Springfield Public Schools will celebrate the namesake of the Roseann Bentley Administrative Center during a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8.
The innovative workspace houses departments such as student services, special education services, records, athletics and more.
A public servant for more than 40 years, Bentley has spent most of her life meeting the needs of Springfield's children.
Bentley served on the Springfield Board of Education from 1974-1983, going on to serve as the president of the Missouri State Board of Education from 1983 to 1992. She was elected senator in 1995 and served in the Missouri State Senate for eight years. She was the first woman elected to the State Senate from southwest Missouri and the first woman to be asked to serve on the Senate Finance Committee, which handles the state budget. She also chaired the Missouri Children's Services Commission. In 2004, she became Greene County Commissioner.
In addition to her time spent as an elected official, Bentley has served as chairman of many local boards including United Way of the Ozarks, Community Foundation of the Ozarks, Mayor's Commission for Children and Community Partnership of the Ozarks. She was a founding member of Ozarks Public Television, Female Leaders in Philanthropy and Junior League of Springfield. She also helped launch United Way's annual Day of Caring event. In 2011, Bentley was nominated to the National Association of Counties' Human Services and Education Steering Committee, helping to develop legislative policy with Congress. She has served on national boards of organizations that serve children, including the Child Welfare League and Parents as Teachers.
Recently, Bentley has been very involved in the local Every Child project and has served on statewide boards including the Family and Community Trust board. She also serves as a lunch buddy to students at Campbell Elementary School.
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