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VOTE411 Voter Guide

ISD #284 School Board Member {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

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-boardA candidate forum for this race will be held on September 30, 2025 (location). A link to the recording will be posted here as soon as it is available.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!

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  • Candidate picture

    Laura Conway
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Julie Joseph
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Heidi Kader
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Kate Knight
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Alicia Liddle
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Milind Sohoni
    (NP)

Biographical Information

Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)

If forced to cut the budget in the face of declining revenues, what would be your strategy? (500 characters)

How would you address any racial and economic disparities in our education system? (500 characters)

Please describe how you will engage teachers and families in your decision making process. (500 characters)

telephone 9402102927
Contact Phone 9402102927
Campaign Email lauraforwayzata@gmail.com
I am a mom of three young children in Wayzata schools, an attorney, a leader, and an advocate. I will bring a common-sense, practical approach, and always put students first. My perspective will be shaped by data, and feedback from the community. I am a Minnesota native having graduated from Mounds View High School, then went to the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis. After attending law school in Texas, I came back to Minnesota (specifically the Wayzata district) so that my own children could attend school here. I have a history of advocating for people through church mission trips in high school, then a city prosecutor in Texas. After that, I spent a decade advocating for animals. Now, I feel called to advocate for kids here.
My priorities would be making sure that every child has the tools needed to achieve academic excellence, regardless of their background; keeping schools safe by having consistent, transparent disciplinary processes; and responsible and transparent budgeting, focused on classroom instruction.
My strategy would be to make sure that we do not cut from direct classroom instruction. I would pause lower-impact pilots; consolidate where possible; and expand energy savings. I would keep safety measures fully funded always; and consider a community budget advisory group. Transparency is important when budgeting, and it increases the community's trust in the board. I would lobby on a local, state, and federal money for an increase in funds to cover the gap.
To address any disparities, all students need access to strong academic foundations, supportive teachers, and safe schools. I support using data to identify achievement gaps, then providing targeted interventions like tutoring, mentorship, and after-school support. I think partnering with parents, and transparent communication, will also help to bridge the gap for struggling students.
As a board member, teachers and families will be an intricate part of any decision making process. It is important to create regular opportunities for community member to be heard. I would actively seek out teacher input before making any decisions effecting their support system. Parents should feel welcomed and heard, when it comes to any decisions that affect their children. Open communication will help us collaborate, and make the decisions that will drive improvement and students' success.
Contact Phone 952 905 9899
As the daughter of educators, a proud Wayzata parent, and a community volunteer, I know firsthand the power of education to shape lives. For over a decade, I’ve taught at my local church and served as a parent volunteer in our schools—experiences that deepened my understanding of students’ needs, the dedication of teachers, and the importance of partnering with families. Professionally, I bring 15+ years of leadership managing large budgets, building inclusive teams, and driving innovation—skills that translate directly to strong governance and fiscal responsibility. I bring the heart of a parent and the discipline of a proven leader, ready to serve with integrity, strengthen trust, and keep a relentless focus on every student.
My vision is S.A.F.E.—Students First, Advancing Teachers, Fostering Equity & Opportunity, and Engaging Community & Stewardship. That means protecting student safety, well-being, and growth; supporting and equipping educators to inspire every learner; and closing gaps so every child has the resources to succeed. These priorities reflect my commitment to keep students at the heart, empower teachers, and lead with transparency and responsibility.
If tough choices are needed, I’ll protect what matters most—our students and teachers. With extensive experience in managing budgets and optimizing resources, I know how to find efficiencies in operations while safeguarding the classroom experience. I’ll also advocate at the right levels to secure the funding our schools deserve. For me, fiscal responsibility means ensuring every dollar reflects our shared commitment to learning, safety, and opportunity for every child.
Wayzata is a large and diverse district where racial and economic disparities can create real barriers. Through years of teaching at our church and volunteering in our schools, I’ve seen both the promise of opportunity and the weight of inequity. Every student deserves the chance to rise. I’ll work to close gaps by expanding access to advanced courses, strengthening support services, and equipping teachers so every child has the resources and opportunities to succeed.
I believe teachers and families are essential partners in shaping the future of our schools. Their voices must be heard and valued in every major decision. On the board, I’ll advocate for open dialogue, school visits, and feedback early in the process. By working side by side with those closest to our students, we can shape policies that reflect classroom realities, honor family voices, and strengthen trust across our community.
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telephone 9526984466
I am a proud parent of four Wayzata-educated children and a two-term board member with Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners, bringing service and insight into our community’s families. With 15 years as a senior executive at a Fortune 50 company leading 150+ person teams, I understand governance, fiscal stewardship, and collaboration. Rooted in a student-centered philosophy shaped by my family and education, I emphasize transparency, balanced solutions, and data-driven decisions. My experience in complex organizations and collaborative leadership equips me to help Wayzata Schools manage growth, address budget pressures, and advance academic excellence for over 13,000 students.
My top priorities are advancing academic excellence and student well-being, ensuring effective governance with fiscal responsibility, and fostering strong collaboration with the community. I will focus on supporting student-centered learning, managing resources wisely amid budget pressures, and maintaining open partnerships with families, staff, and leaders to align efforts and drive success for all Wayzata students.
When faced with budget cuts, I would prioritize preserving strategic plan priorities focused on academic excellence. I’d gather input from administration, staff, and families to understand impacts and perspectives. I’d evaluate short- and long-term consequences and assess impact levels. Then, I’d present an objective data-driven list for discussion and consensus, ensuring decisions balance priorities and minimize negative effects while supporting our mission.
I would start by gathering input and analyzing data to understand racial and economic disparities. From there, I’d prioritize actions that best promote academic excellence and belonging for all students. My focus would be on sound solutions, collaboration, and continuous evaluation—keeping standards high while directing resources where they are needed most to ensure opportunities for all across the district.
I use data and input from ongoing conversations with teachers and families. I balance listening with analytics to discern if issues are persistent or temporary. I commit to being accessible, regularly seeking input and questions from all stakeholders. By leading with curiosity and a balanced perspective, I ensure decisions reflect diverse voices and objective insights, fostering trust and collaboration in our shared goal of student success.
Contact Phone 608-213-3969
I believe I’m the best candidate for this position because I bring a unique and needed perspective to the board. As a school-based occupational therapist I understand the complexities of special education. As a parent to three school-aged children, I appreciate the intricate balance of meeting individual student needs while also fostering resilience. My deep involvement in our school district over the last decade - spending dedicated time with students, staff and leadership - gives me firsthand insight into our strengths and challenges. My life experiences and knowledge fill a current gap on the Wayzata School Board, and I’m committed to helping guide thoughtful, student-centered decisions that reflect our community’s values and needs.
Technology Use and Safety-Limiting use of personal devices to facilitate academic and social engagement. Utilizing school-issued devices to supplement multimodal learning. Equity and Achievement-Early intervention to support student needs while fostering inherent strengths and values. Embracing diversity while building collaboration skills. Community Engagement-Collaboration with our community through creative and accessible formats. Spending intentional time with students, educators and parents
I would prioritize minimizing impact on students and educational staff by protecting classroom instruction, essential services and learning resources. I would seek efficiencies elsewhere, engage the community in transparent decision-making and actively advocate for increased state funding to ensure long-term sustainability and equity in education.
Wayzata Public Schools serve eight communities and over 13,000 students, so as a school board member it is imperative to recognize and address racial and economic disparities. I will promote equitable funding, inclusive curriculum and access to support services for all students. I will also advocate for policies that close opportunity gaps and ensure all students feel seen, safe and valued. Additionally, I'll ensure partnership with families and connecting them with necessary community resources
I will advocate for facilitating creative strategies to engage teachers and families in the decision-making process. Life is busy so communication should be accessible! The Inside Wayzata Podcast recently launched and the opportunities for future conversations with students, staff and families are endless. Increasing student engagement during school board meetings, hosting teacher advisory councils and family forums are other opportunities I would like to explore.
My experience as a current school board member, two years as chair, and deep commitment to our students makes me the best candidate for this position. In my 4 years on the board, I have understood the challenges we face. From funding, class sizes, achievement gaps, to classroom space, I know there is more to be done. I believe in working with the community in transparent decision-making, the value of listening sessions, and working collaboratively with educators and Administration to find common ground, and solutions. My experience on other education boards has helped me with the skills of advocacy, and fiscal management, which has enhanced my contributions on the school board. My focus is always on what’s best for student outcomes.
My top three priorities will be manageable class sizes, fiscal responsibility, and reducing achievement gaps. Reduced funding in hiring teachers, and reduced classroom space from increased enrollment have resulted in bigger classes, which negatively impacts student learning. I will make tough decisions about funding, and wise use of local resources while investing in teachers and staff. I will work on Wayzata’s Equity Commitment to close achievement gaps resulting from inequities in our system.
I will prioritize student learning, and classroom instruction, through a transparent process with administrators, educators, families, and the community. Non-classroom expenses will be managed efficiently, and cuts will be made equitably to safeguard vulnerable learners. I will strongly rely on existing data in analyzing possible strategic solutions. Once stability is reached, I will develop long-term strategies to mitigate the risk of declining revenues, and strengthen community partnerships.
I would support equitable funding, targeting reading and math interventions, and wider access to AP classes to students who would otherwise not have the opportunity. Research has shown that students do well when they have a sense of belonging, which can be addressed by manageable class sizes, and culturally responsive practices in teaching. Budgets are crucial to a school district, and staffing and policies should take into consideration that every child be given the opportunity to succeed.
Listening to constituents is a top priority. There are multiple ways to engage them. As board chair, I have proposed listening sessions with educators and families to ensure their voices are heard. Collaborating with the PTA/PTO groups will help me make sound decisions to ensure student success. The district’s policies must reflect input from those who know the students best – teachers and the families. Trust grows with feedback, guiding choices for student success, and keeping schools strong.