HUMBOLDT — Tony Works believes you need to shake up an organization every once in a while, bringing in new leaders with new ideas.
But sometimes, it’s more important to have stability, with experienced leaders who understand the group’s history and challenges that have been overcome.
Earlier this summer, Works was worried not enough candidates would file for seats on the USD 258 school board. It’s ironic to think about now, but he actively recruited candidates to file.
A flurry of last-minute filings resulted in 10 people vying for just four seats — including the four incumbents. (Works is one of them, having been elected in 2019.)
“As I’ve had time to reflect, this may not be the best juncture to make a wholesale turnover of four of the seven board members,” he said.
“The group we have now is functioning well, and I feel like we’re all part of a team. In the last couple of years, we hired a new superintendent, pulled through a major bond issue and developed a new strategic plan. We’re headed in a good direction.”
And though he now believes it’s better to have stability and retain the incumbents — including himself — he said he feels confident any of the 10 candidates will be a good fit.
“They’re all good people who care about the kids and the community. I’m certain whichever four get elected, we’ll be in good hands.”
WORKS GREW up in Humboldt and graduated from high school in 1992.
He then earned an English degree from Kansas State University, followed by a law degree from the University of Kansas. In between, though, he earned a teaching certificate and worked as a substitute teacher.
He worked at an Iola law firm before joining the family business, B&W Trailer Hitches. Now, most of his time is spent as a project manager for A Bolder Humboldt, where he has overseen construction of the Humboldt Fitness Center, Union Works Brewing Company and Revival Music Hall.
His wife, Kate, is a nurse practitioner and operates a clinic at B&W. They have three sons: Eli is in his first year at KU, Avery is a junior at Humboldt High School, and Owen is in seventh grade.
WORKS JOINED the school board in January 2020, just months before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools across the country.
The year that followed was especially challenging as schools grappled with how to best keep students safe while delivering the best possible education.
The district is still recovering, but Works feels that three years after the pandemic began, administrators and faculty have worked hard to help students make progress.