Candidate: Gerald Loomer

Gerald Loomer believes that a good education is a requirement to help students prepare for their futures.  What is taught needs to be transparent to the students and their parents and that they should have input as to what and how it is being taught.  All that is involved in education need to be heard.  College is not the best option for some students and the world needs skilled tradespersons and our schools need to support those vocational students.  Although retired, it has not diminished his passion that students to receive a good education plus it gives him the time to be an engaged board member.

Gerald Loomer has been active teaching in public education for over thirty-five years.  He has been recognized in many areas:

• Selected as South Dakota Teacher of the Year
• Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
• National finalist in the NASA Teacher in Space Project (tied for eleventh for the flight that ended in the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger). 
• Chosen as one of the “Top 100 Graduates in our First Century” by the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology where Loomer earned his Masters’ Degree in Physics.
• “Alumni Achievement Award” from St. Johns University (the youngest alumnus to earn the award at that time) where Loomer earned his Bachelor Degree in Physics.
• Loomer’s Physics program was cited as “Exemplary” in the National Science Teachers Association Search for Excellence in Science Education.  His Physical Science Program (9th graders) was also cited as “Exemplary”.
• Managed the University of Southern California’s Edison Challenge, an outreach to middle and high schools to compete in energy and environmental projects.  It included his providing workshops for science teachers.   
• Identified in Who’s Who in American Education.

Education has always been important for Gerald Loomer.  Although his parents only had high school diplomas, they stressed the importance of education.  His three siblings and himself earned college degrees and three of us earned master’s degrees.  Loomer’s two children took different paths through their education as his daughter, Myra, earned a master’s degree in molecular genetics and works in the medical field and his son, Mike, graduated from vocational/trade school works in Hollywood making television programs.

Retirement allows an opportunity for Loomer to give back to his adopted community.