Candidates for Roseville School Board

Candidate
Information
What is the biggest issue facing the Roseville Schools right now?
What can the district do to ensure its increasingly diverse student body thrives?
What skills and life experiences do you have that you think will help you on the board?

Bruce Martin

Bruce Martin, 48, is married and has two children attending Roseville schools. Is on the research faculty at the University of Minnesota and has a Ph.D in biochemistry.

 The issues I consider most pressing are recognition and respect for different learning styles, and the enhancement of problem solving skills. 2 The district needs to continue to recognize different learning styles and adjust to these different styles. This is part of the very motivation for me listing this issue in reply to Question 1.

District Committees: 2001-2007 Friendship Connection Advisory Council • 2002-2007 District Scholarship Committee • 2004-2007 District Curriculum Advisory Committee • 2005-2007 Community Education Advisory Council - Chair-designate for 2007-2008 • 2005-2007 Study Team - Curriculum - Grades K-5 Math • 2005-2007 Study Team - Curriculum - Grades 7-12 Language Arts
School Committees: 2002 Interview Team - Central Park Elementary - Fifth Grade Teacher • 2004 Interview Team - Central Park Elementary - Site Activity Leader - Friendship Connection • 2005 Interview Team - Central Park Elementary - Principal • 2007 Interview Team - Roseville Area High School - Dean of Students (Grades 10-12) • 2006-2007 Listening Team - Central Park Elementary - Diversity Issues • 2006-2007 Task Force -Roseville Area Middle School - Pre-AP curriculum • 2006-2007 Roseville Area High School CISCC (climate committee)
Volunteer Activities: 2001-2004 Chess Club Director - Central Park Elementary • 2001-2003 Enrichment Volunteer (Math) - Central Park Elementary • 2002-2006 Field Day - Central Park Elementary • 2001-2007 Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Central Park Elementary ,Roseville Area Middle School, Roseville Area High School • 2006-2007 District Gifted and Talented Advisory Council - Attended Meetings

Todd Anderson

Todd Anderson, 36, and his wife Holly have a daughter, Marin, 4, and a son, Cleary, 2. Marin will be attending Brimhall Elementary within a year. He is currently a sales and marketing associate for AEI Exchange Services, Inc. in St. Paul. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. Olaf College. Anderson has been endorsed by the Maplewood Voters Coalition.

 

Click here to read Todd Anderson's Filing Statement

In all honesty, I don’t have any big concerns regarding the school district. We have wonderful community schools, and that’s a testament to our staff, administrators, teachers, etc. I’d say that one of our on-going challenges is to continue to provide programs and innovations that help students achieve and become proficient in core subjects, with funding from the state that barely keeps up with inflation. We are fortunate however to have generous taxpayer support in this community, which cannot be said for all of the surrounding school districts. Roseville Area Schools currently has a plan for continuous improvement, and it can be viewed by the public on the school district website. Part of that plan is a goal and performance objectives around diversity. I support the school district’s current efforts to improve and strengthen staff capacity to work with all learners and families from diverse backgrounds. If elected, I will make sure that we continually strive to meet our performance objectives, especially when it regards assuring equal access to our community schools for all families.

Previous board and commission experiences have taught me how to work with people toward a common goal. It has also taught me that you will have differences of opinion and ideas with your fellow colleagues, but that you don’t make things personal. No single individual or a person’s agenda should ever be more important than the whole group or board. I also bring a very valuable life experience, and that’s being a parent. I will soon be a proud parent of a child in the school district, and I am greatly looking forward to it.

Lisa Edstrom

Lisa Edstrom, 46, is single with three children. Lauren, 17, is a senior at Roseville Area High School; Riley, 16, is a junior at RAHS; and Jacob, 11, is a sixth-grader at Parkview Center School. She is a self-employed health care consultant, specializing in not for profit program development, performance measurement and health policy. She has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas.

 The biggest issue facing our district is the continuing growth in diversity of students and their needs. All stakeholders must work together to produce a rigorous curriculum, providing opportunity and coursework that are challenging, yet achievable for wide range of students, from those special needs to those with advanced abilities, and every combination in between. Failure to recognize and actively address this issue leads to disparities in learning and opportunity for our students. We can continue to support development of the Alternative High School, the Equity and Integration program and strengthen critical partnerships such as Northwest Youth and Family Services and our PTSAs. We can encourage the growth and visibility of peer mentoring and community volunteer opportunities. We need to continue working with our state and federal elected officials to ensure that appropriate funding is provided and directed to cover the cost of mandated services and testing.

I am an active, engaged, mom with a proven collaborative style. Over the last 12 years I have been involved with our schools in a variety of ways. I have a strong understanding of the critical issues facing our community. I bring over 20 years of professional experience working with community boards and nonprofits on contracts, data analysis and government funding and policy. I support our district mission: Quality teaching and learning for all!

Jeanne Kelsey

Jeanne Kelsey, 43, is married to Daniel and they have a son and a daughter who both attend Central Park Elementary School. She is currently a realtor specializing in commercial real estate with Keller Williams Integrity Realty. She holds a degree from Minnesota State University-Mankato in urban studies with an emphasis in economic development and housing.

 Some of the biggest issues that our school district is faced with is the reduction in attendance along with providing programs for all of the cities that ISD 623 services. As the first-ring suburbs age and people are moving out to the third and fourth ring suburbs, our school attendance has been dwindling. My concern is how to work with the cities that ISD 623 services to keep families from moving out and to keep our schools vibrant. ISD 623 not only provides education but also services these communities as a senior center, community center and link to many other resources. It is important for ISD 623 to continue to serve in that role and also to find alliance with the cities in the school district to share in the cost of the programs. Students in schools vary widely among many dimensions — race, culture, size, language, cognitive abilities, socio-economic status, personality and physical abilities and more. Separating students does not work and is harmful in many ways. It is our responsibility as school board members to support the administration and teachers through facilitating an environment that respects the diversity in the class room so students can learn from one another.

I have served on several task forces for the City of Roseville. Some of these task forces where on subject matters that had a lot of contention and at the end of process allowed for all parties involved to walk away with conclusions that allowed for issues to be resolved. In addition I serve as the vice chair of the Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) for the City of Roseville and serve on the subgroup finance committee which studies, reviews and makes recommendations to the other members on the HRA regarding the budget and financing of programs. So I deal with levies and the fiscal responsibility to residents in our communities.

Shari Dion

Shari Dion, 46, is married to Mark, they have two children, Ben, 13, and Ann, 10, both of whom attend Parkview Center School. She is presently a full-time homemaker. For the past seven years, she has been doing unpaid volunteer work each week during the school year in Roseville Area Schools. She holds a degree in child psychology from the University of Minnesota.

Click here to read Sheri Dion's Filing Statement

 How do we truly prepare every student in our district for their next stage—first grade, ninth grade, college, life after high school? How do we do this when our students have a full range of needs and abilities and such diverse backgrounds? The biggest issue in District 623 is how we will structure our schools and classrooms and equip our teachers to meet these challenges in an effective and fiscally responsible way. Students thrive when we expect good things from them and give them appropriate challenges and support. When diversity is celebrated and all cultures, life experiences, needs and abilities are honored, the classroom experience can be relevant for all students. Students remain engaged, and this environment of mutual respect and responsibility enables each student to pursue and achieve their own successes. We must remember that diversity is not just a challenge; it is truly an opportunity.

While earning my B.S. degree in child psychology and doing much work with youth of various ages and from various backgrounds, I have gained insights and knowledge regarding the needs and abilities of all students. My experiences on our District Curriculum Advisory Committee and Math and Writing Review Teams have informed me regarding current curriculum and assessment issues. My mediating experience and commitment to seeking all sides of issues will be assets to the board.
       

Thomas Ring

Board incumbent Thomas Ring, 55, is married to Gisel T. Crowe-Ring, they have two children, Treasa, 16, who attends RAHS, and Joe, 10, who attends Parkview Center School. He is currently an assistant city attorney with the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. Who holds a juris doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law and a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.

Click here to read Thomas Ring's Filing Statement

 In a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive world, the district needs to ensure that each student has the full and fair opportunity to achieve his/her potential so that Roseville graduates are truly prepared to succeed in the next phases of their lives. The school board needs to continue to monitor achievement indicators for all demographic groups while increasing the district’s capacity to work effectively with students, staff, and families of increasing diversity. It is the board’s particular responsibility to address district policies and systemic practices and structures that may, however subtly, work against equitable learning and working environments.

I have four years experience as a school board member. I am a good listener, value input from all segments of our community, and I have common sense and good judgment. My family has first-hand experience with our schools. I have also found the following skills helpful: (1) monitoring for uniformly ethical board practices; (2) policy development, implementation, and review; (3) conflict resolution; (4) human resource management; and (5) effective safety and security practices.