Janet Readenour moved from Chicago to Mount Olive when her son was just ten days old. She was leaving behind the city’s chaos and density for something quieter, more connected—a place where her kids could grow up with room to breathe and people who knew their names.

That instinct, to protect and to build, still drives her.

Today, both of her children—Alex and Lillianne—have graduated from Mount Olive Schools. But Janet hasn’t stepped away. Instead, she’s stepped in. As a newly elected school board member (a successful write-in candidate, no less), she’s helping steer the district into the future with the same grit, purpose, and deliberate focus that’s guided every chapter of her life.

“I’ve been in management for 30 years,” she said. “I run three states for a commercial HVAC company. But the work I care most about now? It’s right here, with these kids.”

Her service isn’t new. Janet’s also served as the school’s cheer coach, a regular presence at events and behind-the-scenes efforts that keep the school spirit alive. And while she jokes about her “helium hand”—that habit of raising her hand whenever someone needs help—there’s nothing accidental about her commitment.

“If my heart’s in it, that’s where I’m at,” she said.

What Janet brings to the board isn’t just professional savvy—it’s perspective. She’s watched her daughter play travel softball against teams from all over the state, and she’s seen the range of opportunities other schools offer. “There’s no reason Mount Olive can’t do those things, too,” she said. “We just have to find a way.”

And she means it. Whether it’s expanding access to extracurriculars, leveraging partnerships with schools like Lincoln Land for vocational training, or finding a few extra dollars to help a student get gas money to attend a career-focused program in Litchfield, Janet believes in solutions over excuses.

“We’re thinking outside the box now,” she said. “We’re saying, ‘How can we make this work?’ And that’s exciting.”

But perhaps Janet’s most powerful message is for those sitting on the sidelines, wondering if their voice—or their time—could really make a difference.

“You don’t have to do everything,” she said. “Just give a little bit. Help with social media. Show up to fundraisers. Offer a ride. Every small piece matters. You don’t have to plant an entire garden. You can start with one row.”

It’s that philosophy that undergirds her vision for the school—and the town. “We’ve got great volunteers,” she said. “But many of them have kids graduating. We need to start younger—get parents involved early and keep that momentum going.”

For Janet, staying involved is as much about the future as it is about the past. “These are my kids,” she said. “All of them. Whether they’re mine biologically or not. This is my community. I want to leave it better than I found it.”

Her voice may be steady and warm, but make no mistake—Janet Readenour is a builder, the kind who shows up early, stays late, and believes every student deserves dignity, opportunity, and pride in where they come from.

Because here in Mount Olive, when someone steps up with a full heart and both sleeves rolled, the whole town gets stronger.