Candidate responses for Byron School Board

The Dodge County Independent sent questionnaires to all candidates who filed for positions on the Byron School Board. These are their responses.
Britton Avant
Name: Britton Avant
City: Byron
1. Tell us a little about yourself, to the extent you feel comfortable. (family, job, hobbies, etc.)
I am a mom to three children in the district and have been married for 13 years to my wonderful husband, whose medical training brought us to the Rochester area. For over a decade, I have dedicated myself to supporting his career and raising our children. Now, I’m eager to pursue my passion for education by joining the school board to help maintain our exemplary school district. One of my favorite activities is cheering on my kids in their various sports and extracurriculars.
2. Why are you running for this position?
I am running as a mom that will stop at nothing to ensure all of our children get the phenomenal education we know they deserve.
3. What is something in your past that has prepared you to run for office and serve the public?
I have been an active community member and volunteer in Byron, dedicating at least one day per week to supporting our schools. I also serve as a recreational soccer coach, which has deepened my connection to the community. My entire adult life has centered around my children, and joining the Byron school board will be a natural extension of that commitment. I possess the drive, intellect, and time necessary to make a meaningful contribution to the board.
4. What specific issues do you hope to address if elected (please limit to top 3 issues).
If elected, fighting for our resource officer and the teachers will be at the top of my list, along with regaining financial stability. As a routine volunteer in the classroom, I see firsthand the magic Byron teachers create for our children. They deserve and need our unyielding support.
5. How do you work toward compromise with people who share differing opinions?
I know we all have far more in common than we do not. It takes willing ears to listen and understand where someone else is coming from, and that I have. I may not always agree with differing opinions, but I can almost always understand and respect opposing viewpoints.
6. Are you willing to vote against a personal belief for the “common good?”
I don’t believe I hold radical viewpoints where I would need to compromise my personal beliefs for the common good. I am running on Keeping Common Sense in Byron, and I can’t think of an example where that would betray the “common good.”
Alisha Eiken
Name: Alisha Eiken
City: Byron
1.Tell us a little about yourself, to the extent you feel comfortable. (family, job, hobbies, etc.)
I am a mom, nurse, and fierce advocate for kids. I grew up in Caledonia, a small town in the southeastern corner of Minnesota, and I have lived in Minnesota almost all of my life. My family of four moved to Byron 8 years ago, and we LOVE this community. We have two kids in the district: one in intermediate school and one in middle school.
I have a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and I worked as a nurse for 15 years.
I love to spend my time volunteering, hiking, hanging out with my family and friends, golfing, and watching my kids’ and my nieces’ & nephews’ events. I love attending our school district’s theater performances, and I watch our varsity athletic teams compete every chance I get.
My volunteer work includes: advocating for gun violence prevention, teaching gun safety classes to parents and healthcare providers, co-mentoring my son’s robotics team, and organizing a successful community food drive during COVID. Additionally, I am a member of the Byron Public Schools Finance & Facilities Committee and the Community Advisory Committee. I have consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to serving others, and I would be honored to serve on Byron’s School Board.
2. Why are you running for this position?
My agenda as a school board candidate is simple: I want ALL kids to have the best public education possible. My experience as a mom, nurse, advocate, and volunteer has given me skills I believe can help our community achieve that goal. Our schools are the heartbeat of Byron, and I know we can continue to have an exemplary school district. Our kids, teachers, school staff, and community deserve a district that is vibrant, thriving, and financially sound. My family loves our small town and our schools, and I will work tirelessly to uphold Byron’s longstanding value of kids first, always.
3. What is something in your past that has prepared you to run for office and serve the public?
In my roles as a Mom, nurse, and advocate, I have consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to serving other people.
I have experience working with local legislators and I believe my relationships can benefit our district and our community. I have participated in countless committees in both my professional and personal life, and I am capable of leading a functional team. I understand this is an elected role, and I expect to be held accountable.
Lastly, I have a discerning and inquisitive approach to problem-solving. I recognize when people are not being truthful, and I notice inconsistencies. My deeply held values like transparency, accountability, and honesty will be helpful when building relationships as we work to return our district to financial stability and ultimately repair trust between our school leadership and our community.
4. What specific issues do you hope to address if elected (please limit to top 3 issues)
Restoring financial stability to our school district—this needs to be our #1 goal, and I am ready to get to work.
Supporting our kids’ academic achievement and well-being
Repairing trust among the superintendent/school board and teachers, administrators, school staff, students, and the community.
5. How do you work toward compromise with people who share differing opinions?
I think mutual respect is the first step toward reaching a compromise. I value diverse and competing ideas, and I believe differing opinions are essential to a thriving organization. I expect board members to hold opposing viewpoints but be united around a common goal. The school district’s strategic plan is the common goal of the school board. Successful boards reach consensus by engaging in respectful, spirited, and thoughtful debate, while keeping the district’s strategic plan top of mind.
6) Are you willing to vote against a personal belief for the “common good?”
In all areas of life, I strive to base my convictions on data, facts, and what is best for the common good. I aim to remain open-minded and adaptable. If my personally held belief isn’t what’s best for the “common good”, I would strive to not only vote against my personally held belief, but also to change my conviction.
Nadia Poluhina
Name: Nadia Poluhina
City: Byron
1. Tell us a little about yourself, to the extent you feel comfortable. (family, job, hobbies, etc.)
My husband and I relocated to Byron from out of state just over four years ago with two young children, both of whom now attend Byron Primary School. We now also have a toddler who is eagerly waiting to join her siblings.
I work at Mayo Clinic as a Senior Manager in Corporate Development. My team and I invest in for-profit organizations with budgets comparable to those of the school district. I also oversee their performance by serving on their boards, ensuring strategic goals are met and resources are managed effectively.
2. Why are you running for this position?
I am running for the School Board because I believe my finance experience would provide a valuable perspective.
As a parent with children in Byron Schools, I am deeply committed to ensuring that they—and all students in our district—receive the best possible education and experience.
3. What is something in your past that has prepared you to run for office and serve the public?
My experience on for-profit boards has equipped me with strong skills in financial oversight, strategic planning, and accountability—critical elements for effectively serving the public on the School Board.
I deeply value our home and community in Byron and am committed to using my expertise to support its growth and help it thrive.
4. What specific issues do you hope to address if elected (please limit to top 3 issues)?
The top priority for me is ensuring the financial stability of our schools. We must first get our house in order by implementing regular financial reporting available to both the Board and the public, maintaining stable budget management, and developing a realistic, achievable plan for long-term sustainability.
5. How do you work toward compromise with people who share differing opinions?
A multicultural upbringing instilled in me the ability to empathize with and respect diverse perspectives. I approach compromise by actively listening, identifying common ground, and focusing on shared goals.
I believe that all current Board members and candidates share the same goal: providing the best education for our students, staying within budget, and serving the District’s stakeholders—our teachers and the Byron community. With this shared purpose, I am confident I can collaborate effectively and find common ground with others driven by the same commitment.
6. Are you willing to vote against a personal belief for the “common good?”
As a potential board member, my responsibility will be to serve the community’s best interests, not just my own views. I will prioritize thoughtful decision-making based on data, stakeholder input, and what benefits the District as a whole.
Lisa Jessen
Name: Lisa Jessen
City: Byron
1. Tell us a little about yourself, to the extent you feel comfortable. (family, job, hobbies, etc.)
I’m Lisa Jessen. My husband and I and our 3 kids have lived in Byron for 20 years. Two of them have graduated and our son is in 11th grade, so we’ve been part of this school district for their entire school careers. We moved from Texas in 2004 and we chose Byron specifically for the schools. My husband has always worked from home so we could have picked anywhere and we chose Byron because of the great reputation of the school district.
I am the Communications Specialist at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Rochester where I’ve worked for 19 years. I manage our website, our parish-wide communication tools, our Facebook page, and our parishioner database. I am also the Bulletin Editor, Facility Scheduler, and Ministry Coordinator. I stepped out of an Internet banking career to start raising a family while we lived in Texas and then found fulfillment in working at the church when we moved back to MN.
I am currently on the Community Advisory Committee that was put in place early this fall to discuss possible budget cuts. I am a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Council of Byron and love helping to plan and carry out activities for all ages in our community. I am President of the Sacred Heart Haiti Mission in Rochester whose mission includes collecting and shipping necessities to Haiti and working with the Missionaries of Charity to provide food, housing, and education. We work alongside the Archdiocese to aid the poorest of the poor. I am also a group facilitator for a Suicide Survivor Bereavement Support Group and find great fulfilment in connecting with people and giving support in their time of grief.
2. Why are you running for this position?
I am running again because after having served for the last 2 years, I understand the substantial amount of work and time involved in this important position and I am able to continue to dedicate myself to making sure Byron Public Schools is a district that can attract and retain its teachers, Admin, and support staff; and remain a district where parents want to enroll their children due to our high quality of education. I feel strongly that our community values a good education for their children and has come to expect the very best for them. I’ve always been interested in the inner workings of the decision-making process and learning HOW and WHY decisions are made.I am qualified to continue in this position because I am open and honest and value transparency. I will continue to work to make sure the community has the information they need to make informed decisions.
3. What is something in your past that has prepared you to run for office and serve the public?
My professional life as a Communications Specialist has prepared me to run for office and serve the public because as a Comm. Specialist, I have to be aware of all activities, events, financial data, etc and keep the public informed and manage communication in a variety of ways to make sure the information is shared on every platform that the public has access to. Everyone absorbs information differently. Some people read the newspaper, while others only use social media. I thrive on volunteering and serving others. I believe we all exist to care for one another and that each and every one of us has to do our part to make the world a better place.
4. What specific issues do you hope to address if elected (please limit to top 3 issues)
Financial Stability-Continue to work toward increasing our fund balance to get back to the 8% target. Mental Health-Discuss further opportunities to bring events and mental health awareness to our district.
Lack of Communication-We have an obligation to be transparent with school finances, among other things (but finances are what we are currently focusing on). Whether we have the answers or not, we have to communicate with the public and let them know we are working hard behind the scenes to address these budget issues. It may not seem like anything is being done or decided on, but we need to let the public know that we are communicating with Admin, the Board, our teachers, and community members who are on the various budget committees to ensure we are doing our job.
5. How do you work toward compromise with people who share differing opinions?
I try to understand their perspective so I can learn how they’ve come to their decisions and conclusion. I am always willing to listen and discuss differing opinions.
6. Are you willing to vote against a personal belief for the “common good?”
Yes, I am willing to go against my personal beliefs for the common good based on data and research, not just opinion.
Kelli J. Crary
Name: Kelli J. Crary
City: Byron
1. Tell us a little about yourself, to the extent you feel comfortable. (family, job, hobbies, etc.)
I am a mother to three children in the Byron School District. I work as a Senior Paralegal and Legal Paraprofessional, and am currently in school completing a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Outside of work and school, I enjoy spending time with my children, camping and attending sporting events.
2. Why are you running for this position?
I have a personal interest in the quality of public education, and my career in the legal field can bring useful knowledge and understanding to the board. I am eager to be a part of the continued growth and improvement of Byron School District, along with building a strong foundation for the future of Byron education.
3. What is something in your past that has prepared you to run for office and serve the public?
Throughout my career, I have gained knowledge and skills that will help me navigate challenging situations. My career has helped me gain confidence in communication and understanding several different opinions on any given matter.
4. What specific issues do you hope to address if elected (please limit to top 3 issues)?
Mental Health
Financials
5. How do you work toward compromise with people who share differing opinions?
I will always listen to those sharing different opinions. I gather all necessary information to fully understand that person’s opinion. It is important to have effective communication when sharing different views so I can understand their opinion, but also so they can understand mine, to ultimately work towards compromising for the best outcome.
6. Are you willing to vote against a personal belief for the “common good?”
Absolutely. While I have personal beliefs, I will not allow my personal beliefs to interfere with what is best for Byron Public Schools.
James-Duke D. Dieterle
Did not respond.