Southeast Polk Voters Choose 3 From 5 Board Candidates
Overview of the Southeast Polk School Board Election
Five candidates are running for three seats on the Southeast Polk school board. Incumbent Brigid Ernst is facing challengers Karla Jensen, Tracy Dawson, Grant Gillon, and Adam Krell. The Des Moines Register asked each candidate to respond to questions on why they’re running and the issues facing their school district. Their answers may be lightly edited for clarity or length.
The election is set for November 4, and all eyes are on Iowa in the lead-up to the 2020 election. Updates on Iowa politics will be delivered to your inbox. Here’s a closer look at each candidate and their perspectives on the challenges facing the Southeast Polk School District.
Candidate Profiles
Brigid Ernst (Incumbent)
Current occupation: Student success program director
Education background: Master’s in organizational leadership, Grand View University
Where did you grow up? Mankato, Minnesota
Political experience: Past Altoona Campus Board of Directors (8+ years), past city of Altoona parks board (8+ years)
Age: 50
Tracy Dawson
Current occupation: Recently retired after 36 wonderful years of teaching for Southeast Polk at Four Mile, Spring Creek, and the middle school.
Education background: Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Grand View College.
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Altoona and graduated from Southeast Polk High School. I raised my family in Altoona, with both of my children also graduating from Southeast Polk. My daughter also is a SEP teacher, teaching 7th grade English Language Arts at the middle school.
Political experience: I do not have any previous political experience. However, I have been a public school teacher for the past 38 years. I believe that falls under the category of public service.
Age: 60
Grant Gillon
Current occupation: Small business owner, private chef
Education background: Southeast Polk High School, 2008; bachelor’s degree, The University of Iowa
Where did you grow up? Altoona
Political experience: I have not held an elected political position. My public service and community engagement has come in the form of volunteering for organizations such as Joppa and coaching organized youth sports in the Southeast Polk School District.
Age: 35
Karla Jensen
Current occupation: Retired Southeast Polk teacher, currently part-time substitute teacher for Southeast Polk Community Schools
Education background: Master of Arts in teaching for experienced teachers, with a specialization in Hispanic studies, from Connecticut University (and many hours beyond that degree at Drake University and other institutions)
Where did you grow up? Des Moines
Political experience: As a lifelong educator, I have focused my time on teaching and investing in my students and community. Now that I am partially retired, I have the time to devote to serving on a school board and using my many years of experience to serve the community and students in a new way through this elected position.
Age: 59
Adam Krell
Current occupation: Arbitration specialist with Farm Bureau
Education background: I have a high school diploma and have taken some courses at Simpson College.
Where did you grow up? Des Moines
Political experience: I have previously served a four-year term with the Southeast Polk school board from 2017-2021.
Age: 39
Why Are They Running?
Dawson:
As a recently retired SEP educator, I have seen firsthand what our students, staff, and families need to thrive. I am running for school board to be an advocate for them. Listening to their challenges and celebrations, and to carry their voices forward. Every student deserves a safe school, to receive the attention they need to succeed and to feel a sense of belonging. Every staff member deserves to work in a safe environment, to receive a salary and benefits that are beyond a living wage and to be treated as dedicated, highly qualified professionals. Every family deserves to see their children become successful with real world skills to reach their fullest potential that carry them into adulthood.
Ernst:
I am running because I want to continue serving the students, families, teachers, staff, and members of the Southeast Polk School District. It has been an honor to serve for the past four years. I am driven by my passion for education, public service, and doing the best we can for our kids. I have learned so much over my first term and have developed understanding of our district that can help us move forward into the future. As a life-long learner, I want to continue to help students discover a love of learning and to develop the skills and knowledge to become productive, engaged citizens who are prepared for life after high school.
Gillon:
Southeast Polk has always been home for me. I grew up here, graduating in 2008, and was shaped by the teachers, coaches, and community that supported me. Now, as a dad with two young kids beginning their own SEP journey, I feel a deep responsibility to give back. I want their generation and every student to have an exceptional experience at Southeast Polk. As a small business owner, I know the value of hard work and passion, and I am ready to bring that same commitment to serving the schools and community that I love.
Jensen:
I am running because I believe that I can serve the students and community of Southeast Polk with my unique set of experiences and skills as an educator for over 30 years, most of those teaching at Southeast Polk. I have loved teaching and have a passion for carrying out the educational mission of our district. I can continue this work as a board member of our district, and I can bring an inside perspective for the needs of the students and staff at Southeast Polk. I also speak Spanish and can additionally serve the Spanish speaking population of our district. I am running because I want the very best curriculum, programs, services, activities/sports, and facilities for all of our students.
Krell:
Our district is about to experience a lot of challenges: changes to the federal Department of Education, a new governor coming into office for the first time in a decade, and the rapid pace of growth in our schools, just to name a few. As a former board member, I have valuable experience that will help us navigate through these challenges successfully. As a parent with children in the district I’m personally invested in our success.
Key Issues Facing the District
Dawson:
One of the greatest challenges districts are facing today is academic growth for all students, ensuring they are functioning at the level they need to be successful. The first step I would take to address this would be to review the current data showing where the students are as well as where they need to be. Next, I would examine the plans in place for those students who aren’t where they should be and what is being done to provide additional support. Finally, I would engage with staff to understand what more could be provided to the students and teachers to ensure we are helping every student to succeed.
Ernst:
There are many issues I would list as a top priority. It is very difficult to choose just one. Student engagement in learning is essential to their academic development. We have made great strides in our attendance rates at Southeast Polk, and absenteeism has improved so much that the rates are lower than pre-pandemic percentages. Now that we have the students coming back to school more consistently, we need to focus more on increasing their engagement in learning, especially literacy and math. To do so, we need to continue to create and maintain a positive, safe environment. This includes adding space for our growing student population to maintain smaller class sizes.
Gillon:
One of the biggest issues facing our district is managing growth while keeping students safe and supported. With three of Iowa’s fastest growing cities in our district, we must plan carefully for building capacity by making sure we have enough classrooms, safe facilities, and spaces conducive to learning. Capacity also means recruiting and supporting teachers and staff, and ensuring resources are in place for all students, including those with IEPs and those who experience bullying. As we grow, our supports and protections must grow with us.
Krell:
Communication is one of the biggest issues our district is facing right now. We have so many tools and resources available to our students’ families, but many times they go unused because our parents don’t know where they are or how to access them. Clear communication with families in the district is so important. I’ve coached speech and debate for the last 20 years. In that time I have learned a lot about communication. I’m excited to bring that experience to the board and help bridge this gap.
Jensen:
There are many important issues facing the school district. We must be vigilant in engaging students in learning with a high-quality curriculum. We must also have high quality, safe and welcoming spaces for our students to learn, and that would include the referendum for the new elementary school and other improvements. In order to have quality curriculum and instruction, we need to have an environment in which quality teachers and other staff feel supported so that they can give their best to our students. We also need more bus drivers. For some of these issues, what one school board member can do is limited, but I will do my part to ensure quality programs and facilities for all students.
Protecting LGBTQ Students
Dawson:
I believe that the school district can provide a safe environment by implementing and maintaining anti-bullying and non-discrimination policies, respecting students’ rights to free speech and express themselves and ensuring that proactive approaches are taken rather than reactive when situations occur.
Ernst:
It is the board’s duty to protect all students and to follow all state and federal laws as written. We will continue to do this.
Gillon:
Southeast Polk can best support LGBTQ students by recognizing every child as a whole person who deserves dignity and respect. While state and federal laws guide our policy, our focus must remain on creating a safe and welcoming environment where all students can learn and thrive. As we comply with the law, our commitment to student safety, wellbeing, and celebrating the diversity of our community will not change. Every student matters and every student deserves to feel valued in our schools.
Jensen:
My focus as a teacher for over 30 years has been to do my part to engage all of my students in opportunities for learning and treat all of them as people who are worthy of kindness and my best efforts and practices. I have read the recent changes in the laws in the state of Iowa, and of course I would comply with what the state law says as a school board member. But our school board, teachers and all other staff can make it a focus to treat all students respectfully and with kindness and respond appropriately if bullying or harassment occurs among students. We can do our part to create a safe environment conducive to learning for all students.
Krell:
The best way to protect LGBTQ students is to raise the standard of care and protection for all of our students. No student should ever face harassment or bullying, especially in their learning environment. The unfortunate truth though is that it does happen. As a board we must put policies in place that protect our students and ensure our teachers and administration have the resources they need to enforce those policies.
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