​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Five Rockwood citizens are  vying for three seats on the Rockwood Board of Education on the April 8 election.

Darby Jo Arakelian was appointed to the board in May 2013. She is a defense/intelligence industry consultant  Senior Associate at Command Strategies, and Research Fellow at Norwich University. She is a Rockwood mom, resident, and an active volunteer.

“I have enthusiasm for education in Rockwood, strong communication skills and expertise in strategic consulting. I am committed to making sound decisions that will consider the entire Rockwood community, from the youngest child to patrons whose children have grown,”  Arakelian said.

Matt Doell has also been a board member since 2011. He is a state-licensed professional engineer and the vice-president of Sachs Electric. Doell is Governor of the National Electrical Contractors Association and a member on the Training and Apprenticeship Committee. He serves as the Unit Commissioner for Cub Scout Pack 322 and Boy Scout Troop 322, is a member of the Eureka-Pacific Elks Club, and an active participant in the Eureka High School Band Patrons.

“I believe outstanding schools are a cornerstone of outstanding communities.​  It’s because of this that my wife and I chose to move to Eureka; we wanted our two sons to attend Rockwood Schools.  It has been a great success for us. I would wish this success for every student in Rockwood.  That’s why I am running for a second term,” says Doell.

Keith Kinder has served on the board since 2011. Kinder was a school teacher and an administrator for 32 years, and he spent 17 of those years teaching in Rockwood. He is currently an assistant professor at Maryville University. Kinder’s two children are both Rockwood graduates, and his eldest grandchild is a current Rockwood student.

“I am very familiar with the Rockwood School District. I believe that we have the best school district in the state and one of the top districts in the nation,” says Kinder. “We need to continue finding cutting-edge educational innovations to insure that our students can succeed and thrive in the 21st century world.”

Dominique A. Paul is also running for a seat on the board. Paul has two children currently attending Rockwood schools, and she is the wife of Ellisville Mayor Adam Paul. Paul is Chair of the Reach PTO Activities, and has actively worked for the past 4 years with the organization. She has worked as part of the Reach Teacher Grants Committee, as well as participated in the Picture Rockwood Initiative. Paul’s philanthropy extends far beyond her involvement with Rockwood. She is a member of the STL Food Bank, Purple Stride and an active volunteer in the STL Community-Ronald McDonald House.

“My objective is to make certain our district remains challenging for our students and rewarding for our teachers through being a supportive voice. This will ultimately give our children the opportunity to thrive beyond Rockwood and contribute to the nation in a positive manner,”  Paul said.

Eileen Tyrrell has lived with her family in the district for close to seven years, and is the mother of a Eureka sophomore. Tyrrell has completed various volunteer work through her involvement with the PTO, and she has served on the district’s Parent/Family Involvement Committee. Tyrrell was a part of the 2008 Comprehensive School Improvement plan focus group, and she lent her hand to the 2010 & 2011 Guiding Change budget process and Picture Rockwood. In addition to her collaborative work in the aforementioned groups, Tyrrell took the initiative in 2011 and co-founded Rockwood Stakeholders’ for Real Solutions.

“If elected to serve, I will make every effort to keep citizens informed about the quality and condition of education in Rockwood and to assure that all transactions of our district are ethical, open and aboveboard,”  Tyrrell said.