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2. What experiences, attributes, or other factors from
your background would help make you a good school board member?
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Chris Benda
Strong maintenance background, coaching experience, and my willingness
to be involved in the school system.
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Shele Blum
I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Elementary
Education. After graduating, I taught in Des Moines for two years as a 4th
and 6th grade teacher. Then I spent the next six years teaching 3rd grade in
Omaha, NE. While teaching in Omaha, I was highly involved in curriculum
development and starting an enrichment based summer school program. It
turned out to be very successful and I truly enjoyed the challenge. After my
eight years of teaching, I became a stay at home mom and have enjoyed that
experience for the last six years.
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Rich Herrington
I believe the reasons I would be a good school board member are these. I
have a sincere interest in education and a desire to help make the Gilbert
School District the best it can be. This in combination with a sound
business sense that I have gained from my education as well as my work
experience will help me. My own education was a very positive experience
having grown up here in central Iowa. I also participated in athletics in
both high school and college. My education is in Business Administration and
Economics, having graduated from Waldorf Jr. College and Wartburg College. I
am a District Manager for Coach House Gifts and supervise stores in the Iowa
and Nebraska area. I am involved with personnel issues, meeting budgets,
etc.
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Jim McKean
My nine years of board experience provide a useful background to my thought
processes. In that period the Board has built additions to both the K-6 and
7-12 buildings. I was instrumental in requests for development of the K-6
Commons, the K-6 heat-exchange system and the additional classrooms on the
7-12 building. These are all examples of using present planning to develop
future capacities. The Commons has freed the gym for other activities,
increasing building utilization alternatives. The heat-exchange units
provide a cost-effective freshened air system and summer humidity controls
that make the learning environment more hospitable for future curricular
flexibility. The classroom additions to the 7-12 building provide academic
program flexibility. Alternatively we examined a 90-minute format for
classes in the 7-12 building. After staff and faculty examination, a
decision was made to delay reconsideration until the new middle school
planning processes are initiated. These projects demonstrate the ability to
think forward and implement under current conditions. Other less obvious
examples for forward planning pepper my nine years of board actions.
My longstanding interest and commitment to K-12 and post-secondary
educational excellence, family experiences with four children that were
active students and who graduated from the Gilbert School District, the
ability to raise questions and deal with challenges with an open and
innovative mind, and the capacity to reach decisions with informed and
conscientious attention to principles are assets that will contribute to
board success.
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Mary Zimmerman
I am certified to teach Secondary Language Arts and Speech and come from
a family of educators; however, my direct involvement has not been as an
educator. I have served as a member of the Educational Improvement Committee
for a year. I have three children in the Gilbert school district: one in
high school, junior high, and in the elementary school which has given me a
"first hand" look at everything.
I know and appreciate various cultures, and how to establish rapport with
a diverse population of students and parents. I have the ability to
recognize and respond to individual differences in people. I would work
cooperatively with administrators, teachers, support staff, parents, and
students on issues that impact the curriculum, planning, and the budget. I
would help identify areas for growth and/or improvement and would work with
colleagues to improve processes. I am a "people-oriented" person
who does well in a one-on-one interaction as well as group settings or
presentations. I have an enthusiasm for life which spills over into
everything I do.
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