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VOTE411 Voter Guide

Mukwonago Area School District School Board Member West Region Seat {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

Vote for 2

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  • Candidate picture

    Jason Bennett
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Aaron Hackett
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Chris Nowak
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Craig C Vertz
    (NP)

Biographical Information

What differentiates you from the other candidates and current board members?

Students need teachers who look like them and they need to be exposed to teachers and perspectives different from their own. What will you do to advance the recruitment of teachers who reflect the diversity of your School District's student body?

What is the role of a school board member in your school district? What do you see as a board member’s responsibilities?

Campaign Mailing Address 385 E Veterans Way
Mukwonago, WI 53149
Campaign Phone 2623636300
Campaign Email benneja@masd.k12.wi.us
Education BS, MS
firstname Jason
With 20 years of business experience, degrees in mathematics and statistics, and a strong history of community involvement, I bring a data-driven and results-oriented approach to the Mukwonago School Board. My background equips me with the analytical skills needed to assess budgets, policies, and student performance metrics effectively. Having served on various committees over the years, I understand the importance of collaboration, team work and informed decision-making. I am committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and ensuring that our schools provide the highest quality education while preparing students for future success.
From elementary on through graduate school, I've had excellent teachers from every color and creed. Their excellence never came from the way they looked; rather it came from a command of their subject. As a young undergrad, I had a physics professor by the name of Pirooz Mohazzabbi; he was born and educated in Iran. He was the best instructor I ever had. His excellence had nothing to do with what he looked like; he's an Arab man and I'm a white man. His excellence came from his compassionate demeanor and his command of the subject. I believe in hiring educators that have a track record of excellence in teaching, not checking diversity boxes. Merit based hiring would be my priority.
In Mukwonago, a school board member provides governance and oversight to ensure quality education while being accountable to the community. Responsibilities include setting district policies, approving budgets, hiring and evaluating the superintendent, overseeing curriculum and student achievement, and ensuring fiscal responsibility. Board members engage with the community, oversee school facilities, and advocate for policies that support students and staff. They work collaboratively to maintain transparency and uphold MASD’s mission to provide excellent education.
Campaign Email aphackett@gmail.com
Education Bachelors degree Civil Engineering from Michigan Tech
firstname Aaron
A highlight of my career as a Police Officer was serving as the School Resource Officer for a neighboring school district for 8 years. I was able to work on making the learning environment safe for students and staff. I made sure to put my office in the counseling office so that I was always available to students. I loved being invited to teach in certain classes and participate in the occasional kickball game. I was able to build strong community relationships and developed a deep appreciation for educators and what they do for all of us. I believe that all of the candidates bring strengths with them but my experience working closely with a community and with school district administrators sets me apart.
I will always advocate for a safe, predictable, and positive learning environment. I will also empower the district and building administrators to interview and hire the absolutely best candidates possible for our students. The building administrators are the front line and should know what their particular building needs.
I view the Administration's role as the “CEO” of the school district managing the day to day operations. The school board’s role is to be the conduit between the district and the public. The board hires and evaluates the district administrator. The board is the body that ensures the metrics such as student performance and staff retention by the district are in alignment with the goals of the district. If they aren’t, the board probes to understand what needs to be fixed.
Campaign Mailing Address S72W32699 Sandie Ln
Mukwonago, WI 53149
What differentiates me from other candidates and current board members is my commitment to smarter spending, higher academic standards, and greater accountability. I believe in putting students first by ensuring that taxpayer dollars stay in the classroom, where they have the greatest impact. Instead of rubber-stamping budgets, I will ask tough questions, demand transparency, and push for data-driven decisions that improve student outcomes.

I bring a results-focused mindset. As an educational leader, I’ve worked directly with teachers and administrators to improve student learning. I understand what works in classrooms and what doesn’t, and I won’t support policies that sound good on paper but fail to deliver results.
I believe the most important thing we can do is recruit and retain high-quality teachers who are committed to student success. Every child deserves great educators who challenge, support, and prepare them for the future. To strengthen recruitment, we need to focus on making our district a place where the best teachers want to work—offering competitive salaries, strong professional development, and a culture that values excellence.

We should also build strong partnerships with universities and teacher preparation programs to attract top talent. The priority must always be hiring the most qualified and effective teachers who will have the greatest impact on student learning.
A school board member’s role is to set the district’s vision, policies, and budget, much like a captain charting the course for a ship. While the administration is responsible for steering the ship, carrying out those policies, and managing daily operations, the board ensures accountability, oversees results, and makes necessary adjustments to stay on course.

Board members must hold themselves accountable, just as they hold the administration accountable. This means consistently evaluating the effectiveness of policies, making data-driven decisions, and being transparent about progress. If the desired results are not evident, a responsible board member should be willing to step aside or ask tough questions to ensure the right course of act
Campaign Mailing Address W311S9084 Moccasin Tr
Mukwonago, WI 53149
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