GREEN BAY – As the April 1 General Election draws near, Press Times staff reached out to the five candidates who are running for three seats on the Howard Suamico School District (HSSD) Board of Education.
All five candidates have been posed the same three questions. The responses are unedited, with the exception of typos or formatting modifications.
Why are you running for a seat on the school board and what are your qualifications for it?
I am running for Howard-Suamico Board of Education because I want to contribute to the decision-making process for our district and put my background in education to work for local students, teachers and parents.
I have been very invested in education for the last 20 years being an adjunct professor in teacher education. Teaching future teachers gives me a unique experience to contribute to HSSD. My education has helped me grow as a person and I want every student to have a learning experience which shapes their life in a meaningful way for their career. I believe that public education gives a strong foundation to all students to grow personally and professionally, and I would like to use my background in education to contribute to that process.
What do you feel are the top needs of the school district:
A top need is mental health support for both students and staff. For students, there is a need to provide more support for wellness programs. For staff, mental health initiatives are critical to address stress and burnout, which can improve retention rates. Teacher retention has been an issue nationwide and locally as well, and pay parity is close to my heart as a former teacher. I feel we need to address the gap by recruiting high quality professionals, offer good compensation and offer professional growth.
Expanding access to high-quality early childhood education in 3K and 4K programs, is another top need. These programs are essential for improving long-term academic outcomes. We must reduce class sizes and increase support staff, particularly in special education, throughout elementary school. This includes hiring more aides and ensuring adequate resources for co-teaching models.
As our needs grow, it is a priority to strengthen partnerships with families, businesses, and community organizations. Maintaining and improving school facilities, as well as ensuring access to advanced technology and updated infrastructure, are ongoing needs that require community support. Addressing transportation barriers for students participating in after-school activities is also a concern. Alternative transportation solutions are needed to ensure access to extracurricular opportunities.
What role should the community play in supporting the education of area youth:
It takes a village to raise a child, and I think communities can play an instrumental role in shaping the lives of our youth and ensuring their success. In the Howard-Suamico community, initiatives like Stronger Together and “Give BIG Green Bay” exemplify how engagement and financial contributions can support innovative projects and equalize opportunities for all students. Through the Howard-Suamico Education Foundation (HSEF), these funds enable grants for creative classroom projects and cutting-edge tools, ensuring that every student has access to transformative learning experiences.
I believe that partnerships with local businesses further enhance career development opportunities for students. Events like the Career Fair hosted by Bay Port High School and collaborations with the Howard-Suamico Business Professionals Association allow students to explore career paths, gain real-world experience, and secure internships or summer jobs. These connections not only prepare students for future careers but also strengthen ties between the schools and the broader community.
Moreover, community engagement in educational initiatives, such as the Graduate Profile, fosters the development of critical skills like adaptability and collaboration. By supporting students with opportunities in the community for career, civic engagement or attending school board meetings to share insights, the community members can contribute to a supportive environment that nurtures student growth. Together, these efforts ensure that our youth are well-equipped for success in an ever-changing world.
Why are you running for a seat on the school board and what are your qualifications for it:
Howard Suamico School District has a history of high level education in the area. The school district has a strong vision and mission and as an experienced board member I have the ability to be an influencer with the school district and protect the core values that allows me to feel pride in our growing community.
What do you feel are the top needs of the school district:
Advocacy at the state level for funding in public education. With a growing number of operation referendums state wide it is becoming clear that we have some gaps to cover as the cost of education is not keeping up to inflation. Our advocacy efforts with our legislative officials here locally and in Madison have been ongoing efforts and we did see increases in the last biennium budget and currently we need to stay focused with our new budget advocacy this year.
Our focus on Career Technical readiness within our district. We have partnered with many business leaders in the communities along with our local post secondary education community and this is a focus. We continue to grow in this area and find more resources.
What role should the community play in supporting the education of area youth:
We are fortunate enough that we live in a highly engaged community. In the area surrounding education we need to continue to grow with more advocacy at a state level to help locally with the topics we touched on with funding with our local legislatures. We will need to continue to grow with the local business influences with our career and technical programs. Kids are not just looking to go to a 4 year school right away and these local businesses are gaining workforce ready kids sometimes while they are in high school already. As we continue to grow these programs and expose the kids to more avenues our community will continue to grow with future leaders. Our community is active in our youth’s education and will continue to be this way as we invest more into the youth.
Why are you running for a seat on the school board and what are your qualifications for it:
I’m running again to continue serving our community and to provide continuity to our Board of Education. Our board members bring a broad set of skills together that allow us to effectively bridge the gap between community input and the school district (and vice versa), which is integral in achieving collective goals and protecting the core values of our community and district.
What do you feel are the top needs of the school district:
Firstly, our Board of Education puts a lot of emphasis on advocacy, whether that be advocating for our community or advocating at the State level for HSSD. Properly funding our district is integral as it relates to staff compensation and keeping pace with economic conditions. As treasurer, I’m also closely involved in calculating the property tax levy rate such that we offset the ever-increasing rise in property valuations received from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.
Secondly, as a district we continue to broaden our focus and offerings to include alternative post-secondary options, including but not limited to agriculture, culinary, and other trades that will provide our graduates with a broader range of career options.
What role should the community play in supporting the education of area youth:
I feel the community plays a huge role — they are the ones that elect the board of education, but they are also the volunteers that coach the sports, help with after school programs, run our local businesses, and give back in the form of time and donations to provide resources and learning opportunities for our students. I feel education is an effort that functions best when the entire community is engaged and involved.
Why are you running for a seat on the school board and what are your qualifications for it:
I’m running for a seat on the school board because I am passionate about making sure that each child in our district is set up for success. Through my classroom experience and collaboration with teachers, parents, and families, I have the knowledge needed to help drive positive change. I was an elementary teacher for eight years and have been working in the schools as a substitute teacher, volunteer, and parent for the last four years. I interact with teachers, students, and parents on a regular basis. Also, I am actively involved in the PTO at Suamico Elementary and am currently the PTO Board President. My focus as the PTO Board President has been to build the school community and increase family and student engagement. Currently, there is no one on the school board that has current experience in our classrooms. In order to make the most informed and effective decisions for the district, I feel that it is important to know first-hand what is going on in the schools. I’m committed to being a voice for our families and making sure our district continues to provide an excellent educational opportunity for every child.
What do you feel are the top needs of the school district:
I feel like the top needs for the school district are student and teacher support, 4K consistency, early family engagement, and expanding high school career pathways. As a district we need to be proactive. We need to engage with our families early-on, put the necessary support in place from the start of a child’s education to meet each of their developmental and social needs, and make sure each student has equal opportunities no matter which career pathway they may choose.
What role should the community play in supporting the education of area youth:
The community plays a vital role in supporting the education of area youth. A community should make sure they are providing support for students whether it be through volunteering, mentoring, or financial assistance. Our community provides a lot of support from area businesses donating to school events, parents and grandparents volunteering their time to help, voting for referendums that help cover funding gaps, and the Howard Suamico Education Foundation that is powered by donations from area businesses and families. A community should also make sure there is equal access to resources for students. Without a student’s basic needs being met, it is often a struggle for them to focus on learning. Also, a community should highly encourage parental involvement in their child’s education. When parents are engaged in their child’s education, their children tend to behave better in school and have better academic success. We are very fortunate that the Howard-Suamico School District has an amazingly supportive community that values education. If elected, I will work on strengthening and deepening these ties in our community.
Why are you running for a seat on the school board and what are your qualifications for it:
My dedication to representing our community is steadfast. Every community member must elect a representative who genuinely mirrors their values. I stand firm in my values: hard work, a thirst for knowledge, respect, honesty, and a profound respect for parental choice and involvement.
With the Howard-Suamico School District having welcomed a new Superintendent this year, I firmly believe that a cohesive and stable board will be instrumental in effectively supporting our new leadership. Our board is committed to prioritizing Core Academics, Student Engagement, and developing the skills highlighted in our Graduate Profile.
As a dedicated parent, my commitment to our local community is paramount. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve on the Howard-Suamico Board of Education, the Suamico Public Health and Safety Committee, and the CESA 7 Board of Control. My active involvement with the Howard-Suamico Optimist Club further exemplifies my dedication to community service. Additionally, I contribute to our democratic process by serving as a poll worker during elections, which I believe is vital for promoting civic engagement.
What do you feel are the top needs of the school district:
School funding is always an important issue. Our district has worked hard to become a destination for families seeking high-quality educational opportunities. My family intentionally moved to this school district because of the high-quality schools. During my time on the board, we have made significant efforts to advocate for funding that benefits our district. This includes spending time at the Capitol, hosting our representatives for discussions and tours, and attending budget listening sessions.
Addressing funding issues is crucial for staff retention and attracting outstanding educators for our students. The primary purpose of schools is to educate our children, and maintaining strong academic standards remains a top priority. This spans from teaching phonics to our youngest students to assisting older students in preparing for life after graduation, whether that involves the military, trade school, the workforce, or college.
To achieve these goals, we must remain transparent, effectively communicate with the community, and build strong community partnerships.
What role should the community play in supporting the education of area youth:
As mentioned above, we must actively seek partnerships with local businesses to enhance our community’s educational experience. It’s not enough to ask for support; we must engage in meaningful collaborations that enrich our children’s learning opportunities. Our families must fully invest in their student’s education, championing their needs and helping them succeed at the next level. Students and parents must proactively communicate with staff. Together, we can create an authentic learning environment that truly benefits our students.
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