El Dorado Superintendent Sue Givens shared her story through song at the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast at the El Dorado Civic Center Thursday morning.
The breakfast was to celebrate The National Day of Prayer.

El Dorado Superintendent Sue Givens shared her story through song at the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast at the El Dorado Civic Center Thursday morning.

The breakfast was to celebrate The National Day of Prayer.

Givens told about her humble beginnings and how music and her love of Christ helped her through hard times in life and in her career.

“My family of six had lived for a whole week on five dollars,” Givens said.

As a sixth grader in Lawrence, Givens discovered her love of music.

“Music has sustained me,” Givens said. “It eased every transition, every change ... and gave me a place of refuge.”

Givens said she sought God in the shower to help her though troubling times as a Superintendent, many times breaking into tears.

Eventhough she can’t preach the word of God as a public school administrator in a school setting, she said God is present through the work of Christians in the district.

“Facebook is wrong,” Givens said. “God is in our schools. Public School can not be the voice of God, but we can be the hands and feet of God.”

During the speech she sang three songs.

Givens has served as USD 490 Superintendent since 2007. She has worked in various aspects of education, including teaching, administration and activities coach and sponsor.

Through her career she has been a Kansas Master Teacher, Keys for Networking Principal of the Year, USA-Kansas Distinguished Service Award recipient, Kansas Superintendent of the Year finalist, Leadership Kansas Class of 2013, and one of 50 Kansans You Should Know and Kansas Superintendent of the Year 2017.

She is married to Kansas State Senator Bruce Givens for 41 years. They have one daughter and two grandaughters.

El Dorado Mayor Vince Haines opened the breakfast with a welcome, followed by an opening prayer from Jean Plummer the chair of Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast. Director of Fiscal and Support for USD 490 Kellen Adams read from 2 Chronicles 7:14-16 and El Dorado High School Math Teacher and Head Boys Basketball Coach Jordan Regeher recited Ephesians 4:11-13.

The Closing Prayer was made by Jonathon Brickley, local business owner and Pastor.