Note: This is the fourth in a series by Athens ISD profiling the seven members of the Board of Trustees.
By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist
Serving as the vice president of the Athens ISD board of trustees isn’t about politics for Steve McElhany. It’s about answering what he describes as a calling in his life — and continuing a family tradition in education.
McElhany’s grandfather was one of the first agriculture teachers at Henderson County Junior College (now TVCC). His two great-aunts, Lucy and Florence McElhany, both taught at West Athens Elementary school, which is now the home of the District Support Center. His great-uncle, Mastin Stover, was the principal at West Athens. And Stover’s wife, Carolyn Stover, was a longtime government teacher at Athens High School.
“She was a pistol,” said McElhany, who had his great-aunt in class before he graduated in 1975. “She had a passion for history and government, and she lit that in me.”
McElhany said he views the school district as one of three legs of a metaphorical stool that holds up a town, the other two legs being city government and the church community. “If any one of those legs falls short, the town is not as healthy as it should be,” he explained. “I serve on the board because I’m trying to make sure the school leg is strong, and this town is a good place to live.”
McElhany’s ties to the district are not only historical and geographical. His wife, Lori, is the dyslexia specialist/reading intervention teacher at Bel Air Elementary, and his children, Brad and Bethany, both graduated from Athens High School. So his service to the district is very personal. He first joined the board in 2001, stepped down in 2004, and then was elected again in 2008. His current term expires in 2017.
McElhany finds his work as a trustee rewarding, particularly with what he views as the notable gains of the past five years. “I’ve seen us change the perception of the schools for the better among the local community,” he said.
A school board is on the wrong track, he said, if its members attempt to involve themselves in the fine details of running the district.
“The board’s job is to set policy and direction,” he said. “We hire and fire the superintendent and set policy. Our job is not to get involved in the minutiae of the district. … When I get a call about a concern, I want to hear it. But as a single board member, I have no power. If someone wants to really affect change, it has to come before the whole board and be heard.”
McElhany feels strongly that one of the greatest challenges facing the education of our children today is a lack of positive parental involvement in educational issues. “Parents need to be involved for their children to do well,” he said. “We’ve got to encourage more parents to do that.”
——-
More about Steve McElhany
- As a district sales manager for Red Dot Buildings, he spends a lot of time on the road and listens to at least one book a week. “I love historical fiction and biographies. My favorite book right now is ‘Unbroken’ by Laura Hillenbrand.”
- Before going into sales, he set out toward a pharmacy career. “I got three semesters under my belt, then took medicinal chemistry. That’s when pharmacy school and I parted ways. I don’t regret it.”
- He and his wife took country and western dancing at Tyler Junior College. “We repeated the same course over and over. We love to dance.”