Q&A: Houston County interim school board member Dave Crockett

Dave Crockett’s name was known across the Houston County school system long before he took an interim seat on the school board.

A former football coach at Perry High School, Crockett has been involved in the district for 40 years and attended his fair share of board meetings in various capacities. Besides 20 years at the high school level, he’s also worked in the county’s elementary and middle schools.

Still, he said there was a different feeling at his first official meeting as a board member “sitting on that side of the table” and representing District 3.

Crockett spoke The Telegraph recently and answered a few questions about his early stint on the board.

Q: How have your first few weeks as a board member gone?

A: Well, it’s been good. It’s been good to continue my association with the school system. ... I’ve visited all the schools in my district and really enjoyed going in the classrooms.

Q: What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from your fellow board members?

A: I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is I’ve recognized the board works as a team. There are no personal agendas.

Q: Any surprises so far?

A: Really no surprises. After being a part of the school system for 40 years, there haven’t been many things I haven’t seen or experienced.

Q: How have you made the transition from athletics or an individual role to focusing on the whole district?

A: You’re just involved in everything, all the way from everyday classroom activities. ... I know personally what our teachers and administrators deal with.

Q: What’s been your biggest strength as a board member?

A: I think it’s my years of experience working on all levels -- elementary school, middle school and high school.

Q: What’s something you need to work on as a board member?

A: Well, there have been changes in curriculum and other areas, state guidelines. ... Anything that’s new, I just kind of need to get familiar with.

To contact writer Jeremy Timmerman, call 744-4331 or find him on Twitter @MTJTimm.

This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 10:21 PM with the headline "Q&A: Houston County interim school board member Dave Crockett ."