Patch Candidate Profile: Curtis Henry For ISD 196 School Board

DAKOTA COUNTY, MN — This fall, Eagan, Apple Valley and Rosemount residents will vote on school board members for ISD 196.

Curtis Henry is one of 13 candidates running for School Board in the Nov. 2 election.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

Are you running for School Board? Contact Morgan Reddekopp at morgan.reddekopp@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Age (as of Election Day): 48

Position Sought: ISD 196 School Board Member At Large

Family: Wife, Son (18), and Daughter (16)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: No.

Education:

BS Biochemistry University of Minnesota, MBA Marketing Management University of St. Thomas

Occupation: Sales Manager

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: N/A

Campaign website: henryfor196.org

Why are you seeking elective office?:

I am seeking a seat on the District 196 to be a voice for the residents of District. I have been a long term volunteer in the area and I want to have a bigger impact on our area.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it:

I think the lockdowns last year was a struggle for everyone, especially with our educational institutions. We saw a major drop in testing scores as well as graduation rates not only in this district but nationwide. As a result, many parents and community members have lost faith in our public education institutions. In order to gain that faith and trust back not only parents and community members but also students, we need to set SMART goals. I will work with educators to set clearly defined goals and expectations over the course of the next few years to ensure testing scores and graduation rates are back on the rise.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?:

We made the choice 20 years ago to move into District 196 because of the quality of the community and schools. I have an active member of this community as a Scout Leader, youth coach, PTO member, a volunteer in our schools, volunteer in my faith based community, and a board or committee member of several boards in the area. I care deeply that this continues to be a destination district. It's time for a change. The current school board and administration have lost sight of what makes our schools great. The "educator endorsed" candidates will bring no change or different vision to the school district. I am proud to say that I have been recommended and endorsed by student focused local parent organizations. I will work hard to make sure that we are always putting our students and district residents first.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency):

I have spoken to many community members and parents and the biggest concern I have heard revolves around transparency. It through transparency that we build trust with community members and I think the current board has failed community members with providing that transparency. The current board has forgotten that their role is to represent the residents and students of the district. They have become a rubber stamp for the superintendent and teachers union.

How do you think local officials are performing in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?:

This is has been the hottest topic when talking with families in the district. The vast majority of families would give the District a failing grade on how they handle COVID last school year. I have heard from families that most of the children struggled to learn effectively in the virtual environment. I know teachers did the best they could but the bulk of the work was put on the back of parents. This really hurt academically many students that may have already been struggling to keep up with their peers as they have lacked the support needed at home. Some families even asked me if the District really had a plan or did they just plan it as they went. This is the biggest issue driving residents to the polls on November 2nd as they want really change.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

When I think about equity, I think about the achievement gap and what we can do to close it. How can we ensure all students have the tools, resources, and support they need to be successful?

We do so by putting our focus on math and reading because they act as the foundation for all other learning. We also need to advocate for more Gifted and Talented programs along with AP classes. By doing so, we will continue to challenge the students who are developmentally advanced while providing students who struggling with their workloads the tools, resources, and attention needed to ensure their success.

Another key issue in closing that achievement gap is teacher/staff and student relationships along with family involvement. We need to find ways to really hone in and build these relationships to ensure students feel supported in their efforts as well as respected.

I would also push for term limits for the School Board. There is no reason for board members to be on the board for 30+ years. We need to have a rotation of fresh ideas on the board. I would also bring the board pay (which the last figure I could find was $9,000 per year) more in line with the neighboring districts.

We need to get the personal politics out of the classroom. Teachers should be allowed to have their own political beliefs and causes. But once they enter the classroom, they need to focus on educating their students to help them meet their highest potential. We need to get back to teaching our children how to think and stop teaching what to think.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?:

I understand that a good education is key to success in later life. I have volunteered in our schools to help our students. I have personally seen the struggles of our special education students as they progressed through the system. I have spent thousand of hours mentoring our youth through Scouts and coaching. In my professional career, I have had to learn how to work with people with a wide variety of background and cultures. I have had to manage large budgets and projects.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"One person can make a difference and everyone should try"- JFK

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?:

I am ready to serve the students and residents of District 196.