ISD #270 School Board Member Choose 3
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-board If your candidate didn’t fill in the guide below, visit the Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing site to find contact info. If you reach out, ask candidates to complete their Vote411 Voters Guide from the LWVMN!
Biographical Information
Contact Phone
612-381-7573
Facebook (Full URL)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579097593876
Campaign Email
sara4hopkins@gmail.com
Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)
I am asking for your vote to serve on the Hopkins School Board because I bring to this work the necessary competency, conviction, courage, and community building capacity to help strengthen and support our schools. I hold a Ph.D. in ethics and have more than 20 years of leadership experience in non-profits and higher education. I am a veteran of leading strategic change management, and have improved every system of which I am a part, ensuring there is better alignment between vision / mission
and implementation. I am a parent, partner, and community member who wants to help
ensure our kids, schools, and community can flourish!
If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)
1. (Re)building Trust. Where there is broken trust it must tended if we are to move forward together.
2. Improving Communication. There have been breakdowns in our communication which needs to be rectified. We also have to keep telling the amazing stories about our district.
3. Demonstrated Actionables. We need to revisit Vision 2031 to assess where are at, bring together stakeholders and ensure we have strategic plans and deliverables and there is accountability to ensure they are being met.
If forced to cut the budget in the face of declining revenues, what would be your strategy? (500 characters)
Any process regarding budgets or otherwise must be:
1. Clairvoyant and honest about the challenges (and possibilities) before us, and;
2. Grounded in community listening and community building methodologies (e.g.- listening sessions and community work groups) so as to ensure that all who are/will be impacted are involved and considered so that we can benefit from the diverse and collective wisdom.
3. One that Communicates. Communicates. Communicates. (And part of this is listening!)
How would you address any racial and economic disparities in our education system? (500 characters)
Through learning about the issues, listening to those most impacted, and gleaning wisdom from experts who work on addressing racial and economic disparities. All of these efforts must be nimble and responsive so we can try new initiatives, ensuring we have goals that are SMARTIE (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, Inclusive, and Equitable). And then we keep on listening and working collaboratively to rectify racial and economic disparities.
Please describe how you will engage teachers and families in your decision making process. (500 characters)
I will advocate for listening and working groups that center the insights of our teachers and parents along with the students themselves. I will show up in places where parents are and advocate for us to do this kind of intentional outreach across our diverse communities of families. I will ask how best teachers and families and students want to and do feel engaged and then work to help our processes reflect their perspectives.
Biographical Information
Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
If forced to cut the budget in the face of declining revenues, what would be your strategy? (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
How would you address any racial and economic disparities in our education system? (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
Please describe how you will engage teachers and families in your decision making process. (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
telephone
6128191218
Contact Phone
6128191218
Facebook (Full URL)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578613080141
Campaign Email
hymanforhopkins@gmail.com
Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)
I’m the best candidate because I combine deep personal investment with professional expertise. As a mom with two children in Hopkins schools, I have firsthand insight into what families need. As an attorney, I bring 13 years of experience asking tough questions, analyzing complex problems, and holding systems accountable. Hopkins has many strengths—our diversity, values, and sense of community—but we must do better at ensuring transparency and accountability. I’m ready to serve with both the care of a parent and the rigor of a professional.
If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)
My top priorities are: (1) Helping every student thrive by restoring strong academics and high expectations; (2) Building trust with families through open, transparent communication; and (3) Ensuring safe, supportive schools where teachers can focus on teaching and kids can focus on learning. I want every child in Hopkins to feel challenged, cared for, and prepared for their future.
If forced to cut the budget in the face of declining revenues, what would be your strategy? (500 characters)
If cuts became necessary, I would prioritize protecting classrooms, teachers, and student support services. My strategy would be to review spending line by line, insist on transparency, and cut away from students wherever possible. I would also engage families and staff in the process to ensure decisions reflect community priorities while keeping the focus on academic excellence and student well-being.
How would you address any racial and economic disparities in our education system? (500 characters)
As a parent, I want every child to have what they need to succeed. I’d address disparities by setting measurable goals and holding the district accountable for results. That means targeted support for struggling students, equitable access to advanced courses, reliable transportation for consistent attendance, and transparent data to track progress and ensure no student is left behind.
Please describe how you will engage teachers and families in your decision making process. (500 characters)
I’m proud to be endorsed by Hopkins educators, and I see them as essential partners in decision-making. I’ll engage teachers and families through open forums, surveys, and consistent two-way communication, making sure their voices shape board priorities. As both a parent and a candidate trusted by educators, I’ll work to ensure decisions reflect the experiences of those closest to our students.
Biographical Information
telephone
6124377303
Contact Phone
6124377303
Facebook (Full URL)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578616137178
Campaign Email
contact@ericmandel4hopkins.com
Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)
As a 15+ year district resident, I have parented two children from ECFE into Hopkins High. Professionally, I bring over three decades of experience as a lawyer, consultant, technologist and governance expert. I have built and successfully implemented business, strategic, and vision plans, and held profit-loss responsibilities, including budget oversight and employment decisions. I have demonstrated experience in executive leadership and collaboration, managing complex systems with competing priorities, and working with others to build consensus wherever possible. I have spent the last year delving deep into the issues in public education and Hopkins Schools, and I am passionate about helping our district achieve both equity and excellence.
If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)
First: ensure every Hopkins student who has fallen behind academically is receiving the necessary support to close the achievement gap with others in their demographic cohort across the state. Second: establish real-time fiscal transparency so the board can properly oversee current spending and alignment with budget and academic priorities. Third: rebuild community trust through genuine engagement, addressing stakeholder concerns resulting in over 1/3 of Hopkins students enrolling elsewhere.
If forced to cut the budget in the face of declining revenues, what would be your strategy? (500 characters)
My strategy starts with establishing clear spending priorities through a strategic plan with measurable objectives. When facing budget cuts, we need to protect core educational services first: classroom instruction, essential student support, and basic transportation. I would pause non-essential Vision 2031 initiatives and implement transparent monthly budget reporting so the board can make informed decisions about necessary trade-offs between aspirational programs and essential student needs.
How would you address any racial and economic disparities in our education system? (500 characters)
To me, educational equity means ensuring every child at Hopkins has what they need to succeed. This requires additional academic support for struggling students, expanded mental health and counseling services, and providing access to advanced classes for everyone. We also need to focus our efforts on ensuring regular attendance (including buses for all), teaching that connects with students across various backgrounds, and defined measures and systems for tracking progress by demographic group.
Please describe how you will engage teachers and families in your decision making process. (500 characters)
I will actively seek input from the community on major issues and be available to all stakeholders through holding office hours, listening sessions, and informal surveys. Families need the opportunity to connect with their representatives on the school board, and teachers and staff deserve direct channels to share concerns without fear of retaliation. After key votes, I'll publish decision rationales and seek to create feedback loops that promote the democratic process to improve our schools.
Biographical Information
Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
If forced to cut the budget in the face of declining revenues, what would be your strategy? (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
How would you address any racial and economic disparities in our education system? (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
Please describe how you will engage teachers and families in your decision making process. (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.