CULLMAN – Mary Hovater has officially announced her candidacy for Cullman City School Board, Place 1. The seat is being vacated by Kim Addison, who has announced that she will not seek reelection.
Hovater, a life-long resident of Cullman, graduated from Cullman High School in 1991 and Wallace State in 1994. She began working for NASA through the Cooperative Education Program at Wallace in 1993 and is now a technical manager at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.
Hovater completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Athens State University in 1998 with a double major in physics and mathematics. Soon after, she was selected for full-time study through a NASA program and received her Master of Science degree in physics from the University of Alabama Huntsville in 2005. Since then, she has received her certification in project management, also from UAH.
She continues to reside in Cullman.
Hovater said she is running “as a way to give back to the community that has given, and continues to give, to me. Over the years, I have participated in local community events and organizations such as the Sacred Heart Parish Council, Oktoberfest, WSCC Alumni Association and Cullman Band Boosters.” Hovater held officer positions in these organizations, to include presidencies.
“As my two boys grew within this same wonderful school system, I decided to do more with the schools, and focused my work on the Band Boosters program and performing outreach with NASA to all the local schools,” said Hovater.
“I began many years ago traveling to the local schools and talking about what I do at NASA and how Cullman is involved in many different ways with not only NASA but with the space community in general,” she reflected. “I take this information and promote Cullman at NASA, and frankly to anyone that will listen. I’m very proud of my city…of my home. Not only do I talk about cool space stuff, but I also promote good study habits, staying in school and non-traditional careers for both girls and boys.”
Hovater said she plans to use the tools and techniques of partnership, strategy and marketing she has gained through her work with NASA to help promote and bolster the Cullman City Schools from a top 18 ranking in Alabama by U.S. News and World Report magazine to a top school in the Nation. “We have the know-how to get us there. We just need that little extra push over the hump,” she said.
Hovater is currently on what she calls a “Listening Tour” to gather information and gain understanding about education successes and issues from teachers, principals, parents, students, colleges, city government and more.
“I have already had fantastic visits with the (Cullman) Primary School Principal Mrs. Culpepper and some of the members of the Education Association,” said Hovater. “I want those that know the schools to tell me about their needs from a school board, what their concerns are as teachers or parents, and so forth. I am even asking for feedback on my Facebook site. I want to learn and understand. I will talk later when I need to. For now, I need the education.”
Hovater was asked to attend and participate in the capital planning meeting last summer for the city schools. This, she said, was the beginning of her thoughts toward candidacy.
“’I might really make a difference here’ was the thought going through my head when we were discussing all the repairs and infrastructure needs at the schools,” she said. “I just knew in my heart I needed to at least try to help.”
Hovater credits the teachers and faculty of the school system for her successful career.
“Without the guidance and push from my teachers through my years, including Wallace, there is no way I’d be doing what I get to do every day,” she said. “Education is so important, and so is the support we give our faculty. I want to be an ally for the teachers and administration, a voice for the parents and students and an advocate for fine arts, athletics and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities.”
The municipal election will be held on Aug. 23, 2016.
