TASBO TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE 2015-16 EMERGING LEADERS
EMERGING LEADER PROFILES
JUDY L. MARCHMAN
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR
EMERGING LEADER
Peggy Scantlen, District Bookkeeper | Palacios ISD
P
eggy Scantlen’s job description says “district bookkeeper,” but she handles
more than the usual bookkeeping duties for Palacios
ISD. As one of only four people in her
area, she’s been able to learn several
different aspects of school business
operations over the years.
“My main career goal is to learn as
much as possible about finance.
It helps me and it helps my school
district,” she said, adding that her
coworkers are approaching retirement
age, so their roles will need to be filled
and their replacements will need to be
trained in the near future.
When her superintendent approached
her about participating in TASBO’s
Emerging Leaders program, she was
eager to apply. She mentioned that
she’s already benefited from the
networking opportunities presented
through the program.
Peggy, 48, has lived on the Gulf
Coast her entire life. She was born in
Sulphur, Louisiana, but grew up in
Aransas Pass. It was there that she
entered the banking world with her
first job out of high school. She ended
up in banking for the next 13 years,
working her way up to the position of
operations manager while also fitting
in some time to study business at Del
Mar College in Corpus Christi.
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Peggy and her husband, Gary, moved
to Palacios from Aransas Pass in
1994. A community of only 5,400
people, Palacios is nestled at the top
of Matagorda Bay. “It is so pretty to
walk along the seawall and watch the
pelicans and seagulls,” Peggy said.
Another attraction to living there is enjoying the benefits of small-town life.
“Everyone knows each other. People
know our kids. It’s a good thing.
“When we moved to Palacios, I worked
at a bank for three years, but I wanted
a change. I thought about teaching,
but I saw a bookkeeping opening at
the Palacios ISD and thought I’d get a
foot in the door,” she said. “I’ve been
here for 18 years.”
As she forged a career in banking
and finance, Peggy never forgot her
desire to teach, and she has found
ways to do just that. She teaches a
Sunday School class for adults at her
church, First Baptist of Palacios, while
also finding time to serve on several
committees and sing in the choir. She
also sits on the board of Texas Baptist Encampment, a nonprofit retreat,
campground, and conference center in
Palacios.
made Peggy a grandmother. Amanda
and her husband, Adam, have a sixmonth-old girl and are expecting their
second child in August.
“I have definitely enjoyed joining the
grandma club,” Peggy said.
Peggy’s hard work, achievements in
her career, and involvement in her
community definitely exemplify the
qualities of TASBO’s Emerging Leaders.
Peggy and Gary Scantlen in the Easter
Pageant at the First Baptist Church of
Palacios.
As if that weren’t enough, Peggy also
has mentored three boys for the last
four years through a school program
similar to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“They’re 10, 12, and 14, and they’ve
become part of my family now—like
the sons I never had,” she said.
The boys are also like younger brothers to Peggy and Gary’s three daughters: Amanda, 22, Brittney, 18, and
Caitlyn, 16. Brittney is graduating
from Palacios High School this spring
and hopes to become a veterinarian,
while Caitlyn is a sophomore there.
Eldest daughter Amanda recently
The Scantlen’s have three daughters:
Amanda (22), Brittney (18) and Caitlyn
(16). Peggy’s daughter, Caitlyn (in blue)
showcases her chicken at the County Fair.
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