Hank McFarland
GIPS Board Member: Ward B
Born and raised in Grand Island, Hank McFarland has been surrounded by education his entire life. The 5th generation Grand Islander grew up in the GIPS system, attending Wasmer Elementary School, Barr Junior High School, and Grand Island Senior High School, where he graduated as one of several Valedictorians in 1987. Hank later went on to attend Iowa State University, where he graduated With Distinction (Cum Laude) with a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Business Administration and an emphasis in Marketing.
Even when Hank left the classroom at the end of the day, he still went home to a family of teachers. His father, Bob McFarland, taught and coached at Grand Island Senior High School for 38 years. His mother, Karen (Glade) McFarland, taught at Gates Elementary School, and his aunt, Leslie Glade, taught at Wasmer Elementary School. Hank’s uncle, Joe McFarland, taught and coached in Norwalk, Iowa for 37 years.
Hank is married to his wife Kathy, and together they have two children: Tommy, 24, and Kate, 22. Kathy was a counselor at Grand Island Senior High School from 1993 through 1998. Tommy is a third year medical student at UNMC in Omaha, and Kate is a graduate of the KHOP Pre-Med program at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Hank currently serves as the Vice President of Private Banking for Pinnacle Bank in Grand Island. He enjoys giving back to his hometown, and his community involvement includes being a former board member of College Park, serving on the finance committee of College Park, volunteering at Howard Elementary School, volunteering at the Nebraska State Fair, and has previously coached youth sports.
Hank’s Platform
Growing up with an educational background and having experienced the impact that a strong school system can have on a child and their future, Hank is incredibly passionate about education and our local public schools. He strongly believes that children need to be given the opportunity to learn in a safe, disciplined environment. He believes that teachers need to be given the tools they need to teach.
As a current member of the GIPS Board of Education, Hank wants to do everything he can to help GIPS graduates become both employable and promotable through improving their academic environment. It all starts with The Three T’s: Transparency, Teachers, and Test Scores.
