Mattingly steps down from Exeter School Board
Mattingly
June 19, 2019
Vinnie Roberts
At the Exeter School Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, June 12, Exeter resident and long-serving board member Kerry Mattingly announced that she would be stepping away from her duties after 11 years of service to the board.
According to Mattingly, this is to focus on her education as she finishes her degree to become a middle school teacher.
“I decided that now was a good time to focus on my education. I am furthering my education and finishing my teaching degree,” said Mattingly. “I would like to be certified in middle school. I’m going to finish my elementary education degree and try to Praxis into other subjects.”
Mattingly explained she believes her time working on the school board will be helpful to her as an educator.
“I get to see the back side of everything,” continued Mattingly. “I see the types of things that we work on, school financial needs and things like that. I think it will be a big help in my career moving forward.”
Mattingly served on the Exeter School Board for 11 years. She was elected to the board in 2008. According to her, her service began during one of Exeter’s more trying times as a district.
“When I first got on the board, our school’s standing wasn’t the greatest,” said Mattingly. “We were able to rise up and overcome so many obstacles. When I was on the board, we were able to make a lot of positive changes to our school. Being able to help others has always been a strong motivation for me.”
This sentiment was further expanded upon by Exeter superintendent Dr. Ernest Raney, who has served the district for nine of the 11 years that Mattingly has been on the board.
“She’s a great lady. Anything you ever need done, she’s willing to give it her all to make sure that we accomplish our goals,” said Raney. “We’re about meeting students needs first and that’s what her goal always was. She’s both feet in on every project and in doing everything that the board wants to accomplish and everything that she sets out to do.”
Mattingly went on to express that the district’s current positive state was another contributing factor to her decision to step away.
“We’re currently operating in the best standing we’ve ever had,” said Mattingly. “Our administration is strong, so I felt like if I was going to leave, now would be the best time.”
According to Raney, this positive direction the district is in has a lot to do with Mattingly’s involvement.
“She’s led a lot of different efforts,” said Raney. “She did a lot to make a difference in the lives of these kids. That’s always been her center of attention. It’s always been a great experience to work with her. We always knew we could count on her support in anything that we did.”
Mattingly has lived and worked in the district for a large portion of her life.
“I grew up in Exeter and I went to school there. I have always had an interest in making our school as good as possible. If we can make a change and make life better for at least one student, that’s all I ever wanted to do.
Though the decision to leave was a difficult one for Mattingly, she hopes to continue to work within the district once her degree is finished.
“It’s very bittersweet,” said Mattingly. “It was a hard decision to make. I hope to be back soon but in a different role.”
Vinnie Roberts
At the Exeter School Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, June 12, Exeter resident and long-serving board member Kerry Mattingly announced that she would be stepping away from her duties after 11 years of service to the board.
According to Mattingly, this is to focus on her education as she finishes her degree to become a middle school teacher.
“I decided that now was a good time to focus on my education. I am furthering my education and finishing my teaching degree,” said Mattingly. “I would like to be certified in middle school. I’m going to finish my elementary education degree and try to Praxis into other subjects.”
Mattingly explained she believes her time working on the school board will be helpful to her as an educator.
“I get to see the back side of everything,” continued Mattingly. “I see the types of things that we work on, school financial needs and things like that. I think it will be a big help in my career moving forward.”
Mattingly served on the Exeter School Board for 11 years. She was elected to the board in 2008. According to her, her service began during one of Exeter’s more trying times as a district.
“When I first got on the board, our school’s standing wasn’t the greatest,” said Mattingly. “We were able to rise up and overcome so many obstacles. When I was on the board, we were able to make a lot of positive changes to our school. Being able to help others has always been a strong motivation for me.”
This sentiment was further expanded upon by Exeter superintendent Dr. Ernest Raney, who has served the district for nine of the 11 years that Mattingly has been on the board.
“She’s a great lady. Anything you ever need done, she’s willing to give it her all to make sure that we accomplish our goals,” said Raney. “We’re about meeting students needs first and that’s what her goal always was. She’s both feet in on every project and in doing everything that the board wants to accomplish and everything that she sets out to do.”
Mattingly went on to express that the district’s current positive state was another contributing factor to her decision to step away.
“We’re currently operating in the best standing we’ve ever had,” said Mattingly. “Our administration is strong, so I felt like if I was going to leave, now would be the best time.”
According to Raney, this positive direction the district is in has a lot to do with Mattingly’s involvement.
“She’s led a lot of different efforts,” said Raney. “She did a lot to make a difference in the lives of these kids. That’s always been her center of attention. It’s always been a great experience to work with her. We always knew we could count on her support in anything that we did.”
Mattingly has lived and worked in the district for a large portion of her life.
“I grew up in Exeter and I went to school there. I have always had an interest in making our school as good as possible. If we can make a change and make life better for at least one student, that’s all I ever wanted to do.
Though the decision to leave was a difficult one for Mattingly, she hopes to continue to work within the district once her degree is finished.
“It’s very bittersweet,” said Mattingly. “It was a hard decision to make. I hope to be back soon but in a different role.”