Minnesota and North Dakota Voter's Guide

Forum Communications Co., in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Minnesota and of North Dakota, is providing this voter guide to help keep you informed ahead of the 2024 election.

  • Learn where candidates running for office in your community stand on the issues.
  • Build your ballot before voting. Print or email the information to use as a reference when you actually vote.

We do not save your information; it will be lost when you leave this page. Only candidates that appear on your ballot will be listed. Additional information may be available for your area so be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page for other voters’ guides.

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Voter Guide

ISD #186 School Board Member {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

School board members oversee the care, management, and control of schools. This includes hiring, firing, and overseeing superintendents, who manage the day-to-day affairs of the district. They also set levies to fund the district and create school policies. Learn more here: https://www.lwv.org/blog/voting-local-matters-why-vote-school-boardIf your candidate didn’t fill in the guide below, visit the Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing site to find contact info (https://candidates.sos.mn.gov/). If you reach out, ask candidates to complete their Vote411 Voters Guide from LWVMN!

Click a candidate icon to find more information about the candidate. To compare two candidates, click the "compare" button. To start over, click a candidate icon.

  • Candidate picture

    Pamela Johnson
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Dijon Ledin
    (NP)

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    Dena Moody
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Ross Nelson
    (NP)

Biographical Information

Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)

If forced to cut the budget in the face of declining revenues, what would be your strategy? (500 characters)

How would you address any racial and economic disparities in our education system? (500 characters)

Please describe how you will engage teachers and families in your decision making process. (500 characters)

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Campaign Email DenaMoody@tds.net
My entire career has been working in the field of education. I have been a classroom teacher, sports coach, student teacher mentor, long- and short-term substitute teacher in four different school districts in Minnesota. I have continued to substitute for the past 23 years in ISD 186, which keeps me in touch with students, staff, and administrators and the vital, ever-changing role public schools play in our society. I have completed the Four Phases of training for school board members through the MSBA. I have 8 years of experience as a school board director and have not missed a meeting during that time. I am committed to helping make ISD 186 become the unrivaled School of Excellence in Central MN.
My three priorities are to continue to encourage and expect academic excellence at ISD 186, maintain a 15% fund balance, and keep our students and staff safe. A school district that can hire and retain dedicated professionals, remain fiscally responsible, advocate for the funding our students need and deserve to receive a high quality education, strive to meet their physical, emotional, and social needs, and validate each and every student is most likely to produce successful citizens.
I would expect to be informed and advised by our superintendent and administrators as to where the district could make cuts that did not sacrifice the integrity of our core curriculum, extracurricular activities, and other opportunities for student success. It would be important to prioritize. I would want to be made aware of all the facts and explore every possible alternative before cutting staff, core curriculum, career education, school activities, and student services.
This is everyone’s “job” in educational settings…..to recognize, respond to, and report appropriately any racial and economic disparities in our schools. There are individuals in our school whose roles are to help students and families who are in need or experiencing discrimination and put families in touch with community resources that provide additional services. Also, we must continue to address bullying at all levels in our schools, and have stricter consequences for repeat offenders.
Decision making requires careful thought and consideration of the pros and cons of an issue. I spend a lot of time visiting with and listening to students, teachers, support staff, and administrators in our schools when I sub. We need to continue our practice of providing opportunities for receiving input from our families and community members. I personally welcome being contacted through a phone call or email when there are valid questions or comments from someone who wants to be heard.
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Powered by League of Women Voters Education Fund

The League of Women Voters of Minnesota and North Dakota crafted the questions sent to the candidates in the Spring of 2024. They reached out to candidates based on contact information in their public candidate filings. Candidates with email addresses were invited and reminded with emails. Candidates with only mailing addresses were sent a letter. Candidates with phone numbers received a phone call as well.

Candidate responses are published as they responded and have not been edited, except when responses were longer than the given character limit. In those cases, the responses are truncated.

VOTE411 is brought to you by the League of Women Voters Education Fund and League of Women Voters of Minnesota Education Fund. The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any political party or candidate for office.