Section A · Page 8
The University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, October 19, 1999
The Etc. Shop
928 Mass Lawrence, KS
jaybowl, Kansas Union, 864-3545
Evolving into a leader in midst of controversy
Board of Education chairwoman faces barrage of criticism
By Chad Bettes
Kansan staff writer
She has appeared on the Today Show, Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, the Jim Lehrer News Hour, CBS Sunday Morning and even a Japanese news program. Her words have been splashed in newspapers around the world. The calls just keep coming in, day and night.
What has Linda Holloway of Shawnee done to deserve such attention?
She serves as the chairwoman of the Kansas State Board of Education at perhaps the most controversial time in its history.
Holloway: says the board's evolution decision has consumed her life
Holloway, 50,
never dreamed
her first foray
into public
service would
place her in the
center of a
firestorm
of controversy.
But that is what
has happened
since she and
five other members
voted to
de-emphasize
the concept of
macroevolu-
Holloway, a Georgia native, moved to the Kansas City area in 1969. She was educated at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she earned a bachelor's degree in 1971 in elementary education. She continued her education at the University of Kansas, where she received a master's degree in 1980 in learning disabilities.
son in the state's science standards.
"That decision has consumed my life since," Holloway said.
Holloway credits University professors such as the late Floyd Hudson for instilling in her a strong interest in research.
"They emphasized research and not taking things at face value," she said. "They taught me what good
Higher education
Kansas State Board of Education Chairwoman Linda Halloway listens to a proposal for new Internet connections in schools. Hallway is considering running for re-election to the board next year. Photo by Chad M. Cummings/KANSAN
research was. I learned it is not good if it is not repeatable, measurable or objective."
Hudson used a common-sense approach in teaching and had a special compassion for people with special educational needs, which Holloway said influenced her teaching style and career path.
Holloway had an extensive teaching career in Missouri public schools at grade levels from elementary to high school. She said she faced things that both challenged and strengthened her, including the inner city environment and her decision to work with orthopedically disabled and health impaired students.
She said she enjoyed the work much of the time, but Holloway said at one point she had to take a year off to rejuvenate her passion for the job. After returning to the classroom, her efforts led her to staff development and teacher mentoring.
Holloway said Speers, who has since died, accused her of having a stealth agenda including things like book burning. Holloway said Speers' campaign was based on fear tactics and was backed by the Kansas chapter of the National Education Association.
She won the election with about 60 percent of the vote.
*Thanks got a bit rougher in the general election, Holloway said, because a Democrat, Dick Speers, filed to run against her as an independent.
A change in life
"After that race, I thought, 'This is no fun. I'm never doing that again,' she said.
1994 was the year that changed the course of Holloway's future. She caught the political bug and decided to run against an incumbent state representative to ensure that education issues received proper attention. After being soundly defeated, Holloway didn't envision a future run for office.
Then Holloway was approached by party activists in 1996 and asked to consider running for the Board of Education seat that was being vacated by long-time member Kathleen White. From a platform of increasing academic excellence and improving communication between the board and its constituents, Holloway jumped into the race. She received more than 60 percent of the vote in what she described as a fairly quiet primary.
Board member Janet Waugh of Kansas City, a vocal critic of the board's newly adopted science standards, said she was supportive of Holloway being elected chairwoman, even though they disagreed on certain issues.
"But the most important thing is to
Full time on the board
Early in her term, Holloway said, the board began dealing with state standards in many academic areas, which recently had not been updated. Updating the standards involves a lengthy process in which educators and others from around the state sit on committees to draft appropriate standards.
Then four new members were elected to the 10-member board in 1998. Split evenly along certain philosophical lines, the board was confronted with electing a new chairperson. Holloway quickly emerged as a compromise candidate.
Holloway kept her teaching job for a year while she served on the board. She then quit teaching, succumbing to the board's rigorous demands.
"I was surprised at the volume of reading. There is a board packet of 600 to 800 pages a month and new federal regulations to keep up on. There is a lot of bureaucracy," she said.
have a person who is fair and who allows every position to be heard and listened to," Waugh said.
Waugh said she supported Holloway's continued service as chairwoman because she listened to every voice. Her only complaint had to do with Holloway's handling of the science standards issue.
Board member Bill Wagonon of Topeka is more critical in his assessment of Holloway's performance leading the board. He said Holloway's leadership was fine until July, when he said the board completely broke down.
Holloway said the ongoing fallout from the new standards had surprised her.
Richard Whelan, the Ralph Smith professor of child development at the University, disagreed with Wagonon's assessment. He said Holloway had been open, fair and receptive.
"There is a lot of hostility. She has been a source of real frustration. I see her as part of a narrowing process." Wagon said.
"I really am impressed with her dedication to the role of the State Board of Education. She brings a unique perspective because she's been there in the classroom," he said.
Surprising reactions
"I had no idea we would get this knee-jerk reaction from around the world," she said.
She blames members of the media and some in the academic community for misrepresenting what the board has done. She said there had been lies told about her and the board's decision.
"Im tired of the name calling and misinformation because I think it's healthy to talk about the issues," she said. "The arrogance from the science community has been mind boggling."
The constituents ultimately have the final say in the matter, said Holloway, who now is leaning toward a run for re-election to the board next year. If she does run, a heated contest is expected
Holloway credits her husband, Jerry, and supportive friends with helping her endure the criticism. She is quick to note that she has received positive feedback from her constituents.
Hollowie tries to take potential challenges with a grain of salt.
Last week at a board meeting in DeSoto, she was presented with a satirical award that was in the shape of a frog. Later, she said with a smile, "Like the frog, if they are willing to teach evolution, warts and all, I'm fine with it."
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