As a 29-year educator in Lake County I had the opportunity to work for both of the candidates for county superintendent of schools. I found each of them to be intelligent and hardworking superintendents. They each supported me in my job. As a result, the choice in this election was very difficult for me.

I would like to share the reasons I decided to support Wally Holbrook for county superintendent.

Wally is a 35-year career educator. He has been continuously focused on addressing the issues in education. The experiences he derived from being a parent, teacher, coach, principal, superintendent and leadership coach allow him to view issues from many perspectives. Wally understands the importance of all of these perspectives. From that understanding comes his campaign slogan, “Together We Thrive…Leadership With Experience.”

With Wally this is more than a simple slogan. His leadership style is to bring together those with interests on a particular issue, complete a process of fact finding, searching out solutions, discussing and building consensus. From that process an action plan is developed that participants can feel a part of and work to implement. This is not top down leadership. It takes time, effort and skill to bring people together in this way but it works. However, as I worked with him, I saw that he is decisive and does not hesitate to act when the situation requires it.

During the past five years, Wally has worked as a leadership coach assisting and mentoring new administrators in Northern California. In that role he has developed relationships with many of Lake County’s principals and superintendents. These relationships position him to bring those people together to address student, staff and community needs in a way he has demonstrated to be effective.

Finally, the county’s top educational leader must also keep the focus on individual student success not simply the business aspect of education. In these difficult financial times it is easy to limit your focus to business/financial matters. Wally has presented a “100 Day Plan for Student Success” that will position the Lake County Office of Education in a leadership role to increase student success in Lake County.

I invite you to read that plan and Wally’s platform at http://electwallyholbrook.com and consider him for your vote in the upcoming election.

Dennis A. Rollins lives in Lakeport.