10 Most-Beautiful Finalist: Brenda Rantz

Age: 53

Occupation: Director of Finance for Nixa School District

Background: Brenda’s hometown is Nixa, where she still lives. She’s been in 417-land her whole life. She has a husband, Jim, and son, Zachary.

Tell us why you love 417-land.

I live right in the middle of 417-land where there is a big “X” that marks the spot for Nixa. My roots run deep. I have lived in 417-land most of my life, minus a small period of time out-of-state. My family is from this area and has been a part of Christian County for years. My uncle helped start Sucker Day, a local fishing holiday in Nixa. My grandparents were the first telephone operators in Nixa, and my dad was deputy sheriff. I grew up in Nixa, and I wanted to raise my family in such a great place. Working for the school district has helped me give back to a place that has given me so much. Nowhere else can you find such community spirit and sense of family that you find in 417-land. A neighbor is a neighbor indeed, and someone you can count on. I cannot think of any other place I would want to live. It is my home and certainly where my heart is!

Tell us about your community involvement and volunteering. (Please tell us what organizations you’re involved in, what you do to participate and how long you’ve been doing it.)

For almost all of my adult life ,my husband and I have worked as leaders of youth groups (ages junior high to college age) at our church. In addition, I worked with the AWANA (Approved Workmen are Not Ashamed) program for 15 years in the junior high/high school group and then ages K-2.
The last four and a half years, I have been focused on mentoring and supporting women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks does fantastic work in supporting women. I have had the opportunity to be a part of A Time to Share. Having gone through breast cancer myself, I know it is important to reach out to others.

What makes your community involvement worthwhile?

I believe a foundation built on God’s Word is a foundation well laid. I have a strong faith and want to share it whenever I can. I believe we are put here to serve and be a support to others. I also believe that youth need strong, non-judgmental role models. So many times, people see beauty or worth in things and not inside themselves. If I can help show people that they matter for what is inside and not outside, I have achieved my goal.

In September, I will be a five-year cancer survivor! I want others who experience this to see that I am still standing and going strong and that they can too. A hand held and a prayer prayed is a lifeline for those who are struggling or are fearful of what comes next. I do not want my life’s struggles to be in vain.

If I can turn them around to help someone else, then I become stronger from the experience. I truly believe there is a reason for everything; we have to use our experiences to help others.

Hobbies (Go ahead; list them all! And tell us why you love them.)

Reading: I have always loved to read. One of my fondest memories from childhood is my grandpa taking me to the library once a month to get a stack of books. Reading to children is one of the most important things we can do.

Gardening: What can I say here? Nothing beats fresh veggies right out of your garden!

Quilting: I enjoy making something from nothing that can be passed on to future generations.

Are you involved in any professional organizations? (What are they, what’s your role, and how long have you been doing it?)

Missouri Association of School Business Officials (MoASBO): It’s a statewide, nonprofit, educational organization whose mission is to promote the highest standards of school business management. The first goal in the MoASBO Code of Ethics is to make the wellbeing of students the fundamental value in all decision-making and actions. This ideal is one I firmly believe in, and it is one reason why I support them.

I was awarded the Missouri School Business Official of the Year in 2003 and served on the Board of Directors 2004 to 2007. Currently, I serve on the membership and strategic planning committees and have been a member since 1998.

Missouri School Boards Association (MSBA): This is an association for school district administrators and board members. Public schools shape the future of our communities, our state and our nation. MSBA makes sure the voice of public schools is heard in Jefferson City when legislation affects our schools. I have served as treasurer for the Nixa School Board since 1994.

Nixa Economic Development Committee: This is a council dedicated to a balanced and prosperous economy through support of education, local government and the growth of business and industry, while inspiring community spirit. For the last two years, I have represented the school district on the council. I feel it is important that we help make our communities strong and one in which our families can thrive. People working together for the betterment of our community is one of the reasons that I believe 417-land is such a wonderful place.

What’s something that might surprise us about you? (Or a story you love to tell.)

The story I love to tell is about my mom and my first date with my husband. For me, it was love at first sight. For him, it was not. I tried everything to get his attention at school, so he would ask me out, to no avail. My mom got tired of hearing me talk about him nonstop, so she took it upon herself to call him up and tell him I needed a date for New Year’s Eve. Mortified, I thought my life was surely ruined at 17. I could only imagine what he thought about some lady he had never met calling him at work asking him to take her daughter out on a date. My brother thought it was the most hilarious thing he had ever heard and could not believe she had actually done it. He called, I said yes and the rest is history. That was 36 years ago. After becoming a mom myself, I realized that love knows no boundaries.