Photo provided by Jean Marvin
Photo provided by Jean Marvin
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School Board Position 5

Official Bio:

I was born and grew up in St. Paul and moved to Rochester after college to become a secondary English teacher for the Rochester School system—a career I loved for 40 years. As an educator, I served as a department chair, staff development chair, new teacher mentor, gifted and talented coordinator and the advisor for several student groups. I’ve also been involved in community organizations including the Diversity Council, United Way, Civic Theatre, and First Presbyterian Church. I’ve raised three children here—all products of Rochester Public Schools—and have seven grandkids who live in Rochester. I earned a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Minnesota and am an adjunct instructor for Augsburg University.

Your key platforms 

1. Focus on meeting the needs of all students and the differences they embody to ensure every child is ready for kindergarten and graduates prepared for college and/or the workplace.
2. Engage the community in a partnership and commitment to our schools. Begin by listening to and respecting the families and others who work with our students.
3. Value and support the arts, hands-on classes and creative and critical thinking.

Why should Rochester vote for you?

I’ve lived and worked in Rochester since 1973. I have a deep understanding of teaching, learning and the importance of aligning resources to focus on student success. When the School Board has to make difficult financial decisions, it’s imperative we have people with hands-on experience involved in those decisions. After decades of working with kids, parents, staff, community members and organizations, I’m able to ask the tough questions and challenge “one size fits all” solutions. I’m committed to working hard every day so that our school district will be forward looking and nimble and so that our kids will get the quality education they deserve.

What do you envision for the future of Rochester schools?

The future of education will focus on student centered learning that recognizes students learn differently and will flourish in an atmosphere of choice, opportunity and project based learning. We don’t need students to decide whether they will enter the workforce or go to college when they graduate; we must prepare them to be ready for both and to have the life skills so they can easily transition from one job to the next and embrace new learning opportunities when they arise. Apprenticeships, mentorships, and community experiences are going to become increasingly important for our kids as the whole world becomes their classroom. We already have many examples of classrooms and programs throughout our district that have embraced this vision and practice.

What is your stance on school security?

Schools must be safe havens for our students and staff. It is maddening—and heartbreaking—that we must provide education and drills to teach those in our schools how they should react in the face of a dangerous situation, but that education is ongoing. We continue to work with law enforcement and security experts to put best practice security measures in place in all our buildings. We also must continue to increase awareness of mental illness and to do better at identifying and working with those who may be prone to violence.

What is your stance on the potential referendum for new schools?

Rochester is growing: that’s the good news and the bad news. We welcome our increasing student population, but clearly, we need more space for students. Currently, we have a large community taskforce who, with the help of a consultant, is studying where that space should be and what configuration will be most effective. They will be analyzing a multitude of issues that will include demographics, boundaries, transportation, future growth, etc. A future referendum to fund the building and/or renovation will likely be necessary—and important for our district and our city. Because the bonds for Century and Riverside Schools will be paid off, however, it’s also likely the impact on taxpayers will not be significant.

What is your stance on student discipline?

Schools need to have intelligent rules and guidelines that make sense and that everyone understands. Students need to be taught why these rules and guidelines exist and how they make the teaching and learning environment better; often students need to have appropriate behavior modeled for them. Consequences for breaking the rules should also make sense and should focus on teaching, not punishing students and must be firm yet---very importantly—fair and equitable.

Favorite Rochester Moment?

Every spring I attend at least one of our district’s graduation ceremonies: at Century, John Marshall, Mayo, Rochester Alternative Learning Center, or Hawthorne. These celebrations are joyful affirmations of our amazing students--and the families and staff who have supported them.

What’s one thing you want the Rochester community to know about you?

I made the decision when I was 19 years old to become a teacher. If I had my life to live over again, I would make the same decision!

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