Come November, a different familiar face from Gardendale will be seated on the Jefferson County Board of Education.

Former Gardendale City Councilman Oscar Mann, 65, qualified on Friday to run for a spot on the board of education; no other candidates from either the Republican or the Democratic parties qualified.

Mann served as a councilman in Gardendale for four years until the current slate of council members took office. During the last election, Mann lost to Othell Phillips in a runoff for mayor.

The board of education terms are six years. The members’ terms are staggered. The only other board member up for re-election this year is Ronald Rhodes of Corner, who also ran unopposed.

The board of education members serve at large; they do not represent districts. Mann qualified to run for Place 3.

For the past 12 years, Gardendale resident Karen Smith Nix filled the spot that Mann will apparently occupy; Nix chose not to run for re-election this year.

However, she did influence Mann’s decision to run for office.

“I was encouraged by Mrs. Nix,” Mann said, adding that he has talked with Nix “at length” about the requirements and demands of being a board of education member.

“She is one of the big reasons I decided to run,” Mann said. “I just feel led to go that route. I just pray the good Lord gives me the wisdom to make the right decisions for the students and teachers and support personnel.”

Mann knows what it is like to be in all of those roles in Jefferson County schools. He graduated from the now defunct Warrior High School in 1965. In addition, he worked for the Jefferson County School system for 25 years, retiring in 1996.

During those years, he served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, bus driver and in other roles. He worked at Bragg Middle School, Fultondale High School and Gardendale High School.

“I did a little bit of everything in education. I have an overall knowledge of what goes on,” Mann said. “Maybe some of my background experience will be beneficial.”

Mann’s wife, Denise Mann, works as the senior counselor at Gardendale High School.