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Personal -- Occupation, education and family
I currently work as a Service Advisor at Lockwood Motors in Marshall. Prior to moving into the automotive service industry, I spent 16 years in education, teaching Agriculture Education and an array of career and technical education courses. My teaching experience included secondary and post-secondary education, workforce preparation, career exploration and work-based learning. I also taught adjunct courses at Southwest Minnesota State University and Minnesota West Community and Technical College, including teacher preparation and pre-student-teaching supervision. Throughout my education career, I developed programs and courses and worked with advisory committees and industry partners to connect education with workforce needs.
My wife works as a paraprofessional at Park Side Elementary, and we have 3 children attending Marshall Middle School, Southview Elementary and Park Side Elementary.
Why am I running for a school board seat?
I decided to run because of my firsthand experience within the district as an educator. After spending 16 years in education, I have seen the ins and outs of how a school district operates and understand both the challenges educators face and the responsibilities of administration.
I believe one of the most important responsibilities of a school board is providing oversight. That means asking questions, challenging recommendations when appropriate and making sure there is a clear reason behind the decisions being made.I want the district to be able to explain the "why" -- why we are making a decision, what problem we are trying to solve, what alternatives were considered and how we will know if it worked.
I am willing to ask the hard and sometimes uncomfortable questions. I believe that is part of responsible board service.
What are the major issues facing the District?
I believe the district faces several issues that are interconnected. Student achievement needs to remain a primary focus, including making sure students who are struggling are identified and supported early.
Staffing is another important issue. Recruiting and retaining quality teachers and support staff is critical to maintaining strong educational programs. Supporting the people working directly with students needs to remain a high priority.
Financial responsibility is also important. The district has to balance educational opportunities and student needs with responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources. Board decisions should consider both the immediate impact and the long-term consequences.
Finally, I believe we need to continue strengthening the connection between our schools, families, businesses and community. Marshall has significant resources and expertise that can help provide students with meaningful opportunities to explore careers and prepare for life after high school.
What are the areas of concern regarding student achievement in the district?
I think we need to be careful about defining student achievement by a single test score or statistic. Assessments are important tools, but they are only one piece of the picture. I would want the district to look closely at student growth, achievement gaps, attendance, graduation rates and whether students are prepared for their next step after high school. We should also be asking whether we are identifying students who need additional support early enough and whether those interventions are actually producing results.
My experience in education has taught me that students do not all learn the same way or have the same goals. Some students are college-bound, while others are preparing for technical careers, the military, entrepreneurship or entering the workforce. Our measure of success should ultimately be whether we are preparing students for the path they choose.
Do you have specific suggestions for improvement?
First, I would like to see continued emphasis on using data to make decisions while also looking beyond test scores. We need to understand where students are succeeding, where they are struggling and whether the strategies being used are actually making a difference.
I would also support early intervention for students who are struggling academically or otherwise need additional support. The earlier we identify a problem, the more opportunity we have to address it.
I would like to see continued investment in career and technical education, work-based learning and partnerships with local employers. Students benefit when they can see how their education connects to opportunities beyond high school.
Finally, I believe the district should continue looking for ways to involve parents, staff, businesses and the community in meaningful conversations about the future of our schools.