Catching up with Marta Manning takes a lot of patience, good running shoes and solid determination. When this busy lady is not managing her families’ apartments, you’ll find her cheering for the Bruins at sporting events or serving on the Bartlesville Public Schools Board of Education.

Currently, Ms. Manning serves as the president of the Board of Education. In all, she’s served 17 years for the district. When asked why she ran in the first place, Manning has an immediate answer. “To save Central,” she says. “Around 1990, at a Central Parent Support Group meeting, a member of the Board of Education presented reasons why Central’s campus needed to be closed, moved to the high school building, and a new high school built.” Manning felt the community didn’t want these changes - preserving this historic building was important to the community. She was right. After being elected to Seat 3 on the school board in spring 1991, she assisted board members in developing a bond to refurbish Central Middle School.

“I consider myself a servant to the community and like to be available to teachers, parents, students, support staff or patrons, to hear their concerns,” Ms. Manning says of her work on the board. “I like to think that I relate to a variety of people and sometimes consider myself a voice of the people who have no voice.”

Sometimes there are compromises to be made as the board works out the best solution for the district as a whole.

“Being one of a seven-member board, of course you have only one voice in seven,” Manning said.  “Many school patrons don’t agree with everything that the board does and even being on the board, things don’t always go the way you would like.”

Over the last 17 years Ms. Manning has served on numerous school committees that have continued to expand the educational opportunities offered to Bartlesville students. She says she’s most proud of the bonds passed that have enabled the district to refurbish Central and bring the additional buildings to the high school.

“I’m also very excited about the newly formed Heritage Committee that will preserve the legacy of excellence of our Bartlesville athletes,” Ms. Manning said.

The Heritage committee collected state championship trophies from Bartlesville High, Col-High, Sooner High and Douglass High Schools which are now on display in the new BHS Fieldhouse.

“Displaying trophies and memorabilia from our past, present, and future athletes is a source of pride for our whole community," says Ms. Manning.

Ms. Manning has served in many capacities for the school district and community. She was active with the parent support groups at her children’s schools and is still an avid supporter for the All Sports Booster Club. In addition, she served more than 12 years with La Leche League, helping bring the organization to Bartlesville, an organization that provides information and encouragement to breastfeeding mothers.  Ms. Manning is a member of St. James Catholic Church and a sustaining member of Service League of Bartlesville.

However, her commitment to Bartlesville children extends beyond these organizations. Ms. Manning wrote a poem in honor of the Kiddie Park entitled “The Last Train Ride.”  She added music and after an arrangement by Delores McCreary, it was recorded by local children. Manning’s poem, engraved on a plaque, was unveiled at the Kiddie Park this summer and the corresponding song is now played as the park closes at the end of each summer day.

Ms. Manning met her husband Jim met while growing up in Oklahoma City. In 1965, Jim began his career with Phillips and Marta worked at the Bureau of Mines until she began her family. The Mannings are the parents of six children, five sons and one daughter.  The Manning children attended Bartlesville Public Schools, graduating in classes beginning in 1985 through 2001. The Mannings have three grandchildren.

One thing is certain about Marta, she loves Bartlesville.

“Living in Bartlesville for more than 40 years has been a blessing," she says. "It has been a great place to raise our family.”