Change Address

VOTE411 Voter Guide

SSD #1 School Board Member At Large {_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: Voting Local Matters: Why Vote for School Board | League of Women VotersIf 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!A forum for the primary election in this race is available here (recorded on July 16, 2026) - full details can be found at https://lwvmpls.org/2026-candidate-forums/

Click a candidate icon to find more information about the candidate. To compare two candidates, click the "compare" button. To start over, click a candidate icon.

  • Candidate picture

    Michael Baskins
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Collin Beachy
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Christin Crabtree
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Clifton "CJ" Henderson
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Stephanie Johnson
    (NP)

Biographical Information

Why are you the best candidate for this position?

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why?

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

How can you as a board member and the Board as a whole help foster mutual respect between students, staff, and parents?

Please describe how you will engage teachers and families in your decision making process.

{_btnLabelFor(compare1, _isInSelection(compare1))}
{_btnLabelFor(compare2, _isInSelection(compare2))}
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Strong Public Schools are key to a strong Minneapolis. Through decades of organizing in Minneapolis I have developed trusted relationships with a cross section of community members who know how to get things done. Alongside neighbors, I have been in our streets and our institutions to deliver meaningful policy change and tangible resources to build a Minneapolis where every resident can thrive. Whether advocating at the Davis Center for safer special education case loads, rallying at the legislature for fully funded schools, or working alongside educators and neighbors to protect our schools from ICE, we have seen what is possible when our community comes together. Now is the time to bring that energy to our public schools.
1. Positive vision: Disinvestment in people is not a winning strategy for our future. I prioritize paths to increase enrollment, strengthen policy and funding, and engage community authentically 2. Collaboration: MPS must be on the frontline building coalitions across geographic & political divides to strengthen legislative outcomes. 3. Attract/retain families: The way to strengthen MPS is to show families our schools are their best option. Schools are successful when they center community needs
Minnesota is currently ranked 26th in public education funding in the United States. I am a consistent presence at the capital; fighting for funding and systemic improvements at the capital is a priority. I look forward to bringing fresh eyes, increased transparency, and strengthened oversight to MPS. Increased internal controls and procedural improvements must be made as reparative and preventative measures alongside increased funding from the state as a critical path toward budget stability.
Fostering mutual respect and constructive relational practices is a critical leadership skill. This can be accomplished through intentional, district-wide approaches that prioritize relationship-building, collaborative decision-making, and restorative practices. Learning from our families, the people who work in MPS, and our community about their priorities and what they need will inform my work. People are at the center of everything we do in MPS, and I am committed to being accessible to you.
Our district is full of vibrant, tightly knit communities of engaged families—a fact proven by the tremendous response to the ICE occupation in Minneapolis. I am proud to be a MPS caregiver, and I am proud of the immense effort put forth by parents and educators to keep our schools secured, our staff supported, and our neighbors safe. I am committed to collaborative problem-solving to deliver positive outcomes and will remain by your side, fighting for equity, resources, and representation.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Powered by League of Women Voters Education Fund