 To a vegetable connoisseur, Kentucky Wonders are flat green beans; to a sports fan, the term can only mean Wildcats basketball; and musicians know them as members of a bluegrass band. But Dr. Fred Reeves of Owensboro, Kentucky, is the Modern Red version. Modern Red consists of full-time staff members, such as office and administrative personnel, site managers for our schools, design specialists who conduct trainings at our school sites, and part-time consultants who also conduct school training sessions. Fred is in the unique position of being the only consultant who is also a site manager.
We might wonder where Fred finds the time for his many interests and activities. Although he serves on numerous committees and boards in Owensboro and nearby areas, Fred refers to himself as a homebody and focuses on spending time with family whenever possible. He also admits to being an avid fisherman who finds no better way to relax than by “getting on the water.” He fits all this in between his responsibilities as Executive Vice-President of the Owensboro-Davies County Chamber of Commerce and his work with Modern Red SchoolHouse.
One thing we do not wonder about is Fred’s expertise. He comes to Modern Red with numerous talents and varied experiences, having had more than one “career” over the years. But in every case, he gravitated to the role that in some way involved teaching or training. He says, “I set out to do a lot of different things. I continued to come back to education because it’s what I believe I do best and what I love.” The most enjoyable portion of his first career as an Armored Cavalry Officer in the U.S. Army centered around teaching and training experiences with troops, even extending to ROTC trainings during the summer. From military service, Fred continued full-time educational work, first as a science/social studies teacher, then as principal of a school transitioning from a junior high to a middle school philosophy, and later as principal of high schools and middle schools. He has also served on the adjunct faculties of Western Kentucky University and Murray State University, teaching various graduate-level educational and administration classes.
In case you were wondering, Fred’s affiliation with the Chamber of Commerce is also educational in nature. This local organization decided to focus on making Owensboro’s schools “the best educational system around” and recruited Fred to lead that initiative. His guidance is helping the local businesses and individuals become involved in positively influencing education in their part of Kentucky.
It was through another Kentucky educator and Modern Red consultant, Janie Robinson, that Fred became acquainted with our organization. After hearing about us from her, Fred went to the Internet in October, 2002 and read the MRSH philosophy. Finding it compatible with his own spurred his interest, and now Fred serves as site manager for seven Modern Red schools—in California, Montana, Colorado, and South Carolina - and conducts training sessions at his sites and at others. In addition, he is the leadership coach at six schools. He expresses strong commitment to working with Modern Red SchoolHouse in this statement, “I am really committed to the work. I feel an obligation to help our schools succeed. Their success becomes paramount…you become invested in their success.”
All these things considered, it is no wonder MRSH values this Kentucky educator.
January 2004
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