Stroman, Rankin prepare for new posts at Bloomburg ISD

By Lauren Anderson
Special to the Journal

Bloomburg ISD will be starting the school year with new leadership. 
Long-time employees of the district Silvia Stroman and Andrew Rankin were hired to lead Bloomburg ISD in the upcoming school year.  
In a March 14 board meeting, Stroman was named elementary principal, replacing David Estes who left to work as elementary principal in Queen City.  Stroman began her career in education in 2001 but came to Bloomburg in 2002 as the fourth grade homeroom teacher.  It is apparent when she speaks about education, her love for Bloomburg and its students and staff runs deep. 
Drawn to the family atmosphere and sense of community in Bloomburg, Stroman says, “I have fallen in love with this school and this wonderful community.”   
Stroman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M – Texarkana and also a Master’s Degree in Education. 
Along with her certifications as Teacher and Principal, she is currently seeking her Superintendent certification. 
Throughout her years at Bloomburg, Stroman has worked as fourth and fifth grade math teacher and as the Bloomburg Elementary Student Council sponsor.  
Her admiration for the school board and administration at Bloomburg drew her toward a career in administration: “The school board has a love for this school and everyone who works here that surpasses any board I have ever seen. The administration has always seen to it that the staff and children were well taken care of, and I wanted to become a part of that team.” 
She firmly believes that “all kids will learn to the greatest of their ability and all teachers will educate to the greatest of their ability in a safe, fun, and well-disciplined school.” 
As principal, Stroman is looking forward to bringing “excitement and energy to Bloomburg Elementary; an energy so grand that students will be excited to come to school every single day.”  Stroman sees Bloomburg Elementary as a school where teachers can “teach like never before,” a school where her students are given opportunities that “make an impact on them for the rest of their lives,” and where the parents will feel supported knowing their children are receiving an “excellent education…that will help their child become more than they ever dreamed possible.” 
Like Stroman, Andrew Rankin’s passion for education is unmistakable.  His belief in the power of a small school’s ability to give students a first-rate education in preparing them for the “real world” is evident when he discusses Bloomburg. 
Rankin began his career at Bloomburg High School in 2009 as the Business Education teacher. 
He also worked as football coach, golf coach, yearbook advisor, and was over public relations before he was hired by the Bloomburg school board on July 11 as high school principal. 
After years of working closely with administration, Rankin will replace Clint Coyne, who moved to Jefferson as middle school principal. 
As principal, Rankin intends to create “a place where students can come to experience a private-school environment for the price of a public-school education,” and he is a firm believer in the need to connect learning with “real-world application” as an integral part of “preparing students to be productive members of society.”  
His philosophy is simple: “I believe all students have the ability to find success in their own right, and it is our job as educators to help them discover their full potential.” 
After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Ouachita Baptist University, Rankin earned a Master’s Degree in Curriculum Instruction from Texas A&M - Texarkana.  
He holds a certification in Business Education and in Administration, a career he says he was led to pursue “by the divine hand of God and a passion for business and education.”  
Rankin appreciates the small community and sees Bloomburg as a “district where teachers can focus on small-class instruction and one-on-one help.” He emphasizes the importance of the whole student saying, “We will work as a team of educators to develop our students all around: academically, socially, physically, and to prepare them for the real world. This will be ‘The Best Small School in East Texas.’”
Bloomburg ISD superintendent, Brian Stroman, is thrilled to begin this school year with such talented and experienced administrators who are dedicated to Bloomburg ISD and to the community. 
“We have made incredible progress in the last three years, but I have no doubt that the best is yet to come.  The Bloomburg ISD school board and administration has a vision and determination to become the best small school in Texas, and we encourage parents to check us out and see what a private school education feels like tuition free.”