Story provided by Stillwater Public Schools

The Stillwater Board of Education has announced that Roberta Douglas has been appointed to fill the recently vacated Ward 3 School Board seat. Douglas was selected from four applicants for the vacant position in a special Board of Education meeting on June 30. 

“I recognized this as an opportunity to impact students in our district, a way to help ensure that schools and educators have access to the resources necessary for student success,” says Douglas, when asked why she applied. “Education and service have always been important pieces of my professional experiences; serving on the School Board is the perfect alignment of the two. I am both honored and humbled to have this opportunity to promote our school district and impact student development.”

“SPS has many beneficial initiatives in place – at the district level, the site level, and certainly within programs,” she says, “from implementing Individual Career and Academic Plans at multiple sites, the Pioneer Pantry providing students access to basic resources, to the student-led SMAC week which connects students to the community.”

Douglas says she’s looking forward to celebrating student achievements but knows the School Board’s work is primarily making sometimes challenging decisions. “I also want to ask the questions necessary to support equitable access to resources and programming,” Douglas says. “How can we create more of these beneficial programs for all Pioneers in our schools? Is that increased funding for more teachers or tutors? Developing community partnerships for coaching and mentoring? Enhanced industry connections to promote exposure to career options?” She says while academic achievement is vital and should always top the SPS priorities list, it is also important to recognize the value of developing students beyond the classroom. 

“I look forward to working with this team of dedicated volunteers to move forward the initiatives that Stillwater Public Schools administration and staff set,” she says. “I am ready to get started understanding the needs of our schools better and supporting resolutions or policies to enhance a positive education experience for learners. Without a doubt, the district’s 2023 school bond efforts will fill much of the coming months, and I am excited to see and support that vision to fruition.”

Douglas currently serves as Assistant Director of Employer Engagement at Oklahoma State University Career Services. She is a Certified Career Services Provider and a Global Career Development Facilitator. She has previously held positions with Oklahoma CareerTech, Payne County Youth Services, and the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. Douglas has been active in the Stillwater community through the United Way of Payne County, Leadership Stillwater, the Stillwater360 Internship Program, Young Professionals of Stillwater, Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, PTAs, and other local organizations.

A graduate of Stillwater High School, Douglas received her Bachelors of Science in Family Relations and Child Development and a Masters of Science in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Oklahoma State University. Along with husband Bart, she has two children, Hannah and Abby, both enrolled at Stillwater High School.

“We had an excellent pool of candidates, all with unique talents, backgrounds and perspectives that would be very beneficial to Stillwater Public Schools, ” said Board President Tim Riley. “Ms. Douglas is a well respected member of this community, and her career services background and extensive connections throughout the community of Stillwater will serve the board well. Her experience connecting job seekers and employers in a wide variety of industries will help the board have a greater perspective on how the district can prepare all students for their career paths, and her vast network around this town will further help the board hear feedback and help the community to continue to know they have a voice.”

Roberta Douglas will be sworn in at a July 12 Board of Education meeting. She will hold the seat until February of 2023 and has not yet announced if she will seek election.