Compiled by Kim McDarison
Eleven candidates are running for seats on the Whitewater Unified School District Board of Education. A primary election to narrow the field will be held Tuesday, Feb. 21.
Three seats on the district’s seven-member board will be decided during a spring general election on Tuesday, April 4.
The six top vote-getters emerging from the primary election will find their names placed on the April ballot.
Of the three incumbents holding seats to be decided in April, one, Thayer Coburn, has announced that he will be seeking reelection. Two others — Casey Judd and Steven Ryan — have said they will not seek another term.
Earlier this month, in addition to Coburn, 11 challengers threw their hats into the ring vying for a place on the board, creating a primary election field of 12 candidates.
Also earlier this month, one challenger, Nathan Vander Pas, announced by email that he had reconsidered his candidacy and would not be making a run. Vander Pas, within his email, did not offer an explanation for his decision.
Following the announcement made by Vander Pas, a field of 11 candidates — one incumbent and 10 challengers — remains.
Candidates winning seats in April will join school board members Jennifer Kienbaum, Larry Kachel, Maryann Zimmerman and Miguel Aranda, to comprise the district’s 2023 board of eduction.
Board members serve at-large and are elected to three-year terms.
The 10 primary election challengers are: Michael Bergman, Will Dammeir, Dan Dern, Stephanie Hicks, Lisa Huempfner, Joseph Kromholz, Christy Linse, Chuck Mills, Brian Schanen and John Truesdale.
Fort Atkinson Online recently asked each of the candidates to provide some biographical information and fill out a short questionnaire. Candidates were asked to respond to four questions using a combined total of between 700 and 1,000 words.
Candidates were asked to submit a photo for publication.
The electorate also will have an opportunity to see these candidates respond to questions during a candidates forum which will be held Saturday, Jan. 28, from 10 a.m. to noon, in the council chambers of the Whitewater Municipal Building, 312 W. Whitewater St., Whitewater. The forum is sponsored by the League of Women Voters-Whitewater Area.
Candidates’ responses to Fort Atkinson Online’s questionnaires, presented in alphabetical order, follow.
Michael Bergman
Age: 38
Address: N6323 Delany Road, Delavan
Occupation: Farmer
Number of years resided in the district: 10
Education: College
Civic and other organizational memberships: none
Political experience: none
What are your reasons for seeking this position?
I am running for the board because the taxpayer needs representation on the Whitewater School Board. Since living in the district, every four years the school district has demanded more money with little to show in advancement in extra-circular activities and academics. It is time to see the value of our hard-earned money do better for our school district.
What are the most pressing issues facing the position you seek?
I believe we should be preparing the students of our district for the world that they will be entering. I would propose mandatory classes suited to helping students learn skills necessary to survive outside in the real world. Classes that teach budgeting, how to pay taxes, financial management, preparing for retirement, balancing your checking account and how credit works. These skills are so important beyond our general education.
I also am a huge proponent of our technical education classes. Not every kid needs to go to college or technical school. Not every child is cut out to go to college or technical school. We need programs that encourage collaboration with local skilled labor such as: plumbing, electrical, welding and general construction. There is a need for people to enter the trades. Students need to be taught there are other opportunities beyond higher education that require skilled labor and provide higher income. Our country and communities need to see these skilled labor positions promoted. Kids need to know they have a multitude of options beyond higher education.
What unique perspective do you bring?
I bring a think-outside-the-box perspective to anything I do. In my line of work there is no option to fail, no option for a redo. We have to perform to make a living, so everything I work on and get involved with has to live up to a higher standard.
Any additional comments? An answer was not supplied by the candidate.
Thayer Coburn
Age: 51
Address: 509 S. Franklin St., Whitewater
Occupation: Owner, The Coburn Company, Inc.
Number of years resided in the district: 44
Education: Graduate of Whitewater High School; BA, Stanford University; MA, San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Civic and other organizational memberships: Current Whitewater School Board member, former member of the boards of the Whitewater Aquatic Center and the Whitewater Community Foundation
Political experience: 12 years on Whitewater School Board
What are your reasons for seeking this position?
Schools are the roadmap for a community’s future, and I am committed to helping Whitewater be the best it can be. Our district’s taxpayers invest millions of dollars in this shared resource every year, and they deserve to have their interests protected by somebody who brings an efficient, pragmatic, and open-minded approach to the job. If reelected, I will continue to build confidence in our public schools through transparency and good governance, and to monitor and question, but ultimately support our administration’s management of the district. I pledge to approach each issue on its own merits, with no specific policy objectives or plans to satisfy a particular constituency.
What are the most pressing issues facing the position you seek?
The most pressing general issue for the board is moving forward with the many recent changes in leadership and programming in the district. Our current Superintendent, Dr. Pate-Hefty, is by far the strongest superintendent I’ve worked with in my years serving on the Whitewater School Board. She joined the district at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and had to make a lot of tough decisions while managing the district’s response. Nonetheless, she continued to push the district forward by reconfiguring several programs and responsibilities to the point where I believe the district in a much better place than it was when she started three years ago. Whitewater is fortunate to have a leader with the critical eye to see problems and the energy, knowledge, and fortitude to fix them. Dr. Pate-Hefty has stabilized the district’s foundation, and I am committed to helping her build on that foundation.
As for specific issues, we must continue to work to improve academic achievement throughout the district. We are already addressing this through two primary means – by aligning curriculum between the three elementary schools to ensure that all students are on the same page when they arrive at the middle school, and by increasing support for the relatively large number of English language learners (non-native English speakers) in our district. Aligning curriculum minimizes the amount of time spent re-teaching things, and supporting our English language learners increases their achievement while reducing distractions for classroom teachers. Both efforts will have a lasting, meaningful impact on our metrics – test scores, etc. – in the coming years, but will require patience and commitment to see them through.
We must also make sure every student that graduates from our district has the tools they need to follow their chosen path. Whether jumping right into the workforce, or going to tech school, college, or something else, we need to set up every student to succeed after they graduate. Our new high school principal Mr. Mansky is implementing many great new programs and classes to ensure that all of Whitewater’s high school students are ready for the next step in their journey. I look forward to supporting his ongoing efforts.
Finally, funding is always an issue. I was very grateful to the voters of the community for passing our most recent operational referendum, which will allow us to continue with the same level of services that we have offered for many years. However, due to a higher proportion of students with needs related to special education and language acquisition, and families below the poverty level, delivering education is more labor-intensive and expensive for the Whitewater Unified School District than for other districts around us. Funding is mostly controlled by the State Legislature, and I want to help work toward a state school funding formula that evens the playing field for districts like ours.
What unique perspective do you bring?
Being the only incumbent school board member in this race makes me unique. Serving as a board member for twelve years, including one year as the board president, has given me a perspective that few have on the challenges facing the district, and I believe that experience and institutional knowledge is invaluable. I understand the importance of working constructively with the professionals who administer, teach in, maintain and serve our district, and I understand the importance of faithfully working in our community’s best interests. Finally, as a lifelong resident of Whitewater, I believe I understand how our schools fit into our community and how to work with the city, the university, and private businesses for the betterment of all.
Any additional comments?
I am grateful that so many people have stepped forward to run for school board this year. The public benefits when they have more choices of candidates, and our schools benefit when a wider variety of perspectives are represented on the board.
Will Dammier
Age: 45
Address: W9036 Lake Lorraine Rd. Delavan
Occupation: Self Employed
Number of years resided in the district: 23
Education: Dad of two young men, ages 12 and 8, journeyman tree surgeon, journeyman high voltage line worker, trained union steward, sergeant U.S. Army, Army combat life saver, combat veteran, business management, 7-plus years youth leadership, working on my masters degree from the “School of Life.”
Civic and other organizational memberships: 7-plus years youth coaching, 5-plus year Boy Scout volunteer, assistant den leader, den leader, cub master
Political experience: None, I observe, pay attention, and research.
What are your reasons for seeking this position?
During my time in the Army, one of our leadership courses taught about climate and culture. Climate is described as the atmosphere in an organization right now, whether it is positive or negative, whereas culture is the culmination of the climate over a long period of time. Generally speaking, when the climate of an organization changes, for good or bad, over a short time period, there is little to no affect on the long-term culture. Unfortunately the climate in our district has regressed so far for so long that our culture has been affected, which has led us to our current situation. I believe that strong, transparent and compassionate leadership, from the top down is what is needed to change the culture for the better.
What are the most pressing issues facing the position you seek?
The most pressing issues facing the school board are lack of transparency, trust and accountability. There has been a history of closed door meetings, lying through omission, and back door conversations that have led us to our current situation. Our staff does not feel comfortable expressing themselves due to fear of retaliation, from either the school board or administration. Finally the board and administration need to be held accountable for decisions that have been made regarding allocation and disbursement of funding, and the metrics, if any, that have been put in place to measure success or failure.
What unique perspective do you bring?
I bring a true, blue collar, tax paying, middle class perspective to the table. More importantly, I bring a point of view that has been evolving over the course of 7 years, being actively engaged in our youth through volunteerism and coaching. Our youth, regardless of race, religion or social status are capable of great things, they just need the opportunity to express their potential. It is the school’s obligation to help prepare them, and give them a platform to do so.
Any additional comments?
My first priority, if elected, would be to observe. I would meet with the district administrator, principals of each school, most importantly our front line educators who are in the classroom, and students. We often disregard their opinions, however solutions can often be found where we least suspect them. We were given two eyes, two ears and one mouth for a reason. If effective changes and decisions are to be made, we should use our first two senses twice as much, which will allow our words, when spoken, to carry twice as much weight.
Dan J. Dern
Age: old enough to vote
Address: N7536 W. Lakeshore Dr., Whitewater
Occupation: Retired
Number of years resided in the district: 19 years
Education: BS Engineering and MBA
Civic and other organizational memberships: Whitewater Parks and Rec.
Political experience: Corporate politics.
What are your reasons for seeking this position?
I have lived in the district for almost 19 years and am a product of public education. Milwaukee PS and UWM (BSME). I have a somewhat unique background that can help the district to continue to move forward and I want to give back to my community
Let’s face it, these are trying times in education and I believe I can help shape the path forward.
What are the most pressing issues facing the position you seek?
Continuing to improve the performance of the students by addressing the needs of the students, parents (guardians), community, teachers, and administrators.
Assuring that the dollars spent on education are value-added and that our students are prepared for their future roles in life. Getting back to the basic fundamentals of education.
What unique perspective do you bring?
Over 40 years working in the private sector with 25 years of that in Fortune 100 and Fortune 50 global corporations at senior management levels, including but not limited to:
• Leading and developing teams and individuals in a diverse global environment.
• Strong management and leadership skills.
• Multimillion dollar purchasing and procurement.
• Global multi-site responsibility.
• Regulatory responsibility (OSHA, FDA, EPA, DNR, etc.).
• Strategic planning and execution.
• Staff development, training and consulting.
• Manufacturing plant management/division senior management.
• Financial: P and L, budgets, capital.
• Substitute taught at every school in the district.
Any additional comments?
I truly believe I have many unique experiences, learnings and education that will have value to the WWUSD School Board as well as the community, teachers, administrators and students. We all have limited resources and the school district is no different so we must assure we get the best results possible when working within those constraints while ensuring that the students continue to receive an education that will help them in their future endeavors.
Stephanie Hicks
Age: 41
Address: 1254 Tower Hill Pass, Whitewater
Occupation: Special Education Early Childhood Teacher
Number of years resided in the district: 23
Education: B.A. UW-Whitewater in Special Education Early Childhood; M.A. in Educational Leadership from National Louis University
Civic and other organizational memberships: N/A
Political experience: N/A
What are your reasons for seeking this position?
I believe we can do better for our children and our city. I believe our community’s future depends on the ability of our district to bring excellence with equity to all students. It starts with our ability to build stronger relationships between our community and our schools. That should always be based on honesty, integrity, and transparency. I am also a mom of two children in the district and I am fully invested in the schools doing well. Like all parents, I want what’s best for my children and that includes a top-notch education.
What are the most pressing issues facing the position you seek?
One of the biggest issues facing school districts at this time is the need to attract and retain qualified teachers. Due to the recent loss of teachers within our district, we need to reexamine our current district policies and procedures. In addition, we need open and honest communication between our current staff and school board as well as conduct exit interviews to better understand how to improve as a district.
Secondly, school safety has and will always remain a top priority of the school board. It is the district’s number one job to keep their children safe within their schools. It is the school’s responsibility to foster a culture of communication where students feel safe reporting information. It is imperative that there are procedures in place that continuously and adequately monitor classrooms and public school buildings. It is critical we continue to cooperate with law enforcement. But most importantly, if a threat is made to a school, it is taken seriously, it is responded to in a timely manner, and appropriate actions have been taken.
Lastly, strengthening academic achievement within our school. Giving our students the best experiences and opportunities possible, teaching them how to be good citizens and human beings, and preparing every student who graduates to be college or technical school or work ready is the end goal. It is our job as a school board to ensure that how we get to that is always under review, reflected upon, and changed accordingly to the diverse needs of our students.
What unique perspective do you bring?
I have been a special education teacher for 19 years in the public school system, along with numerous leadership roles within my profession. I have strong communication and collaboration skills. I consider myself open minded and I am an “outside the box” thinker. I am very detail oriented and goal driven. I am an extremely hard worker and feel I have a very strong rapport with those I work with. These skills and experiences allow me to come to the school board not only as a community member but also as a professional educator. I feel that it is extremely important to have someone around the table with that experience who can relate to the ins and outs of a school district on a daily basis.
Any additional comments? An answer was not supplied by the candidate.
Lisa Huempfner
Age: 60
Address: 976 W. Charles St., Whitewater
Occupation: Associate Professor of Spanish
Number of years resided in the district: 11.5
Education: Ed.D. Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Vermont, I did my doctoral research with a Fulbright Scholarship to Spain; MA Hispanic Literature, University of Arizona, and BA Journalism and Latin American Studies (double major), University of Arizona
Civic and other organizational memberships:
• Whitewater Leads
• Conexiones Latinas
• Community Partners of Jefferson County
• WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives)
• Whitewater Youth Soccer Organization
Political experience: None
What are your reasons for seeking this position?
I am running for school board for a number of reasons. First and foremost is that I care about kids, all kids. In addition, I believe that healthy schools are at the heart of healthy and thriving communities and as a member of this community I want to contribute to its well-being. The recent influx of immigrants to our community in addition to the pandemic and other events have placed some unusual strains on the district, and I believe I have the knowledge and experience that the school district and larger Whitewater community need to help successfully navigate these challenges. An obvious priority for me, given my professional and experiential background, will be to help the district to make sound decisions regarding the integration of immigrant children, while at the same time meeting the needs of all kids and promoting programs and instruction that will move our district forward in the 21st century
What are the most pressing issues facing the position you seek?
I think the most pressing issue for the Whitewater Unified School District at this moment is how to successfully integrate all of the new immigrant children that have arrived in our community over the past couple of years while at the same time, meet the needs of all of the other children and families as well. This, while the district, as many others throughout Wisconsin and the U.S., is trying to bring instruction and learning back to where it was pre-pandemic, and at the same time retain good teachers and move forward.
What unique perspective do you bring?
My professional training and research is in the area of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, but perhaps more importantly, I have been involved with public education throughout my life. Before taking my position in Spanish at UW-Whitewater, I not only had taught for a number of years at other colleges, but I had worked as a developer of the Spanish version of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills and researched the assessment of bilingual children and I coordinated a large Foreign Language Teacher Education Program at Illinois State University for eight years, among other educational stints. The former opened my eyes to many problems within school assessment systems, particularly, as they pertained to bilingual children, and the latter took me to many schools throughout central and north central Illinois to observe teachers. I also regularly attended and participated in professional conferences on the teaching of languages.
Since moving to Whitewater in 2011, I have been involved on both a professional and parental level in the schools. Every year, I place my students in the schools as volunteers and I frequently collaborate with teachers and school personnel on a number of matters, especially as pertain to bilingual education and outreach to the Spanish-speaking community. In addition, I was a very active school parent throughout my son’s journey through the WWUSD, serving on the PTA at both Lincoln Elementary and the middle school and volunteering for sports and music programs. In his 10 years of school here, I don’t believe I missed a single school or extracurricular event in which my son participated. This has allowed me to meet a lot of school district parents and learn of their perspectives regarding the schools. My son graduated from Whitewater High School last spring, so my familiarity with the schools is very fresh. Through my involvement in a number of community outreach groups, I also am connected with many service providers in the area and have collaborated with several Whitewater business leaders to promote literacy in Whitewater schools.
But while I have an extensive background in education and Spanish, I think it is important to note that my roots are in a working-class family of Green Bay. This, I believe, lends me an understanding of many of the values and desires of a lot of our community members who come from similar backgrounds. It is my ability to cross boundaries and understand varying needs and perspectives that I believe can help our district to confront challenges and develop solutions that can be beneficial to all.
Any additional comments?
While I feel my knowledge and experience is especially pertinent to the current demographic shift in Whitewater, I would like readers/voters to know that my knowledge and concerns extend well beyond this matter. I care deeply about the success of all of our children and am aware of many other challenges faced by our schools such as:
• School safety
• The availability and use of alcohol and substances such as vaping and marihuana
• Social media influences on youth as well as excessive screen time
• Bullying
• An increase in depression and other mental health problems
• Poverty and homelessness
• Teacher burn-out
• School funding issues
• Student apathy for learning
• Family issues affecting students and learning
• Inequalities in resources across students
This said, my general experience has been that the teachers and administrators in our district truly care about our kids and many, if not most of them, go beyond their official duties to do all that they can for the betterment of our students.
Joseph Kromholz
Age: 61
Address: 393 Eagle Court, Whitewater
Occupation: Attorney
Number of years resided in the district: Since 2003
Education: JD
Civic and other organizational memberships: Former member of the WUSD School Board, current member of the Whitewater Community Development Authority, and current member of the Whitewater University Technology Park Board.
Political experience: Previous member of the WUSD
What are your reasons for seeking this position?
I am running for school board because I believe in public education and, in particular, believe that Whitewater schools do provide an excellent education for our children. However, our schools require the strong support of our community and the school board, and I fully intend on providing my strong backing to support our schools.
My priorities will be (1) to ensure that all teachers and children are treated equitably and have the support that they need; (2) to ensure continuity of current programs, support movement toward fully achieving a dual-language program in our schools; and (3) to increase funding and support for technical education.
What are the most pressing issues facing the position you seek?
There are many pressing issues, but it is my position that we must emphasize continued movement to a dual-language program and vastly increase the role of technical education. If all of our children can leave the WUSD with competency in two languages as well as a sound foundation in technical education, then those kids will be highly employable and successful regardless of whether or not they choose to go on to higher education or to directly enter the workforce.
In addition to continued movement toward greater emphasis on training our children to speak at least two languages, we must pursue greater funding for technical education and improving technical education resources for our students. Fundamentally, this comes down to continuing current programs, using current resources wisely, and pursuing additional funding for the district. All children need to be given the opportunities to succeed. For some this may be to go to college and for others this may be to go to work in industry. Local and national industries need qualified, skilled people. For too long we have underfunded technical education in our school system, and we have fallen behind in the types of training and education that other districts offer. For example, the state of Wisconsin currently has a five billion dollar surplus and yet none of that surplus is being earmarked for education. That said, I am encouraged to learn about the dual-degree opportunities now offered by Gateway through our high school. I believe continued support and funding of such programs can only bring benefits.
We should continue or enhance programs that provide a strong civics foundation in teaching our history including strong foundational knowledge of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
What unique perspective do you bring?
I have previously served on the school board so I am familiar with its role and operations. I have been a lawyer in this state since 1989 and served on numerous committees and organizations. I have also lived in Whitewater for nearly 20 years and my son received an excellent education through the school. I am therefore very familiar with the city and its environment and am familiar with working with people here to reach consensus to achieve goals.
Any additional comments?
It is my position that we need focus on ensuring continuity and stability in our educational system. I believe that kids and teachers will do better when the policies support them and provide them with steady and consistent guidance.
Christy Linse
Age: 44
Address: W5106 Meske Rd. Fort Atkinson
Occupation: Clinical Specialist for medical device company
Number of years resided in the district: Born and raised in the district. Moved to Milwaukee area for school and job for about 10 years. Have been back in Whitewater district for the last 14 years.
Education: Associates Degree in Cardiovascular Technology. Bachelor’s Degree in Health Service Administration
Civic and other organizational memberships: Previous memberships in healthcare-related organization (Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals). None currently.
Political experience: None
What are your reasons for seeking this position?
I’ve listened to parents, teachers, and community members voice their frustration over the current state of the district and various board decisions that have been made. Some of these frustrations are shared and others are unfamiliar to me. The more I learn, the more I want to be involved. I have a vested interest in the school district. My son attends this district; his friends attend this district, some of my friends work in this district. This district represents our community. Their success will be a result of our decisions. I want to be a part of that success.
We need people on the board who are going to take the time to research, question all decisions and discern the truth. Input should be obtained from various sources before any decision is made. I want to see problems openly addressed and metrics put in place to evaluate outcomes. Teachers should have confidence their concerns will be heard without fear of retaliation. Leadership should admit shortcomings and not be afraid to change course to achieve the desired conclusion.
What are the most pressing issues facing the position you seek?
My priority will be to strive for excellence in academics, sports, and personal conduct. The first thing that must be done is for the board members to admit we are failing our kids. The board needs to take accountability for this and now address it head on. Current metrics measure success on academic achievement. Our district needs improvement here. Why isn’t the board asking why this is happening or how can they fix it? Why haven’t we compared our best practices to other successful districts? Additionally, we need more transparency. The district has been described to me as top down leadership. The lack of transparency in our district has greatly depleted trust and morale within staff and community.
What unique perspective do you bring?
A new perspective. A fresh perspective. Every position I’ve held requires a team approach with an emphasis on communication. I work with people from all different backgrounds; this promotes better outcomes within my field. I’ve learned to listen first and act second. The more questions I ask, the more we all learn together. I am not afraid to politely challenge decisions that don’t make sense. I can keep the end result in mind when making decisions. I believe these attributes would serve this board well.
Any additional comments?
I was born and raised in Whitewater. Born as Christy Boyer. My family has been a part of the community in numerous ways. My grandfather was a business owner (CK’s Keg, Citgo Service Station at 5 points), police commissioner, and university maintenance. Not to brag, but he is currently the oldest living retired police officer and volunteer fireman in Whitewater. My mother retired from the Whitewater post office and my father worked construction in Whitewater and surrounding areas. Family and friends are still business owners in Whitewater; a cousin is currently a police officer here (officer of the year 2022). I attended Whitewater schools and was the second class to graduate from the “new” high school. I have amazing memories of the “old” middle school. This should give many of you a perspective on how long I’ve been around. Hehe.
Skipping ahead to my adult years, I have, for most of my adult life, worked taking care of others. I spent 14 years working alongside physicians in the Cardiac Cath Lab and Interventional Radiology. I transitioned out of a single hospital system and joined a medical device company where I currently support physicians in multiple hospitals across Wisconsin.
I married another Whitewater lifelong resident, TJ Linse. We currently have one child in middle school; the older is working full-time selling insurance with State Farm near Milwaukee. Thomas is doing well in middle school and even decided to join wresting again. He has a great friend group that has allowed us to also have a great friend group in the community. As a family, we enjoy camping, biking, skiing, gardening, and bee keeping. We live on the edge of town with our dogs and chickens.
I consider myself very approachable and welcome questions and dialog. I look forward to hearing from you.
Chuck Mills
Age: 62
Address: 707 E Milwaukee St., Whitewater
Occupation: Owner/Operator: Mills Automotive
Number of years resided in the district: 30 years
Education: ASE Certified Mechanic; State Certified Welder; CDL Driver; ABCDM (doubles, triples and tankers)
Civic and organizational memberships: Most recently, “Kids Mechanic’s Club”
What are your reasons for seeking this position?
• Reestablish the vision of our school board to better prepare our students for their immediate and distant futures.
• Restore the highest standard of education that will place our students in a competitive position for the “real world.” Competency will no longer be the standard and I will discourage any curriculum that does not meet the highest quality standards. Specifically, I will deter the teachings of gender identity and expression (LGBTQ Curriculum) because of the lack of experienced educators and developed curriculum on this topic.
• Renew enthusiasm for education and praise the young minds who thrive beyond the standard set by institutional status quo.
What are the most pressing issues facing the position you seek?
Misrepresentation and lack of transparency under our own roof; what now?
• Dissolving and reinventing the way in which we conduct a school board meeting will help us to reestablish, restore and renew the readiness of our bright young minds for their futures. We must first provide exemplary communication within our own team in
order to make effective change in our classrooms.
• Creating a voice for the students that speaks volumes to the school board will be a challenging and exciting opportunity for this elected team.
• Designing a clear pathway for community members to voice concerns and have them heard with integrity has the potential to bring collaboration and clarity between the school board, community and most importantly, the students.
What unique perspective do you bring?
Perspective is valuable when heard. The unique perspective I bring to this team of board members is that of the students themselves. My own perspective is a fraction of what is needed to fill this seat. Establishing a clear path of communication between the school board and student body will be the first step in providing me the opportunity to have the students heard. The students’ front-row perspective in collaboration with my determination to arrive at every discussion with the highest of standards for their futures (only their futures) in mind; this is the unique and urgently needed perspective I bring.
Any additional comments?
Unity and leadership will be requisites to ensuring the Whitewater School Board can refocus the vision and resources to better the overall education of our students. We must hold ourselves accountable to ensure there is a parallel relationship between the intent and impact of the Whitewater School Board. The greatest opportunity for improvement is to identify where we have formerly detoured our execution of intentions, resulting in negative outcomes. If elected to a seat on the Whitewater School Board, I will unify the communication between the school board, community members, and most importantly the students. We will work in collaboration to align the intent and impact of our decisions. Because ultimately they’re worth it.
Brian Schanen
Age: 30
Address: 1199 E. Bluff Rd., Apt 203, Whitewater
Occupation: Lecturer at UW-Whitewater
Number of years resided in the district: 11.5
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Communication from UW-Whitewater, Master of Science in Mass Communication from UW-Whitewater
Civic and other organizational memberships: My fiancée and I recently joined the Whitewater Grocery Co. Additionally, I have been a member of the City of Whitewater Community Engagement and Cable TV Commission for the past two years.
Political experience: Beyond my work with City of Whitewater Community Engagement and Cable TV Commission, I have not held any political offices. It is my belief that schools should not be political. They should be laser focused on helping students become problem solvers, critical thinkers and good citizens.
What are your reasons for seeking this position?
I grew up just north of Milwaukee in Port Washington. Thinking back to when I was in first grade while, I did not know what exactly was happening at the time, I remember teachers not being happy with the school board. They had signs outside their classroom with sad faces stating their displeasure, note that that is a memory that has stuck with me for over 25 years!
Shortly after a new superintendent was hired. They stayed in the position for over two decades and did a lot to heal administration, teacher, community relations. When he announced his retirement the other year, you could feel everyone in the community, regardless of political opinion, acknowledge the loss, even from a distance (I keep an eye on where I grew up).
Having gone to school in a district where we had a strong leader, and strong district-community relations, I have seen firsthand the power that can have. It retains staff, it helps with alumni relations, and most importantly, it leads to student success. Over the last decade I have watched as districts across the state lose that connection. Districts and communities are becoming more fractured, and as that happens, students lose. Teachers leave, scores fall, and students disengage, with test scores following. I do not want to see that happen to Whitewater.
Whippet (and Warhawk) pride is a vital part of what makes Whitewater, Whitewater, and I want to help that bloom even more. It means working to mend the breaks in trust between community and the district that have occurred in recent years. It means becoming better at communicating when these complex issues arise.
What are the most pressing issues facing the position you seek?
The district is losing the open enrollment battle. Districts such as Elkhorn and Delevan-Darian are piloting programs (e.g. DD Tech) that meet students where they are at. In this region college is nowhere near a one-size fits-all solution. Having programs that specifically target students interested in trades, tech school, and work ready programs is essential.
While the recent partnership with Gateway is a great start, Whitewater must continue to find innovative and cost effective solutions to meet students where they are at, this means a few things.
• Learning what their interests, and goals are beyond school. The curriculum must match were our students are, and where we hope they get.
• Publicly supporting a wide variety of after school programs, not just athletics. Music ensembles, forensics, robotics, honors programs and the other countless programs. These programs not only have a significant impact on student success, but it gives them a sense of belonging. When students feel that they have a place in the larger school community, success comes with it.
• Ensuring an appropriate curriculum. Students in the Whitewater Unified School District have a wide range of talents, lived and developmental experiences. Every district has unique challenges when it comes to developing curriculum for students, and teachers are best suited to manage this. It is important that state standards are met, but they need to be met in a way that fosters student success. One-size fits all commercial curriculum is often not the best strategy. They often leave a large segment of students behind, often those at greatest risk, and they lose interest and don’t reach their fullest potential.
What unique perspective do you bring?
Education has always been important to me, and education policy an interest of mine. My fiancée, sister, brother-in law and myself all work in education. We see first-hand every day the unique challenges today’s students face, and the strengths they possess. We have had many conversations about how much education has changed in just the past ten years, from when I was a student.
The environments that schools are operating are different, and pandemic aside, the students are different. The world is a different place, and employer’s needs are different. It is critical that school boards work to make sure that decisions are made with a clear understanding of current student experience, and current workforce needs. My close connections to the education world help bridge the gap between policy and the people those policies affect.
Any additional comments?
I am a firm believer in elevating students’ voices, because at the end of the day, any decision the school board makes will impact them in some way or another, whether it is staffing, curriculum, budget, or any of the countless other decisions the board makes.
If elected, my priority will be ensuring that school board decisions do at least three things:
• Meet students where they are at.
• Ensure students will be college, technical school or work ready when they graduate.
• Be fiscally responsible.
John Truesdale
Age: 80
Address: 175 N. Esterly Ave., Whitewater
Occupation: Retired UW-Whitewater Program Administrator
Number of years resided in the district: 51
Education: UW-Madison, B.S. in Sociology; UW-Milwaukee, M.S. in Counseling Psychology; UW-Madison, completed coursework toward Doctorate in Educational Administration
Civic and other organizational membership: Registered Official in Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA).
Political experience: was elected and served four years as secretary and president of the Master Board that ran a 4,000 resident community with 225 employees and an annual budget of $15-20 million dollars.
What are your reasons for seeking this position?
Provide a better educational and developmental environment for students, staff and the community as it tries to overcome the deficits created by the Covid-19 pandemic.
What are the most pressing issues facing the position you seek?
Bringing students’ educational and developmental environments back to where they were before the pandemic struck.
What unique perspective do you bring?
I have experience in developing new programs to meet student needs at UW-Whitewater over a 30-year period. That effort was recognized by the national organization of student affairs professionals when they recognized the UW-Whitewater program as one of the best of its kind in higher education in the country. I have also served as a member of the Governor’s Committee on the Problems of Persons who Happen to Have Disabilities.
Any additional comments?
Students are facing educational and environmental deficits caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. We need to bring all members of the educational community together to work to address these deficits.
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