Polk County News Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 5, 2017 11A Chilly start to market EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer Lavern Well, left, and Shirley Sloan, right, try on warm hats at a crafter’s stall at the Original Independence Farmers Market on Saturday. Since 1972 our family has supplied Willamette Valley home owners, Nursery Growers, Landscapers and our community with the highest quality bark, mulch and landscape products. Whether you are looking for a few yards or bulk material and custom blends for commercial use Marr Bros. Bark is able to support and supply your needs. FAST DELIVERY OR U-HAUL Commercial & Residential • Hemlock • Fir • Sawdust • Hog Fuel • Topsoil • Compost EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer Jennifer Kubista speaks with classified staff, teachers, students and community mem- bers at a forum held on March 22 during the final round of interviews. Central: Kubista believes in educating whole child Continued from Page 1A “I have always enjoyed coaching,” she said. “Coach- ing is teaching. That’s just been with me for forever. When I started to see more on the administrative side that it was more of a busi- ness rather than what I’m going to call a teaching and learning environment — it was for our athletes, but as I looked at administration, I didn’t know if I wanted to do that.” Kubista kept ties in Taco- ma, where her family is filled with educators. Her mom was a teacher in Tacoma for 30 years, and her identical twin sister was a teacher for 10 years there before be- coming a building principal for the last eight years. After finishing her under- graduate work, she complet- ed an internship for the Tacoma School District, working with Title IV as it re- lates to athletics. In 2000, she moved back to the Northwest for good and be- came the Commissioner of the Columbia Empire Volley- ball Association in Beaver- ton. “I was down here for two and a half years and loved it,” Kubista said. “I have met some really great people in the Oregon area — really, it’s the entire state of Oregon that I was involved with. I have made some good con- nections, and kept those connections even though I’ve been in Tacoma the last 15 years.” For Kubista, it’s all about making connections. “I need to build relation- ships from my board to our district staff to our princi- pals to our teachers to our classified staff to our com- munity members,” she said. “I’m a big relationship per- son first and foremost. Where do we align? Where do we all have the same vi- sion, and where maybe would we be different? And how do we work together from there.” Kubista built Tacoma’s Whole Child initiative from the ground up — with the help of her staff and trusted colleagues. The Whole Child initiative focuses on student success academically, socially and emotionally, Kubista said. “They’re already doing some of that here,” she said. “That’s part of what in- trigued me as I was review- ing websites.” Kubista believes in put- ting students first, constant- ly asking the question how to do right by kids so they can be successful. Part of the Whole Child initiative was about removing barriers for principals and teachers and students, she added. “My job is to help us fig- ure out, how do we make it better for kids and teachers and our community, so stu- dents are successful,” Ku- bista said. “The day we open for them, beginning in ele- mentary and working through graduation, where they are going to put them- selves in a position whether they know an idea of a ca- reer they want to go into, or have applied to community college or a four-year col- lege, whatever they want to get into, that we have paved those paths.” After spending a day in Central School District as part of the interview process, Kubista said she en- joyed meeting everyone and walking through the build- ings, watching students and teachers working really hard. “There’s some great in- structional things going on,” she said. “I got to see some things that I’m very excited to be a part of.” Kubista remains a lover of all things athletics — partic- ularly volleyball — and coaches two volleyball teams to girls ranging in age from 7 to 11. “Volleyball is my passion,” she said. “I’ve been honored for the last two years to work for the Pac 12 as an officials observer for volleyball.” When she works for the Pac 12, she is paired with three other officials — none of whom she has worked with before — and they are sent to officiate the top teams in the country. “It’s fun to see how you team, and how leadership works in that way, when you’re put together really quickly and do a top match and work together,” Kubista said. “For me, there’s a lead- ership capacity that goes with that. Working with peo- ple you’ve never worked with, adapt, still get the calls right, making sure the kids are on the court.” Kubista’s family tops the list of priorities, and she en- joys spending time with them, camping, hiking and being outdoors. “I’m very much about finding whatever you want to get into, and go enjoy it,” she said. Wholesale prices on large quantities. FREE Estimates ! Marr Bros Bark 503-838-1830 www.marrbrosbark.com 875 S Pacific Hwy Monmouth Competitive Prices! The Frugal Shopper! Call Rachel, Heidi or Karen to reserve your coupon for next month. 503-623-2373 Available online 503-623-4943 967 Main St. • Dallas, OR 4 3 00 $ 00 2 $ We have $ ! s e i v o m Sunday - Thursday 11:00 am to 9:00 pm Friday & Saturday 11:00 am to 10:00 pm FREE GAMES FOR KIDS 00 ANY OFF GIANT PIZZA OFF LARGE PIZZA OFF ANY ANY MEDIUM PIZZA In store, pick up or delivery + charge. Not valid with other offers. With coupon. Expires 4/30/17 FAMILY FILLER 1 Large Single Topping Pizza 8-Piece Chicken SAVE 2 Orders Spuds $ 6.55 1 2-Liter Pop 40 20 $ Reg. $46.75 In store, pick up or delivery + charge. Not valid with other offers. With coupon. Expires 4/30/17 15 Months Subscription for the Price of 12 Months! Name ___________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________ City________________________________________________State ________ Zip___________________________Phone Number ______________________ Card No. _______________________________Expiration Date_____________ Signature ________________________________________________________ P.O. Box 108 • 147 SE Court St., Dallas OR 97338 503-623-2373 Expires 4/30/17 Annual Rate In County $35 yr. ❑ Check Enclosed ❑ Charge my Credit Card