Tuesday’s Clinton City Board of Education meeting marked a new era, as one of its most tenured members departed and two more members were sworn in, both tenured and new.
Board officials held a reception at Clinton High School to celebrate Russ Emanuel’s farewell. He had served on the board for over seven years, since July of 2019. His family and friends were in attendance as board chairwoman Dr. Linda Brunson, vice chairwoman Carol Worley, and Clinton City Schools Superintendent Dr. Wesley Johnson offered Emanuel gifts to show their appreciation for the work he has done for the system and its students.
“Today, we’re here to celebrate a leader whose service has made a lasting difference,” Brunson said during the reception. “Pastor Russ has been a staple on this board for seven years. His service has left an enduring legacy that will continue to benefit our students, our staff, and the community for many years to come. Leadership is not only measured by the decisions you make, but by the lives that you impact. Your willingness to serve with integrity and compassion has strengthened our schools and inspired those who have had the privilege to work alongside you.”
Worley, who was sworn in Tuesday for a fifth term, also spoke highly of Emanuel.
“Leadership in any capacity is about determining which path to take,” Worley emphasized. “Some leaders follow a path, while others blaze one for those who come behind them. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, ‘Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.’ That’s exactly what you’ve done, Russ. Your presence on this board has been far more than just filling a seat. You have blazed a trail that I hope others will have the courage to follow.”
Johnson told the audience that before he became superintendent, he served on his church board for over 12 years, relating to some of the balance that Emanuel, himself, had to juggle as a school board member and the pastor of Olive Grove Church.
”Pastor Russ, I want to thank you,” Johnson told Emanuel. “For your service, your consistency and your understanding of the delineation that exists between the two roles. I think that probably is because of working as a pastor, working with a church board, you understand that delineation exists. Not only have you been a board member, you’ve also been a fellow servant, brother, and a friend. I look forward to our continued relationship outside of the four walls of Clinton City Schools. If there’s anything I can do for you, your family, or your church, feel free to give me a call.”
The two men then shared an embrace at the podium. After Emanue’s farewell speech, he reflected on his time as a member of the city Board of Education.
“Gratitude is probably the one word that comes to mind,” Emanuel explained during an interview after the reception. “(I am) just grateful for the opportunity, the experience, the relationships that we were able to build, the things that we were able to accomplish as a group. Being on the board, it’s not just about one person; it’s also working together in unity, supporting the superintendent, those things really make a huge difference, especially in the culture of Clinton City Schools and the district, because it’s a tight-knit community and a community that really cares. You can tell by the way that our education shows through Clinton City Schools.”
As a graduate of Clinton High School, having the opportunity to give back to a community that gave him so much meant the world to Emanuel.
“To be able to give back out of a place that I received so much from meant everything,” he said. “People that empowered me along the way, being a student and product of Clinton City Schools. Then, being able to sit in a seat that actually becomes a voice for people that don’t necessarily have a voice, that I can advocate for them to make a difference so that we can do everything we can as a community to set these students up for success. That really meant a lot.”
While he isn’t exactly sure what his plans will be now that his tenure on the school board has finished, Emanuel is certain God will help open a door for whatever’s next.
“I just want to take some time; I’ve got grandkids now, so I want to spend a little bit of time with them,” he emphasized. “I want to do some things with my family, and there are some things that I want to dial in at my church as well. I don’t have anything pressing at the moment, but I’ll still be here serving in the community. I was serving before I became a board member; I’ll serve after.”
Emanuel also gave a vote of confidence to newly sworn-in board member Patrick Cooper, who began his first term on the Clinton City Board July 1, after swearing the swearing in on Tuesday. Cooper has regularly attended board meetings for a few months now, sitting in the audience to watch his peers as they’re working. He was voted into the position in March.
“It was absolutely an honor,” Cooper noted in a follow-up interview. “I felt a bit of nervousness there, because this is absolutely new territory for me. But I was honored to be sworn in today, to have my family, friends in the community around as I took that oath to work as diligently as possible with the Clinton City Board of Education. I’m super excited about this opportunity. I am a product of the school system, so I’m looking forward to coming back and being able to contribute at this level.”
Similar to Emanuel, Cooper is also a pastor, serving at St. Jude United Holy Church and Mt. Moriah United Holy Church outside of the work that he’ll now be doing as a board member. The reason why he opted to run for the school boar, he said, was to give back to the district that raised him.
“Clinton City did so much to develop me as a child, into the adult that I am today,” he said. “I have grandchildren that are in the system now, and I’m always looking for a way to give back. I thought this would be a great way to be able to sacrifice my time, my talent, and my treasure. To contribute into such a great school district that has meant so much to me and my family; my daughter and son graduated from Clinton High, and as I said, my grandchildren are in this school system. I want to make an impact in our community.”
Going into his first term, Cooper encourages the community to get involved with the school district.
“The more involvement we can get from the community, the more support, volunteers, and ideas; these things make a huge impact,” Cooper explained. “It really helps create the community that we know that the Clinton City School system is built on: A strong foundation of community and community leadership.”
The first official meeting for Cooper as a member of the Clinton City Board of Education will be on Monday, July 20 at 9 a.m.