What makes Senita Lenear qualified?

• I am an Alum of Grand Rapids Public Schools – I moved to Grand Rapids with my family at the age of 9. I attended the following GRPS: Riverside Elementary, Riverside Middle and Creston High. I remember my experience as a student of GRPS and would like to recreate that positive experience for my daughter and others. To this day, I have close relationships with former teachers, counselors and administrators. I appreciated what they instilled in me while I was in their care!
• I have strong passion for educating youth – I have been an advocate for academic success for my daughter, nephews and niece for years. Supporting them in their academics, sports and relationships with instructors has been my roll as academic advisor. Volunteering in classrooms and always having a working relationship with my daughter’s teachers and administrators.
  I am also the founder of the My Body is a Temple abstinence program, which educates youth and young adults on the benefits of abstaining from sex until marriage.
• I have progressive business experience – I have worked in a professional environment for over 14-years gaining experience in labor relations, human resources, community relations, management, employee relations, training and development. I have experience in managing budgets, people and processes.
• I am dedicated to my commitments – Whenever I make a commitment, I do everything in my power to follow through. I believe my word is my bond!
• I am a team player – In order for a group to work together successfully you need good team players. I pride myself in good listening skills, open and honest communication, over compensate where others are lacking, providing ideas that would positively impact the team, make sacrifices, unselfishly contribute and make decisions with the team in mind.
• I am an innovative thinker – I think big picture and make decisions that will positively impact the goals set. I look for non-traditional ways to solve problems. I believe that if you want different results you must do things differently.
• I have experience in serving on boards – I have experience sitting on non-profit boards in the Grand Rapids area. I have presided as president of a local non-profit board of director. I have also volunteered for many planning committees for area organizations. This experience has allowed me to gain knowledge of how to be an overseer of an organization. I was selected by my colleagues to join the board back in October 2007. The board made this decision after reviewing the applications of 15 other candidates and interviewing 5 candidates.
• I am an innovative thinker – I think big picture and make decisions that will positively impact the goals set before. I look for non-traditional ways to solve problems. I believe that if you want different results you must do things differently.

The Senita you don't know!

Senita Lenear is a 13-year employee with the Blues Enterprise (Blue Cross Blue Shield and Blue Care Network of MI). She has held numerous positions within the organization, most recently in the Human Resources department. Senita has held the position of Community Affairs Representative for both organizations for the West MI Region. Senita is a board member of Student Advancement Foundation a non-profit organization designed to assist with funding programs to meet the needs of the Grand Rapids Public School District . Senita also contributes to a host of other non-profit organizations within the community by way of committee involvement. She is the founder of the My Body is a Temple program, which helps teens and young adults to discover the benefits of sexual abstinence before marriage.

Senita is a resident of the city of Grand Rapids together with her husband Pastor Dallas Lenear and daughter, Nina. Senita is an alumnus of the Creston High in the Grand Rapids Public School district where she received her high school diploma. She is also a summa cum laude graduate of Cornerstone University with a Bachelor's in Business Management and minor in Ministry Leadership. Senita is an active member of New Hope Baptist Church .

Senita was selected, by her colleagues, out of 16 candidates, to fill the open seat on the Grand Rapids Board of Education in October 2007. During this short tenure, she has learned that there are tough decisions to be made in order to build to successfully impact the educational experience for the students in GRPS. Senita is willing to continue to make these decisions, because she supports our future leaders!

Senita is a Spider Solitaire aficionado and an Outback Steakhouse connoisseur. Those who know and love Senita describe her as deeply passionate and eternally loyal. Senita displays excellence in all things to the glory of God.