School Board Candidate: Cody Parman

MARIETTA, OH — Some members of the public have reached out to Patch about the media coverage, or lack thereof, around those running for Marietta City Schools Board of Education. There will be three new members on a board of five, so obviously, this is a very important election. The latest article of any significance was written by the Marietta Times some time ago. They reported that the Marietta Education Association's Public Action Committee endorsed three candidates, Sam Tuten, Eric Reed, and Cody Parman.

There are still three other candidates on the ballot, Ethan Vessels, Seth Miller, and Rudolph John Lehman. So the invitation is out to all candidates, reach out, we will publish your statement about why you want to be on the Board of Marietta City Schools, why you were or weren't endorsed by the MEA, and why that is or isn't relevant.

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I’m excited about the possibility of being elected to the Marietta City School BOE this November. There is nothing I’d like more than to jump in and help build some positive momentum for our community. I believe I can contribute to our board in a special way and I wanted to take a moment to share with you how.

This past summer when I threw my hat into the ring I made up my mind as to what type of candidate I wanted to be. If you’re like me you feel a little jaded by politics in recent years. Currently many would agree this is the absolute worst time to enter into anything even remotely political. It’s simply too stressful. The reason for all of the drama is that people are excessively frustrated, irritated, and annoyed by our culture’s inability to get on the same page with just about anything. It’s an exhausting political climate to exist in.

All that being said, I’m aspiring to be a candidate with a more refreshing approach. I feel we need something different than just another run of the mill political know it all. I think we need candidates who will focus on building trust with the community, teacher morale, and a culture of success. Trust is built by getting in the trenches and working alongside the people who are already investing in the education of our kids. It’s accomplished by hearing people out and considering what they have to say. Teacher morale is built by learning from teachers and administrators to keep up-to-speed with modern education and how it’s designed to work. It’s celebrating the hard work our teachers put into their jobs and working with them to remove any obstacles in their way. A culture of success is cultivated by asking hard questions and revamping ideas that don’t pan out the way we wanted them to. It’s the willingness to own mistakes and correct them. It’s examining where we’ve been and thinking critically about where we want to go, and insisting on getting there together.

Over the past several months I’ve had a lot to say about education, but I’ve intentionally done even more listening. I’ve sat across the table from several parents and concerned citizens to hear them out. I’ve personally met with current board members, former board members, teachers, and key administrators to pick their brains. I’ve gone out of my way to engage our community online to seek their input through various surveys and social media posts. I’ve exchanged countless texts, taken calls, and returned emails from dozens of people who just want what’s best for Marietta. This has been a really valuable season of learning for me.

What I’ve discovered is that people in our town are a combination of cautiously optimistic and outright nervous about the future of our schools. They’re hoping for these seats to be filled with people who will be reasonable, accountable, and able to bring a sense of unity and openness. I’m not naive enough to believe I could show up on this board and instantly spark positive change. However, I do believe that over time a determined board member can build dependable relationships with staff, contribute to a strong sense of camaraderie in the community, and promote a healthy educational atmosphere that will get people excited about sending their kids to school here.

When I put my hat into the ring this is the kind of board member I set out to be. It’s who I am and it’s why I think I can help in a special way right now. I believe this is the posture it takes to truly be for students, for teachers, and for Marietta.

I’d appreciate your vote this election,

Cody Parman

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Marietta Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of our latest sponsors? Email any and all inquiries to me at christopher.schmitt@patch.com