In career counseling people are often encouraged to identify their best career choice by thinking about what they are the most passionate about and by identifying the work they enjoy so much that they would be willing to do it for free. I have been very fortunate to have discovered my passion through my involvement in our district.

During the past seven years I have signed on for several hours of unpaid volunteer work each week in either Brimhall Elementary or Parkview Center School. I have done this primarily because I love working with students and staff, and I have the added pleasure of knowing that I am making a positive contribution. When I am thanked on the way out, I honestly reply, “You know I love being here.” And I really do.

My good fortune does not end there. I also enjoy learning about education philosophies and about what is happening in our district at all of the various levels.

After hearing that I was running for school board, a young friend of mine recently asked me if that was why he and his fellow boy scouts had seen me at a school board meeting last spring. I had to reply that it really was not why I was there. It was simply because I enjoy those meetings. I like to learn about what is happening in our district.

I truly enjoy being involved in meetings and discussions regarding our students and our schools. I enjoy the learning and the connecting of the parts to the whole within our district, and I love problem solving. I am naturally motivated to attend school board meetings, to be an active participant at District Curriculum Advisory Meetings, to learn about other people’s experiences in our district, to participate in PTSA meetings, and to read education magazines until I drift off to sleep.

This is my passion. This is what I have been doing for free for several years because I enjoy it. I am also told that I am very good at it. That is hard for me to say, but I do try.

I have high expectations for quality education for all District 623 students and for academic excellence in all of our schools, and I place a high priority on remaining connected with all of our district stakeholders in truly meaningful ways.

You can read about my positions on the 15 questions submitted by the Roseville Citizens League on their website, and you can learn more about my background in the filing statement I submitted to the Roseville Review (currently on their website). If you believe that I possess the background and the passion that you would like in a school board representative, I would be grateful for your support and honored to serve you and District 623 in this way.

Thank you.

Shari Dion