Leading up to the city and school board elections on Nov. 2, The News contacted each individual running for office and asked them about their candidacy. Those who responded are included in this edition. Responses have been edited for length and clarity. (*incumbent candidate)

Mid-Prairie School Board

Gabrielle Frederick*

Why are you running for school board?

We become who we are as adults because of those who have taught us, those who have fought for us and those who have given us opportunities to learn from, grow and succeed.  Our educators are some of the biggest influencers of the choices we make which makes education so incredibly important.   MPCSD’s mission statement of “Preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s world in a caring learning environment” is such an accurate portrayal of what our educators do at M-P.  As a parent I can advocate for our administrators, teachers and students.  Being on the school board, though, allows me to support MPCSD in an even larger role.

Is there anything you’ve already done as a member of the Mid-Prairie School Board that you’re proud of?

I believe communication is extremely important in making decisions.  In order to make a well-informed decision that benefits the District we must hear from all stakeholders – staff, parents, students, community members.  If a stakeholder contacts me I will respond and/or engage in conversation.  I am proud of that because it is important to me that all stakeholders feel like they are heard.  As a board we must take into consideration how our decisions affect all stakeholders now and in the future.

Are there any projects or ideas you have in mind if you are elected?

MPCSD continues to grow.  In order to efficiently and effectively help our students succeed and to help our staff prepare our students for tomorrow’s world in a caring learning environment we need to have adequate space for these opportunities to take place in.  While I very much appreciate how staff are working together, sharing rooms, doing what they can with what is available to them, our staff and students deserve more.   I was so glad to be a part of the facilities committee that received input from staff, parents, community members and students on what they wanted to see in terms of facility improvements for our District.  While I wish we could do everything on the lists, we realize our funding is not limitless.  The school board is now reviewing that information, prioritizing the needs and will soon be making decisions on what a bond referendum would look like.  It will then be extremely important for the District to communicate these needs with all stakeholders so we can get a bond passed.  I very much want to continue to be part of that process as a school board member.

Why do you think you are/would be a good school board member?

I believe in the value of education.  I will be dedicated in keeping up the motto “Preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s world in a caring learning environment” and having it at the forefront of my mind when making decisions. I am dedicated to supporting M-P staff. I am Experienced.  I have served on the board since 2016. I am Engaged.  I review the information before meetings.  I ask questions before and during the meetings. I am Open minded / a listener / responsive. I am Honest. I am a Forward thinker.  We always want to be improving. I am Consistent. I will always want what is best for the students and staff at M-P.  That will never waiver.

Why do you think it’s important to be involved in your community?

The saying “It takes a village” couldn’t be truer.  It takes MANY people’s help/involvement to make something happen.  What you do affects your community.  What others in the community do affects you.  Being involved in your community allows people to work together to reach a goal that maximizes growth and satisfaction.

Angela Goodwin

Why are you running for school board?

I am running for school board because this is my home and I would like to help Mid-Prairie continue to grow and thrive as a community for each of our families, friends, and neighbors. We have a lot of good things happening here. We need to help this continue.

Is there anything you’ve already done to be involved with the Mid-Prairie School District that you’re proud of?

I live every day as a proud Golden Hawk. I was born and raised in Mid-Prairie schools, from Wellman Elementary all the way through Senior High. I serve on the board for the Alumni Association and actively served for a number of years with the M-P Athletic Boosters. I continue to be actively involved with the youth of Mid-Prairie serving as the youth minister for Holy Family Parish.

Are there any projects or ideas you have in mind if you are elected?

These are critical times in our society with the political polarization that divides us, we need to find a way to come together to support our public school system and its needs. Space is the biggest issue facing the district today. The growing communities need to have facilities that support the growing student population.

This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed sooner than later and I would like to be part of the solution to help bring the community together to help face this challenge.

Why do you think you are/would be a good school board member?

First and foremost, a successful board candidate must care. It isn’t just about numbers and budgets, although those are important. It is also about caring for the people. That means, the successful board candidate and board member must listen to the people of our community. They must be a part of the community so they can serve that community. When it comes down to it, the board is supposed to serve the people of the community, not the other way around. It is important that we have leaders that know, live, and love it here. And that’s me. It is who I am.

Why do you think it’s important to be involved in your community?

The people are the lifeblood of a school. Period. It is essential that the board recognize the partnerships they must forge with members of the community and school employees. The biggest strength of Mid Prairie has always and continues to be its people.

Jeremy Gugel*

Why are you running for school board?

I have always believed in serving my community to make it as strong as possible. I believe that a quality education is one of the things that is important in a strong community. I choose to run for the school board as a way to serve and give back to my community. Public education is important to me because it is building and equipping the next generation of leaders. In order for our future to be strong, what we produce in our children also has to prepare them for the future and I see public education as one of the tools for doing so.

Is there anything you’ve already done as a member of the Mid-Prairie School Board that you’re proud of?

To me the biggest accomplishment of any school board member is to be able to listen to the public and work to represent them to the best of your ability. To be able to work together as a board for the betterment of the distirct. I am most proud of how this board has worked together even with a wide variety of opinions.

Are there any projects or ideas you have in mind if you are elected?

I believe the biggest issue today is facilities. This is something that we are currently working on and looking for the best way to think into the future and meet the needs of today as well. This isn’t an easy task but I believe it is something that is desperately needed. I would like to address this by finalizing a plan and having a successful bond issue vote.

Why do you think you are/would be a good school board member?

I have a strong desire to see the Mid-Prairie school district continue to be one of the top districts in our state. I truly desire to serve the community. I am very proud of our community and school district. I don’t have problems having tough conversations. I will take time to listen even when I don’t agree. I value all programs at Mid-Prairie (music, drama, sports, education, FFA, industrial tech, etc…).

Why do you think it’s important to be involved in your community?

The only way to be able to make a difference in your community is to get involved. Involvement can happen in many ways and serving the school district is just one of those. By being involved in your community you get the ability to shape and support the youth. The youth in any community are deciding the strength of the community and what it will look like in the future. People before me have poured into my life helping to shape this community and today it is my turn to do the same.

Jodi Meader*

Why are you running for school board?

I love being able to support our wonderful staff and students! We are blessed to have the best staff at Mid-Prairie, at all levels! By being on the board I am able to be a voice for the staff and the students! Helping to make decisions to help wherever I can!

Is there anything you’ve already done as a member of the Mid-Prairie School Board that you’re proud of?

I am really proud of the decision we made to realign the elementary schools. I know at the time it was pretty controversial, but it really has been wonderful for our students and our teachers!

Are there any projects or ideas you have in mind if you are elected?

The only project or idea that I am thinking of, is working through any needs that our students and staff have. Always putting their needs first in all decisions I make.

Why do you think you are/would be a good school board member?

I listen more than I speak. I was given some very good advice when I was considering running for the board my first term. My brother-in-law told me that God gave me two ears and one mouth, to listen twice as much as I speak. I have taken that to heart. I try to listen to all voices on an issue before coming to and sharing my thoughts.

Why do you think it’s important to be involved in your community?

Because I live in this community and I believe it’s important that everyone does their part.

Kristina Newton

Why are you running for school board?

I am running for school board in order to become a more active member in the district, to serve my community in a way that is meaningful and productive, and to take a stand for our children’s safety and well-being. 

Is there anything you’ve already done to be involved with the Mid-Prairie School District that you’re proud of?

I have served on committees formed by the superintendent in order to advise the school board on various subjects. I participated in the committee that re-evaluated and restructured the volunteer policies and procedures in 2018. More recently I participated in the Facilities Committee that was formed in order to research and recommend priorities in various changes needed in the district in order to better serve the growing needs of the district.

Are any projects or ideas you have in mind if you are elected?

If elected to the school board, I will commit my time and energy into learning the ins and outs of my new role. I will encourage open dialogue between board members and district staff so that our staff feel heard and supported at all times. I will champion for the health and safety of our children. I will promote programs that benefit the children of the district and give them every tool they need in order to become successful adults.

Why do you think you would be a good school board member?

I would be a good school board member because I am a strong-willed individual that is receptive and responsive to others. I understand that as a member of the board you are a member of a team with one main goal, making our children’s education the number one priority. We, as a board, must hear, consider, research, discuss, and vote on many items concerning the education of the children in the district. We as individuals, and as a board, must be able to admit when topics are out of our wheelhouse, seek expert advice, and move swiftly in order to maintain the excellence of this district. I would be a good school board member because I am confident in my abilities as a critical thinker, am humble enough to admit when I am wrong, and I am not afraid to speak up when warranted.

Why do you think it’s important to be involved in your community?

Only when we are involved in our community in real ways can we help to influence change in a positive and productive manner. A person able to stand up, amid a noisy crowd, and speak the truth is a person that you want in your child’s corner.

Jed Seward

Why are you running for school board?

There are a few reasons why I am running for school board and the first is that I feel 100% vested in the district. Second, difficult decisions often must be made for the school district, not everyone will always agree on the outcome, and I’m a huge believer of not being able to complain about and/or criticize the outcome of a board decision if I’m not willing to throw my name in the hat and donate my own time to do something about it. Third, it will be a very sad day for the district when Mark Schneider decides to retire, but when that day comes, I want to make sure I am part of the process to find his replacement.

Is there anything you’ve already done to be involved with M-P School District that you’re proud of?

I was on the school district’s safety committee for the 2019-2020 school year that met every other month (until COVID ended the year early). The committee was created by former principal Jay Strickland and we discussed district safety/security policies and brainstormed ideas to elevate the safety and security at all the facilities.

I also participated on the panel of community members and M-P staff that helped interview for the recently filled East Elementary principal position and just finished my first year as a varsity baseball assistant coach.

Are there any projects or ideas you have in mind if you are elected?

I want to ensure that any future facility expansions be well thought out and provide enough room for the district to grow for years to come. I understand “band-aid” fixes are sometimes required to get by in the short term, but those need to be avoided when possible. I believe my construction experience would come in handy when going over contractor bids for projects around the district. I also want to figure out what I can do to make the district more appealing to new employees (teachers, coaches, secretaries, cooks, administrators, janitors, bus drivers, etc.).

Why do you think you would be a good school board member?

I believe that I have life/educational/work experience that would be beneficial to the decision- making process of the board. I like to look at things from multiple points of view, I don’t make decisions based off emotion, and know that everyone has something valuable to contribute to every discussion. My decisions on the board, if voted on, will always revolve around what is best for the students. How will this decision/vote benefit them now and in the future?

Why do you think it’s important to be involved in your community?

It shows that you care. Volunteering your time to help make decisions and shape policies for the district has short and long-term effects on the entire community. Those policy decisions aren’t always easy, but donating your time to research and discuss all the options show that you value the position and the responsibilities that come with it. I’m sure every board member would rather spend 2 more nights a month with their families instead of with each other, but they realize how important a good school board is to a community.

Jake Snider

Why are you running for school board?

The driving force for me to run is that individuals elected in this cycle will be faced with making incredibly important decisions that will affect Mid-Prairie for several years to come. Also, I heard from a lot of parents and faculty about feeling unrepresented. On the faculty side, I would say it was more so fear of speaking their hearts. In the spirit of a true democracy, I want to make sure no one feels like that again, no matter where I stand on a topic. One of my bigger takeaways from the board meetings last fall was the importance of electing strong board members that can handle the pressure of the incredibly tough decisions that they have to make on the community and staff’s behalf.

Is there anything you’ve already done to be involved in the M-P community that you’re proud of?

My involvement with the Mid-Prairie community started about 15 years ago when I helped  Mid Prairie update the softball complex. I took a handful of parents and led the construction of the new dugouts and crows nest. I’ve also spent several years coaching multiple youth sports for the Kalona YMCA, and as my own kids have gotten older I have also coached through the Youth Sports Foundation. I have also been a volunteer leader for our local Boy Scouts, starting with five years working with the cub scouts and currently I am serving as Assistant Scoutmaster for the Boy Scout Troop. Over the last couple years I also served on the facilities committee at Mid-Prairie, where we worked through the space needs of all the buildings within our district.

Are there any projects or ideas you have in mind if you are elected?

I think putting a fresh set of eyes on multiple things in the district will be beneficial. I think first and foremost, the new board will need to hit the ground running in regards to getting the facility situation back on track. We lost over a year of this process to covid and it is imperative that we get this moving again. On a personal level, I want to make sure we are doing everything we can to educate students and staff about mental health. I also think it is very important that we address it with our staff as well. The last two years have been hard on all of us and it is really important to me to make sure we are taking care of our entire community, both students and staff.

Why do you think you would be a good school board member?

Commitment to Community: I have shown throughout my life a dedication to the betterment of our community through my allocation of free time in the several areas where I have volunteered. In doing so, I have never sat on a committee or in a group in name only. I have always maintained a very active role and attended all meetings.

Track Record: Throughout my life I have demonstrated an ability to operate in a group setting, work well with a lot of different people to accomplish a unified goal and thus bring about positive, effective change.

Why do you think it’s important to be involved in your community?

I believe we all possess our own unique skill set and, if we are willing to volunteer our time, we have an opportunity to have a positive effect on our community. After that I think it becomes an internal question about where you believe your skill set will have the most positive effects. Personally, I have always felt working with and for the youth in a community has the most potential of a positive long-term effect.

Tammy Rich

Why are you running for school board?    

Running for school board was a big decision, and I did not take it lightly.   We are educating the next leaders, teachers, policy makers of this great nation. School boards have a huge impact on how this process goes!  My motivation in running for school board is to serve our community, students and their needs.  I will listen, seek to understand and strive to find answers for these needs.

Is there anything you’ve already done to be involved with the Mid-Prairie School District that you’re proud of?

I have not been involved in the district beyond sending my children there and supporting staff and school events.

Are there any projects or ideas you have in mind if you are elected?

There are many issues facing our school district — outgrowing our buildings, the bond issue, keeping our current staff and hiring new staff are just a few.  I hope that we can continue the bond and have the community’s support to continue to fix up our buildings, make more space for our students, and fulfill other needs. I want to create a district that is beyond enticing to new hires with the right resources, support, teamwork and communication.  I don’t have all the answers for how to address these things, but I do hope to be a part of the creative problem-solving process.

Why do you think you are/would be a good school board member?

I am a caring person, some would say too much.  I care about the school district in its entirety — the children, staff, families, community.  I have a servant leader mentality, which is to lead by serving. My choices will lead in the right direction, if my focus is to serve. I am a team player, a good listener and communicator. I have a growing knowledge of the issues that the district and community are, and will be facing, in the coming months and years.  I have a heart to serve this community and am driven for us to be well and to prosper in all aspects of life.

Why do you think it’s important to be involved in your community?

I believe we all want to see changes in this state, country, and world.  There is no better place to start, than in our community!  This starts first, in our homes.  But next, in our schools.   I love our community.  We have, in my opinion, one of the best towns ever.  I want to be a part of helping us continue to grow in all aspects of life, and I don’t know of a more important place to start, than with the education of our children.

Abbie Yoder

Why are you running for school board?

It is important to me that all students and staff feel heard and respected by the school board. I want to help unify our district in having compassion for all staff and students and make sure everyone feels represented. If that means making efforts to reach out to people we don’t usually hear from, I am happy to do that as well.

Is there anything you’ve already done to be involved with the Mid-Prairie School District that you’re proud of?

I was the secretary at Mid-Prairie middle school for about 5 years. During my time there I was involved in supporting students, staff and administration. It is a job I loved and I think fondly of my time and experiences with the staff, students and parents there.

Are there any projects or ideas you have in mind if you are elected?

I would love to have one focus area be on retaining and recruiting staff. Not only does Mid-Prairie have open positions but it is a concern in many parts of the state. I would also like to ensure every student is able to be involved in an activity they are passionate about at Mid-Prairie. We have fabulous industrial arts, fine arts, FFA and athletic programs. I want to make sure all students interests are represented and all students have the opportunity to be involved in the school in a way that is meaningful to them.

Why do you think you would be a good school board member?

I have experience serving on boards and advisory committees as well as working in the district. I am not a stranger to hard conversations and enjoy hearing people’s different perspectives and feelings. I’m a great unifier and creative thinker. I am also compassionate, empathetic and  have superb active listening skills.

Why do you think it’s important to be involved in your community?

To me, your community is the place where you belong. I feel it is part of my responsibility to help make my community the best it can be and one of the most meaningful ways is through dedicating my time, passion and skills to serving on the school board.