 23 and the other is 9.

Tell us something about you that most people probably don’t know.

When I was 8 years old I had a mild case of polio. It was never a big problem, although during my first year in college, I was assigned to an “adaptive” physical education class – and one of my majors was in physical education! Later, between my graduation from college and my first teaching position, I worked in the polio ward at Denver General Hospital.

If you could go back in time, what one person would you most like to meet?

I would like to meet and talk to some of my relatives who migrated to this country from England, Ireland and Germany. There is so much history missing.

Beyond The Golden Rule, what philosophy do you live by?

“This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or grow in its light and be of service to others. But what I do with this day is important because I have exchanged a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. I hope I will not regret the price I paid for it.” The author is unknown.[[In-content Ad]]