Voters in the Chouteau-Mazie school district will decide Tuesday who’ll be the next person elected to the school board.

The seat drew two candidates when Bryce Bullard, who’s been on the school board for 15 years, decided not to run again.

Candidates are Donda Richards and Larry Stamper.

Donda Richards

Richards works at Bank of Commerce in Chouteau. She and her husband, David, have three

children, Brandon, 28, Cole, 23 and Adrienne, 16. Her youngest daughter is a junior at Chouteau High School.

Richards had the opportunity of staying home with her children most of their lives. She said she’s running for the school board because she wants the best education for everyone’s children and to make sure

teachers are given the tools they need.

“I have a 25-year investment in my

children and the school system and I want to stay involved, make sure it’s going in the proper direction,” said Richards.

Richards said she’s been active in all her children’s school activities most of their lives. She’s served as a

substitute teacher off and on at Chouteau Elementary School. She’s volunteered to work with seniors at the bowling alley and with the Pryor Women’s Golf Association.

“I’m representing all the moms that want the best education for their children,” she said.

Richards looks forward to

working with the new superintendent and wants to be in the know. She said as a parent, you often hear different things about the school system and she wants to “be involved in the knowledge of what is actually going on.”

She wants to be involved with the school and help it head in the right direction. Part of that she said is making sure teachers have what they need to use their abilities to better the students.

Richard said she wants to help the faculty and administration do their job to improve education.

“I’m not going in to this with the aspect of just being a yes person,” she said. “I want to ask questions, make sure funds are not misappropriated and things are followed through.”

Richards said voters should choose her “because I represent the town, the moms, the parents who are dedicated to their children and who always want the best for their kids and their children.”

She said she’s always been very active with her children.

“Any of my friends, their friends, will tell you I’m a great mom,” said Richards. “I want to be there for the other kids like I’ve been there for my children.”



Larry Stamper

Stamper is the Agriculture Education teacher at Inola Schools. He and his wife, Andrea, have two children in Chouteau schools. Kelsey is in the third grade and Karson is in the first.

“I think it’s important for board members to have children in the school to be aware of what’s going on,” said Stamper.

Stamper has taught school for 33 years. “I hope my insight as a teacher and parent could offer something to the school system and kids that would be beneficial.

“Very seldom do you find teachers that serve on the school board,” said Stamper. Living in Chouteau and teaching in Inola allows him to participate on the local school board.

Stamper said he enjoys working with kids and has helped coach the t-ball and soccer team.

Born and raised in Mayes County, Stamper said he lived in Murphy and went to school in Locust Grove. He taught agriculture education in Chelsea for 23 years, then left to pursue a career in sales for four years before returning to teaching in Inola.

Stamper and his wife moved to Chouteau three years ago to put their daughter in Chouteau schools. Stamper’s daughter has Cerebral Palsy and he sought a school that could accomodate her needs. In order to cut down on the hassle of transferring, the Stampers moved to Chouteau.

“That was the school of our choice,” he said. “We’re very pleased with the education they’ve got. Their teachers are excellent.”

Stamper said his background in education will hopefully allow him to recognize good programs, understand what kids need and evaluate whether a program is working.

Communication is key, said Stamper. “People in the community want to know what’s going on.” He said his experience should help him explain questions parents may have.

Stamper holds a master's degree in educational psychology, which he thinks helps him communicate and understand the children.

Stamper said although it’s unfortunate, he’s seen students who get into high school that can’t read and write.

“I don’t want to see the educational system fail the kids in Chouteau,” he said. “You need to be able to communicate with the parents and teachers. It’s a three-way street. Parents do their job. Parents do their job and administration and board provide the support.”

Stamper said he was named Teacher of the Year in Chelsea in 1987 and coached seven National Champion horse judging teams.

“I love working with students,” he said. “I spent my life working with the children ... I like working with the parents and I will keep the doors of communication open.”