In 2024, voters in the Centennial School District will elect three school board members to four-year terms. The candidates are:
About the candidate: I am a Centennial parent who lives in Circle Pines with my husband, Mike, and my two children. My oldest child, Jillian, is 14 and attends Centennial High School. My youngest child, Emma, is 5 and attends Golden Lake Elementary School.
I am a Systems Software Engineer, which means that I make a lot of decisions about what a user needs in their Software to use a System that performs a job for them. I’ve designed Systems Software for Ground based radar, Military vehicles, and Cardiac devices and systems used in heart procedures. I have always worked amongst a diverse team of engineers and have led them effectively on design teams.
As a lifelong learner, our children’s education is of top importance to me. I recognize we are in a critical time to make changes to help our kids succeed in a new and ever changing landscape of obstacles.
Important Issues: Bullying has been shown to increase the chances of gun violence in schools and it is a major problem in Centennial schools. I would encourage the use of proven methods to build empathy in our students and decrease bullying so our schools would be safer. When everyone is given the same tools and resources without regard to where they are emotionally, physically, financially, and socially, inequity is inevitable. Individuals have differing needs for learning and growing and they need to be honored in order to create equity in our schools. Educating our children honestly, empowers them to think critically and analyze the world around them. Honesty in education means trusting our educators to provide an age appropriate curriculum that tackles increasingly complex issues as our children are ready for them.
Goals if Elected: I want to support and guide our students, teachers, and staff in building a community culture where every child learning and every adult working in our school district feels safe, included, supported, and impassioned to learn and grow with brave curiosity no matter their cultural or racial background, gender, sexuality, economic class, physical ability, or mental ability. Along with this vision, I want to lead with transparency and collaboration with the parents of Centennial School District. The School Board needs to continue to rebuild trust with the community by having hard conversations and making positive changes that meet the needs of our students. Bringing more respect and dignity to our teachers, paras, and school staff is needed desperately to retain them. Teachers and Paras will be consulted and listened to if I was on the school board.
Endorsements:
The School Board Integrity Project
Connect with Me:
Web: lauragannon4isd12.com
Facebook: Laura Gannon for ISD12 School Board
TikTok: lauragannon4isd12
Email: lauragannon4isd12@gmail.com
Candidate Interview:
About the candidate: I have lived in Blaine for 20 years and have three children, Jack, Ryan & Aren. I have been a preschool teacher for the past 13 years. Prior to that I have 20 years of experience in small business at Hansen Brothers Fence. I’m a volunteer religion teacher at St. Joseph of the Lakes Catholic Church, 15 years, and served nine years on the Centennial Lakes Little League Board. I graduated with a B.A. in Communication from The College of St. Benedict.
Important Issues: Nationwide, math and reading scores are way down because of the pandemic. Here in Centennial scores have started to rebound, but we must do better and get above pre-pandemic scores. To do this we need to put our focus on academics and not activism. Let’s keep politics out of the classroom and focus on learning.
Goals if Elected: As a school board member, I will actively strive for ALL students to be seen, heard and valued. It is also my goal to prepare students for their future by improving literacy, math and science scores. In addition, I want to strengthen mental health supports for students and I fully support school resource officers in our schools.
Endorsements:
Anoka County Commissioner Jeff Reinert
Blaine City Council Member, Leslie Larson
Lexington City Council Members Bobby Benson and Mike Murphy
Lino Lakes City Council Members Chris Lyden, Dale Stoesz, and Michael Ruhland
Centennial School Board Members Tom Knisely, Craig Johnson and Gloria Murphy
State Representative Elliott Engen
Former State Representative Linda Runbeck
State Senator Michael Kreun
Former State Senator Roger Chamberlain
Connect with Me:
Facebook: Heidi Hansen For School Board
Candidate Interview:
About the candidate: My name is Craig Johnson and I am an 18-year resident of Lino Lakes. I have been married to my wife Diane for the past 16 years and we have helped raise 3 girls and currently have 3 grandchildren. Two of our girls graduated from Centennial. I was born into a military family and traveled throughout the world, during my dad’s time in the US Army. I spent time in Germany and graduated from Moanalua High School in Hawaii. I subsequently graduated from what is now the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management and I have worked in sales within the food industry, as well as in technology. I am currently an independent insurance agent.
I have been an active volunteer in my community and throughout the State of Minnesota.
I have filled various roles in leadership for organizations including two of the following:
Donating my time to an educational non-profit, Best Prep, for the past 8 years.
Volunteered with the Lino Lakes Beyond the Yellow Ribbon and was a past president.
I have enjoyed my last two years on the Centennial School Board and I hope to continue to serve as a contributing member in the future.
Important Issues:
Student Achievement. COVID was simply a distraction. We must reconnect students with success.
Addressing Achievement Gaps. Where are they at? Why do they exist? How do we improve?
Culture among Educators and Students. Build respect and togetherness.
School Safety. Be prepared. Be diligent. Incidents can happen anywhere and at anytime.
Provide more educational opportunities for students that could include options for post-secondary, direct-to-workforce, manufacturing, medical services or technology education.
Mental Health is a significant issue that must addressed, inside and outside the classroom.
Avoid potentially divisive issues that will just distract our children from learning.
Continue to spend our district funds wisely. Provide the best education programs, even within the limits to our district funding. Work to improve our state legislative funding.
Parental Involvement. Understanding that parents are our partners and free to transfer their children outside of Centennial, we need to continue to listen to their ideas and concerns.
Goals if Elected: As a currently elected board member, I will continue to focus on the kids. My desire is to help Centennial Schools create and maintain a culture of respect and a focus on educational excellence, at every turn. We have some of the best educators and staff members in this state. Having a friendly environment for kids to learn and staff who enjoy coming to work, is the ultimate goal.
I currently serve as an board advisor to the Centennial Area Learning Center and Pines School. We need to understand the challenges students and staff have in these classrooms and I will continue to provide positive guidance.
Over the last two years, as a school board, we have navigated our way out of COVID and are working well together. I will continue to work closely with every board member, to keep this “growth” the norm.
Endorsements:
Anoka County Commissioner Jeff Reinert
Blaine City Council Member Leslie Larson
Centennial School Board Members Tom Knisely and Gloria Murphy
Lexington City Council Member Mike Murphy
Lino Lakes City Council Members Dale Stoesz, Chris Lyden and Michael Ruhland
State Representatives Elliott Engen and Nolan West
State Senator Michael Kreun
Former State Representative Linda Runbeck
Former State Senator Roger Chamberlain
Connect with Me:
Email: craigforcentennial@gmail.com
Website: www.craigforcentennial.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CraigJohnsonforCentennial
Candidate Interview:
About the candidate: Sue Linser and her husband, Jon, moved to Lino Lakes 19 years ago because they wanted to live in the Centennial district. The mother of a High School Junior (Delaney) and Centennial graduates (Anneke and Tevis), she has been actively involved in the district since 2005. She served on the Blue Heron Elementary PTO board, which focused on funding art opportunities, updated classroom technology, and playground equipment. Sue has advocated for all students through her service on the Systems Accountability Committee (SAC) from 2011 through 2021, supporting AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), LEAP (Lunch, Energize, Achieve, and Participate), and Odyssey for Gifted Students as classes and programs to be recommended to the School Board. Sue has worked on several levy campaigns and participated in the 2016 Strategic Planning sessions because she believes we need to guarantee continued excellence in our schools. She served with the Girls hockey program, serving as the Blue Line Club treasurer. She was elected to the school board in 2020 and is currently the Vice Chair. In her professional life, Sue is an experienced data analyst with AVIRE, a role that helps her understand the art and science behind decision making and fiscal responsibility.
Important Issues:
- Quality Education: Committing to education for everyone, fostering a positive environment, and persistently working to improve achievement among all students and continue to work on bridging the achievement gap.
- Support and Safety: Ensuring that students, teachers, and staff receive the support they need, feel secure, and maintain their mental and physical health.
- Funding: Securing sufficient funding to sustain high-quality education for all students and provide essential resources and support for teachers and staff.
- Varied Learning Opportunities: Broadening opportunities for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) experiences for all students.
- Community Engagement: Exploring innovative methods to collaborate with the community, working together to build the best possible schools.
Goals if Elected: Sue is seeking re-election for the school board because she believes in the transformative power of education and the importance of a strong foundation for future success. Having served as an active parent representative and completing her first term on the board, Sue is driven to continue her commitment to the Centennial community.
Reflecting on her initial term, Sue is proud of the progress made and the positive feedback received in the Centennial Stakeholder Survey. The upcoming strategic plan and long-range facilities plan present new opportunities for growth. Sue is eager to address areas for improvement and build on our achievements.
If elected, Sue aims to:
- Listen impartially and prioritize the greater good in decision-making.
- Analyze data and consult with experts to make informed choices.
- Communicate transparently and address the needs of staff, students, families, and the community.
Endorsements: None listed.
Connect with Me:
Email: Selinser97@gmail.com
Web: https://www.facebook.com/linserforschoolboard/
Candidate Interview:
