With over two decades of school board experience and three children that have gone through the Pequot Lakes School system from birth to graduation (my youngest son is still in school at the Pequot Lakes HS) I have a unique perspective and experience in our community and schools. I also have a unique perspective professionally because I have worked in the education field nationally for over 14 years. When I work with districts and states across the country I have had the opportunity to learn and broaden my perspective on best practice. I have deep love and appreciation for our communities that we serve, student well-being and academic success.
Continuing to evaluate facility needs. Prioritize academic success for all students. Continued focus on engaging all stakeholders in our district to get feedback and build connections with our school.
Over the two decades I have served on the board, we have always tried to manage and monitor the budget very closely throughout the school year. We will continue to do multiple budget revisions throughout the year. If we need to make changes to the budget throughout the year, we need to revisit our district priorities and ensure that our leadership teams are updating the board on a regular basis to ensure we are staying within budget.
Pequot Lakes Schools has a goal to make sure we are providing the best experience for all students. With open lines of communication and multi-tiers of support for different learners and needs, we want to continue to meet students and families where they need support the most.
There is a new communications committee for the board and that committee has been tasked with continuing to find the best ways to engage with all stakeholders in the district. As a member of that committee, we are actively engaged to try to find ways (new and old) to ensure we connect with as many stakeholders as possible.
As one of the only candidates with children in the district I believe it is imperative to have a voice in the decisions being made that will affect families in our district. I am also a local school employee so I have the knowledge of what our schools are facing, as a school employee and a parent I have a unique perspective.
My top priority will be to increase the academic success of our students. Proficiency in Math and Reading are imperative for a successful future. Second I would like to shift our funding from administration to teachers and support staff. The staff who is with the students the most deserve to be better compensated and have more influence in how best to help students succeed. Lastly I would like to increase transparency with families and promote parental involvement.
As I stated above my cuts would be made to administrators. With an increase in revenue from the MN department of education, we saw most of that money going towards administration and various programs the state deemed necessary but that lead to little to no positive impacts on our children’s educational success. Teachers, support staff and parents are the best resources for the academic success of the students.
Our district faces economic disparities. Working in a school I can attest that drawing light to the fact that some children have less than others is not a positive experience for those facing hardship. I would focus on discreetly making sure we have items to provide those whose families may not have the funds to provide for them. No child should go without.
As someone who works in a local school and is a parent myself I have great relationships with many educators and parents. The biggest hurdle for both groups is creating an environment where neither will feel in danger of retribution for bringing up concerns. This should be encouraged not discouraged.
Contact Phone
218-831-1776
I am an incumbent candidate and have been on the Board for nearly 20 years, an alumni of PLHS and local for 45 years!! I know and love our district and the communities that comprise our District!! “Best School in the Western Hemisphere”!!😎
Students! Students! Students!!
Work with all stakeholders to make the tough decisions to make budget!! Been there, Done that!!!
We have a terrific Administration and the best Staff in the State and all are conscience of any potential inequities!!
I engage our staff and parents as much as I am able, and most know how to contact me, and I ALWAYS listen!!!
Experience matters in this position. During my years on the school board, I have worked on various committees and have held different officer positions on the board. Because I have taught at two different universities and at Central Lakes College, I have a solid understanding what students need to ready them for life outside of the public school system. Currently, I am the instructor for the high school Nurse Aide Program. In this program, I prepare students to pass the MN state nurse aide certificate exam. With their certification, they can work in the healthcare field right away. Being with the students is a way to stay more in tune with their needs. Experience matters as we continue to strive to increase student achievement outcomes.
Improving academic achievement is the top priority. Students need to develop essential skills required for a successful life. The second issue is building business relationships and engaging with community partners to promote, real-world learning opportunities to help students after graduation. The third issue is to address is the school district space, safety and basic maintenance needs.
The board would need to prioritize district resources and focus on the highest priorities such as student instruction. I would not be in favor of cutting instructional programming which benefits our students. Spending would be analyzed to evaluate where funds are currently being spent and look for areas to decrease expenditures. The board would consider other local and state sources of revenue. Managing the budget is one of the primary duties of the school board.
Every student needs to have the appropriate support systems in place to ensure success. One of the roles of the board is to set policies for the school district, including those policies related to curriculum, personnel, and operations. I support financial literacy concepts being taught within the curriculum so students can understand the causes of economic disparities. The board can review current policies for racial biases and update any dated policies to better reflect the world around us.
It is vital to gather input from teachers and families prior to making decisions on issues that directly affect the students. This input may be obtained through surveys, focus groups, or direct communication—listen to learn, not just to respond. Decision making is most effective when all parties involved have a chance to provide their insights and experiences to an issue.
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