Candidates running for the Kasson-Mantorville School Board

The Dodge County Independent sent a questionnaire to each candidate running for the K-M School Board. These are their responses.
Elizabeth Armstrong
1.Tell us a little about yourself, to the extent you feel comfortable. (family, job, hobbies, etc.)
My family and I moved to Kasson in 2016. I have two sons, ages 11 and 15. My boys keep us busy with fishing, hunting, trap, and life in general! My hobbies include making sourdough bread, reading books, traveling, and nature walks. I recently took a pivot in my career path; I worked as a social worker and decided to step back and work part time doing more direct support work. Previous to that, I worked for the YMCA of San Diego County in a variety of positions starting as a preschool substitute teacher and worked my way up to be the Director of Child and Family programs overseeing two preschool programs and four elementary before and after school programs. I attended San Diego State University. You may ask how I ended up in Kasson? My husband’s job was part of it but also, I grew up in a smaller Midwest town and wanted the same for my children. We love this town.
2. Why are you running for this position?
I am running for the school board because I believe that my experience and education have prepared me well to be a representative for our community and an advocate for children. In order for our children to receive the best education, teachers need to be in a supportive environment that values high staff retention. I also believe in transparency throughout the district and community. I care deeply about our community and our future and if I earn your vote, I will do my best to make fair decisions for our community while working to have a top-notch school district that is supportive to teachers and students.
3. What is something in your past that has prepared you to run for office and serve the public?
It’s tough for me to pick one thing because I think that it is a combination of things that have prepared me for this. My experience with schools in a different district, my college education was focused on elementary education and child & family development, I have experience with children and adults with disabilities, I am a parent in the community, and my experience as a social worker in this community. If I have to pick one- I think that my experience as a social worker in our community greatly prepared me for this role. I know and understand the diverse needs in our community.
4. Are there any specific issues you hope to address in this role? If yes, what are they?
Here are a few issues I hope to address in this role; KM schools providing the best education possible for all children in our community, staff attraction and retention, and transparency between the school board and the community.
5. How do you work toward compromise with people who share differing opinions?
Working towards compromise requires respect. Working with people with differing opinions is not a bad thing- It helps to make sure that various sides are considered. Having respectful conversations allows for compromise and growth.
6. Are you willing to vote against a personal belief for the “common good?”
Yes. When making decisions for voting, I will consider what is best for our community- including teachers, students, families of all needs, and community members.
Aaron Stockard
1. Tell us a little about yourself, to the extent you feel comfortable. (family, job, hobbies, etc.)
I am originally from Kansas City, MO. I joined the Navy in 2001 and served 5 years as an Aviation Electrician’s Mate and did 2 deployments on the USS Nimitz. I left the Navy in 2006 to earn my Mechanical Engineering degree from Colorado School of Mines. While in college I met my wife Jenna who was raised in Mantorville and attended K-M schools. In 2010 I was accepted into the Navy Nuclear program and earned my Submarine Warfare pin on the USS Toledo (SSN 769). I retired from the Navy in 2020 and stay home with our three children, Olive (4th grade), Cash (Kindergarten) and Leo (18-month-old future Komet).
2. Why are you running for this position?
I am proud to have served our country in the Navy and I would be proud to continue to serve my community as a school board member. As a parent with children attending the K-M school district, I want the best for my children and all the children of our community.
3. What is something in your past that has prepared you to run for office and serve the public?
As a Submarine Warfare Officer, you were always expected to produce quality results regardless of how challenging the task at hand could be. Priorities, tasks and requirements would often change rapidly and you were expected to adapt, change course and get the mission done with quality results. We were entrusted with a billion-dollar warship and most importantly we were entrusted with ensuring the crew’s safety. I believe these experiences have prepared me to be a trusted, competent public servant.
4. Are there any specific issues you hope to address in this role? If yes, what are they?
As a retired stay at home Dad, I have had the opportunity to substitute teach in our schools. This opportunity has given me the ability to see some of the unique challenges our teachers face. In every class that I have substituted in there are always 2-4 students who have significant behavioral issues and/or are significantly behind their peers academically. Even with amazing teachers this is a monumental task for one teacher to address the needs of these student, while still addressing the academic needs of the other students. My daughters class sizes were 24 in 3rd grade and 25 in 4th. Most studies have suggested that the average elementary class size should be no larger than 19. I would like to see smaller class sizes and/or more paraprofessionals in the classrooms to ensure we are not leaving any students behind and are challenging all student to their fullest academic abilities.
5. How do you work toward compromise with people who share differing opinions?
Through respectfully listening and communicating people can always find common ground to work with. Once this mutual respect is established and common ground found it often leads to additional shared common goals between opposing opinions where more compromise can be found.
6. Are you willing to vote against a personal belief for the “common good?”
We live in a diverse world and my values and beliefs are not going to align with everyone, however as a public servant you serve the common good of the community, not yourself. As a school board member, I believe you have an obligation to first provide a safe learning environment and second to provide access to the best education possible for all students regardless of how their beliefs or values might differ from yours.
Pat Walsh
1. Tell us a little about yourself, to the extent you feel comfortable. (family, job, hobbies, etc.)
I have a wife that’s taught high school English in this district for 17 years now.
I have a son in 8th grade who is active in the school drama dept, speech team, academic triathlon, knowledge bowl, and I believe soon to be on the robotics team.
I have a daughter in second grade active in volleyball and gymnastics currently.
Currently the head brewer for our local Chaotic Good Brewing Company, a dream job for sure. The owner and I made a deal to each other 16ish years ago while working at a camera store together that one of us would open a brewery and the other would work for him. Here I am now staying true to my word.
I have a passion for photography in all its different aspects. My biggest love is astrophotography. There’s just something so magical about a night sky full of stars.
We also love live music and to travel.
2. Why are you running for this position?
I ran two years ago when our community seemed to have a large rift within the school board and those on it. After appearing on a forum discussion and having conversations around town there is a healthy base that requested I run again. By nature I’m a pretty blunt and to the point person. My goal is to always be honest while not being rude. With this I’m also comfortable saying when I don’t understand something and need a better explanation. I feel like every decision-making group needs one or two approachable people such as myself to act as messengers from the community to the group and to speak as the “average person.”
3. What is something in your past that has prepared you to run for office and serve the public?
An almost 20-year background working with children of all ages and almost as long being married to a teacher gives me insight from both sides. Combined with literally serving the public in our taproom and listening to their ideas and concerns about things gives me a unique perspective.
4. Are there any specific issues you hope to address in this role? If yes, what are they?
I feel like our district is headed in a good direction after coming through a pretty rough patch. If I can choose one big thing to work on at this time it would be to rebuild and strengthen the relationships between school staff and the school board and also the community members as a whole and the board. It takes a village to succeed.
5.) How do you work toward compromise with people who share differing opinions?
Lots of information seeking. Lots of questions. Many times it tends to work out that once you get people from all sides of an issue sharing their insight and their goals a solution, or at least a path to one, will show itself.
6. Are you willing to vote against a personal belief for the “common good?”
It would have to depend on the belief and the outcome. Chances are throughout the discussion process I would either strengthen my belief or be presented with new things to consider that would allow me to grow and change in my belief.
Eric Mesa
1. Tell us a little about yourself, to the extent you feel comfortable. (family, job, hobbies, etc.)
I have 6 kids (3 boys and 3 girls) 2 grandsons and a third on the way, due in December. My family is the center of my life, my number one priority in my life. I am die hard Oklahoma Sooner & Dallas Cowboy fan. I am a claims adjuster for a major insurance company.
2. Why are you running for this position?
I feel it is my civic responsibility to be involved as much as possible in the community. I am on the Kasson-Mantorville Football and Volleyball booster boards. We have several spots open on board and I want to help ensure we have strong leadership guide us into the future.
3. What is something in your past that has prepared you to run for office and serve the public?
I worked at RCTC in the Financial Aid department as a loan officer, I had day-to-day interactions with students. It really surprised me how unprepared they were to enter college. Just basic understanding how to budget, cost of living and what is required of them to get a degree. I also help start up a Mentoring program to help the high-risk students not fall through the cracks. My experience in financial field will help me understand the district’s strategic planning when it comes to budgeting and setting long term financial plans.
4. Are there any specific issues you hope to address in this role? If yes, what are they?
Yes, I would love to help develop programs to help students get a firsthand look at possible careers options. Spend a day with Mentor in a field of their choice, so they get see if the career is something they are willing to go to school to get a degree or certificate. I want to get more kids involved in technical fields, plumbing, heat and air, electrician, mechanic.
5. How do you work toward compromise with people who share differing opinions?
I try and find common ground with the person or team I am working with or have different opinions. I am a big picture overall type of guy, sometimes you must give a little to get a little. If everyone is truly working for the betterment for the children of Kasson-Mantorville it should not be a problem finding compromise.
6. Are you willing to vote against a personal belief for the “common good?”
No, I can also just choose not to vote, especially if it compromises my personal beliefs. If we do not stand for something in this world, we will fall for everything. I believe Kasson-Mantorville school district deserves respect, and they need leadership not afraid to stand up and say I do not agree just to keep the peace.
Amy Olson
1. Tell us a little about yourself, to the extent you feel comfortable. (family, job, hobbies, etc.)
I am a wife of an amazing school teacher, mom to two beautiful teenage daughters, a certified child life specialist, an instructor for University California Santa Barbara, volleyball coach, and proud school board member.
2. Why are you running for this position?
I am running for school board as I have dedicated the better part of the last eight years to this wonderful district as a school board member, serving as policy committee chair for my entire tenure, serving on the ZED school board, as well as helped lead the district in the hiring of a new superintendent-with that being said, there is more work to be done and I am ready to do it.
3. What is something in your past that has prepared you to run for office and serve the public?
4. Are there any specific issues you hope to address in this role? If yes, what are they?
As a board member, I would love the opportunity to explore different options in securing our district finances that will carry us through the next five, ten, twenty years and beyond. Another goal I have is to ensure that our students have every opportunity to be college, career, and life ready through new and innovative programs.
5. How do you work toward compromise with people who share differing opinions?
Listening with an open mind and humble attitude is the best way to ensure that you are truly hearing where another person is coming from. In the context of being on the school board, one must know that’s it’s a good thing to have differing perspectives as long as the best interests of our students, staff, and community are at the forefront of every decision we make.
6. Are you willing to vote against a personal belief for the “common good?”
This is a really interesting question...my belief system is what drives my passion for the work that I have done on the school board and there are times where I may not vote in accordance with other board members, but after the vote, we are a team and I will do everything I can to support the will of the board as it is a process I believe in.