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Campaign Phone
913-221-8469
Personal Biography
Melanie Haas has worked in technology since the 1990s, where she first learned to code for an education startup founded by her father, a designer and her step-mother, a public school teacher from Wichita. CEO of her own marketing and tech consultancy for many years, she stepped into consulting and corporate leadership roles with Kansas City area tech and software companies. Melanie was elected to the State Board of Education in 2020. She and her husband reside in Overland Park and have two teena
Education
Wichita HS North, KSU, KU, coursework in tech, software, leadership
Community/Public Service
Appointed by Governor Kelly to the Kansas Volunteer Commission. Board service: Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE), Kansas Alliance for the Arts in Education (KSAAE). Past board service: Kansas City Startup Foundation, Global Montessori Board of Directors, Kansas City Women in Tech, Central Exchange WiSTEMM, Kansas City Advertising Federation (exec board and Ad2).
I’ve been serving as the board chair for almost two years and bring executive leadership skills to this work, along with a background in technology consulting and entrepreneurship. I have two daughters in SMSD right now and experience in special education, from the parent perspective. The time families spend in K-12 is ultimately short! I bring a sense of urgency to get things done. Anyone who doesn’t currently have a school-age child, they likely don’t know just how much school has changed in the past several years. Software and devices are the new school supplies. I’m incredibly passionate about making sure that the board’s decisions are impactful for Kansas kids and set them up for success.
Continuing to advocate for full funding of our public schools while pushing back on the effort to expand vouchers in our state. Look across the country and you’ll see that the vast majority of families who use vouchers are not those who are escaping a low-performing school, rather, they are families who have chosen private schools from day one. Vouchers are just coupons for them, while taking funds away from our classrooms. Teachers are leaving the profession, so let’s pay teachers like the professionals they are and show our gratitude for their work. Finally, ensure that our schools are exceeding students’ needs. Our accreditation system should demand continuous improvement and excellent leadership in every building.
High quality educators who love what they do! Great teachers are an important factor in success in every classroom. We have to remember that students are better learners when their basic needs are being met and we have a lot of students who struggle with factors outside of the school building, like housing, food, quality care. Great teachers understand this and strive to create learning environments that allow all students to fully engage in learning.
The conversations we have during State Board of Education meetings are one way we play a role. Some Kansans know that at one point our schools were underfunded to the extent that lawsuits were brought against the state. Comments made by members during State Board meetings actually became part of the legal case to restore funding. Additionally, the board writes our own legislative priorities just before each session. We then elect two board members to serve as legislative liaisons. They provide testimony (oral, written) and build relationships with lawmakers, making themselves available to answer questions and help navigate important policy discussions during session.
Campaign Phone
913-951-1698
Personal Biography
I am a lifelong resident of Wyandotte County, graduating from Rosedale High School and received a B.S. in Physics from Southern Nazarene University. I'm married to Cheryl for 51 years and have 2 daughters. Both daughters attended Rosedale Middle School and graduated from Sumner Academy. They finished their bachelor’s degrees.
Education
B.S Physics-Math. AA in Electronics Design. M.S. Physics (incomplete). Master of Information Systems Management
Having extensive education is necessary. My formal education as a student started in 1952.
A high school diploma, B.S. Physics/Math, AA of Electronics, Graduate work in Physics and Computer-Science, Numerous Technical Schools, and a Master of Information Systems Management (MBA) in 2007.
Work Experience. Four years in the construction fields, five years working in Synthetic Fuels research Thirty years is all aspects of computer systems support, and many other occupations.
The reason for the existence of a school system is to educate students in the 3 primary subjects necessary to work in the modern age. Mathematics, Basic Science, and Reading Language Arts.
The ability to read, write and understand English and have a basic command of Math and Science is necessary so that when they leave High School, they have the Primary skills a young adult needs when going out to get employment or to get extended education. These three skills are not a luxury, they are Absolutely necessary for life’s challenges to be a productive adult, not a drain on society.
When a young adult comes across something new, an unfamiliar problem, they need basic skills to address the issue. This is critical.
The student must be involved in the process of learning. If the student is distracted or not present, learning cannot happen. It is necessary for the teacher or administrator to analyze the results to see if the current method of teaching is actually working.
When talking with students or grading their work, it becomes evident that learning is not as intended, then changing the method of teaching is necessary so that the students are actually learning. This method is necessary on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis.
The president or CEO of a company rarely knows every detail of every operation of every plant, warehouse or sales operation. What is essential in management is to be able to manage, read, analyze, observe, select the correct personnel, find those employees that are expert in that area of operations and question those answers.
The job of a KSBE member, must have experience in managing, and advanced training in management.
I managed much of the operations of the IT department of Kansas City Kansas Community College for nine years. I managed the entire Information Technology operations at Leavenworth Public Library for 5 years
I hold a Master of Information Systems Management Diploma, which in essence is an MBA, Master of Business Admin.