In 2019, there will be four candidates on the ballot for the three seats on the Spring Lake Park school board. You can watch their candidate forum here, or read their biographies and goals.
About: Sarah Bowe is running for Spring Lake Park School Board because she believes in solid, rigorous public education and wants the schools to provide the finest education possible. Sarah has lived in the Spring Lake Park District for over 8 years. Sarah and her husband Jason have two daughters in the district.
Sarah received her Bachelor degrees from Concordia College in Business Administration and Business Education. She went on to receive her Master’s in Education from Indiana Wesleyan University. Sarah has a MN teaching license and has spent the last 16 years teaching at the middle school, junior high, senior high, community college, and university level. She currently teaches at the University of St. Thomas in the Computer Science department.
Sarah is active in her church teaching elementary Sunday School classes, volunteers with Junior Achievement, and also is on the Systems Improvement Advisory Council for Spring Lake Park Schools. She also frequently volunteers in her daughters’ classrooms.
Important Issues:
Academic quality: I think we need to cultivate disciplined learning environments and consistent curriculum that fosters effective learning. To be successful, students need a classroom that is free from distractions and curriculum that follows a clear progression.
College and Career Readiness: No matter what post-secondary path our students take, they should graduate with the knowledge, skills, and character necessary to succeed.
Technology: We need to guide the effective integration of technology into subject areas- there is a balance between being an enhancement and a distraction.
Fiscal Responsibility: I think we need to support expenditures that are aligned with our goals for student achievement.
Goals if Elected:I would like to support the district in its strategic plan for the future. As I have been working at the high school and post-secondary level for the majority of my career, I would encourage the ongoing development of the Pathways to Career and College Readiness Initiative. I am very passionate about technology and currently teach in a Computer Science department. If elected, I would be excited to focus on the development of curricular options for K-8 Computer Science integration. I want parents to feel that they are an important part of their child’s education and teachers to feel supported. I want to advocate for personalized learning to meet our students’ unique and varied needs.
Endorsements: None listed
Connect with Me:
Facebook: SarahBoweSLP
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About: I am a resident in the Spring Lake Park school district for more than 24 years. I currently work for a large financial firm in Minneapolis. I hold a degree from the University of Northwestern in Business Administration and recently completed the requirements for my Masters in Business Administration (MBA).
My wife, Deneen and I have a son who is an SLP graduate (2016) and a daughter who graduated this past spring. I was a member of the Spring Lake Park Schools Community Facilities Design Team commissioned to identify options to manage our growing student population. As a member of the team, I provided input from a parent perspective that resulted in the improved facilities that the students, teachers and staff enjoy today.
Prior to serving on the SLP School Board, I served as a board member to the Emma B. Howe (Northtown) YMCA. I also have invested in the youth of our community by volunteering as a boy scout leader for over 10 years, and in the past three years as a chaperone for our high school marching band.
Important Issues: Safety is a vital concern for every parent, teacher andstudent. Ensuring the safety of everyone visiting or attending our campuses was integrated our new construction and renovation designs. Security, however, goes beyond just enhancing our buildings. Improved access to mental health and social services can help improve safety for everyone at our district facilities.
As a district, another important issue is the need to continue improving the reading and math proficiency in our students. We need to ensure that our quality teachers have all the resources they need to allow them to do their best for our students. With our teachers equipped and ournew enhanced learning facilities completed, we can continue to work on these academic areas and progress in developing life-long learners.
Goals if Elected: My goal is to continue to use my talents and skills to help our school district close the gap in math and reading proficiency at all grade levels and demographics. I also want to provide the best all-around learning environment possible. Not only does this include the academics, but also the social and self- image development of our students. Increasing the community’s interaction with the school district and raising awareness of the great accomplishments our students, teachers and staff is also an important objective. My overall desire is to continue to provide my unique experiences and talents to give greater opportunities for success to our students as life-long learners.
Endorsements: None listed
Connect with Me:
Email: tdeaster01@msn.com
Facebook: EasterforSLP
Phone: 763-783-1459
About: My name is Amy Hennen and I’ve lived in the Spring Lake Park school district with my husband, Scott Nielsen, for 15 years. We have two children, a son in college and a daughter just starting her senior year at Spring Lake Park High School. I have served on the Spring Lake Park School Board for almost eight years, and during that time I’ve served as the Board Clerk, Vice-Chair and am currently the Board Chair. I have a BA from the University of Minnesota, Morris and a JD from the University of Minnesota Law School. Prior to my election to the School Board I was the Northpoint Elementary PTO president, served on the Panther Foundation Board of Directors, Community Advisory Council, co-chaired the Legislative Action Committee and co-chaired the community’s Kids First Committee. I serve as a member of the Teacher Contract Negotiating Committee and have taken part in Minnesota School Board Association leadership training. In addition, I volunteered in the Anoka County Library system for the last seven years andalso volunteer with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Important Issues:The most important issue facing our district is to help each student reach their full potential. In a world where many of the jobs our students will fill have not even been created yet, our role as Board members is to support our teachers and staff as they provide each student the personalized education they deserve, helping them learn to think critically and creatively.
Goals if Elected:If elected, I hope to continue to serve the District 16 community to the best of my ability. I will continue to collaborate with my Board colleagues and district staff and engage with our larger Spring Lake Park Schools community.
Endorsements: None listed
Connect with Me:
Facebook: Amy Hennen for School Board
Email: amyLhennen@yahoo.com