Amy Jeffers
Candidate for Chatfield School Board
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Amy Jeffers. I grew up and graduated in 1990 from Harmony High School. During my senior year, I join the Army Reserve and remained with the Reserve until 1993 when I joined the active army and was stationed in El Paso, Tex. In 1996 I was reassigned to Fort Campbell, Ky., where I remained until 2000 and was honorably discharged. I moved to Chatfield in 2004 to work at Mayo Clinic as a registered nurse. I am married with two children and still work at Mayo Clinic.
Why are you running for office?
I am re-running for the school board position to continue much of the work that has been started during the past four years. During this term I was able to support and guide the expansion and remodeling of the high school, establish a safety committee to focus on external threats such as active shooters/intruders, manage financial constraints, serve and support Hiawatha Valley Education District (HVED), and monitor, support and adapt changes in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?
Once re-elected I wish to continue with the HVED board to provide support and guidance to the 13 districts it serves. HVED provides services for students with learning disabilities along with cognitive and behavioral challenges. I would also continue to serve and support the many other committees that serve Chatfield schools. I am proud of the work and progress that I contributed to our school and students.
Jim Love
Candidate for Fillmore Central School Board
Tell us about yourself.
I have lived on a farm near Harmony for my entire life. I am a self-employed farmer and current member of the Fillmore Central School Board. My wife Shannon and I have two boys, Andy, age 24, and Alex, age 20. Both of our boys are graduates of Fillmore Central Schools.
Why are you running for office?
I am running for school board because I want to continue the improvements we have made at Fillmore Central over the last several years. We have made many improvements to both facilities and programs. I would like to make sure the projects that we have started, as well as those that we have discussed starting in the future, are carried out as we have planned for. I have enjoyed serving my community and look forward to working together to make Fillmore Central a strong and vital school district we can all be proud of.
What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?
I believe the next step for our school is to expand our current agriculture and other STEM programs. Engaging all types of learners through hands-on activities is an important step as agriculture and STEM are rapidly growing fields of employment. My goal for the community is to feel like we are providing the best opportunities and education we can for their children. We need to focus on expanding opportunities to engage and support the growth of all students.
Deb Ristau
Candidate for Fillmore Central School Board
Tell us about yourself.
My Name is Deb Ristau and I am a life-long resident of Preston. My husband Doug and I raised our three children Kelsey (Joe) Woellert, Kate (Bryce) Brincks, and Brady Ristau here and they are now starting their families in the Fillmore Central School District. I am an active member in my community and enjoy volunteering my time. I have served on the Fillmore Central School Board for 17 years and have thoroughly enjoyed this time and I feel that I still have more to offer to the district.
Why are you running for office?
I am running for reelection because I feel as though I still have things that I would like to accomplish for Fillmore Central. Over the years I have seen many changes, and if 2020 has taught us anything it’s that just about anything can change. I feel as though my years on the board and my experiences within the communities of Fillmore Central have allowed me to be a responsible board member and I will continue to make the decisions that I believe are right for our district.
What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?
If I get reelected, I hope to continue to guide the district in the right direction. Currently the school is dealing with several new changes; new administration, continuing to update our facilities, advancements in technology, and at the forefront is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. I would like the opportunity to see these changes through and ensure that Fillmore Central is providing the best possible education to our students. I would appreciate your vote and hope that you continue to allow me to serve the residents, staff, parents and most importantly the students.
Heather Aarsvold
Candidate for Kingsland School Board
Tell us about yourself.
I grew up in Lansing, Minn., and graduated from Austin High School. Our family moved to Spring Valley nine years ago. My husband Matt and I have two children, Shayla (11th grade) and Tristen (8th grade). I have previously worked Gerard Academy Residential Treatment Center, helping local youths with behavioral, emotional and/or mental health concerns. I now work at Mayo Clinic as a Card Access Specialist. Earlier this year I returned to college to complete a degree in Healthcare Office Professional Associate’s Program, which should be completed next summer.
Why are you running for office?
I want to see our student succeed and flourish as our district continues to grow and change. The Special Education programs hold a special place in my heart; as a previous Special Education student I know what students go through and how hard they work to accomplish what some may think to be a simple task. While Kingsland has made improvements in the Special Education department, I would like to see continued growth in this area. Students in Special Education have the ability to do great things and I hope they continue to do so!
What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?
I understand that each student learns and comprehends things differently, from hands-on, to listening, and talking about a concept; I hope to enhance the services that we currently provide in order to better serve our youth and to contribute to the tools and skills they need to succeed wherever their futures take them.
Jackie Horsman
Candidate for Kingsland School Board
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Jackie Horsman. I reside in the beautiful town of Wykoff. My three daughters have either graduated from Kingsland Public Schools or still attend. They are all roughly five years apart, it has been a marvelous opportunity to experience how the school has evolved over the years with a student continuously being in the public school system. Professionally, I own a marketing and public relations firm. I started my business in 2012 after a lengthy career in marketing and advertising for network television. Primarily, I work remotely, which allows more freedom to dedicate time to my family and community.
Why are you running for office?
I would love the opportunity to continue doing work for the students, staff, and community as we all keep traveling the path of growth and opportunity. Reflecting on the nearly four years I’ve had the privilege to serve on the board, much progress has been made for Kingsland Public Schools and the district community. But that does not mean the work is done, to have an opportunity to continue what I was a part of starting would be an honor. To assist in the positive futures of Kingsland students is, above all, the greatest thing I could hope for.
What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?
I hope to add to the accomplishment list by working with administration to align and expand K-12 curriculum. Additionally, I would continue to assist improving communications internally and externally, as that is always going to be evolving. There are still many opportunities for Kingsland to explore and work on; continued recapture of open enrollment, continuing the implementation of programs for students that address mental health and the list goes on. I invite you to visit my Kingsland Board page on Facebook for continued updates on current and future initiatives. Thank you, in advance, for your support in the upcoming election!
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