Patch Candidate Profile: Rebecca Gierok For ISD 196 School Board

UPDATE: Gierok has withdrawn from the election.

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

Rebecca Gierok is one of 15 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): 42

Position Sought: ISD 196 School Board Member At Large

Party Affiliation: Non-Partisan

Family:

I'm married to Dan and together we have three kids: Nathan (15), Eva (13), and Owen (10).

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

Education:

HS Diploma from Eagan High School and BA in Business Management from College of St. Benedict/St. John's University

Occupation: Transportation/Supply Chain Manager (15)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: N/A

Campaign website: www.rebeccagierokfor196.com

Why are you seeking elective office?:

I am running for school board because we have a great school district that could be exceptional with the right representation. With a focus on advancing equity, added mental health supports, and increased community connection, I am the candidate who can help get us there.

As a graduate of 196, parent to three kids who attend district schools, and an active participant in district events and committees, I bring a perspective to the board that's not currently represented. I'm fully invested in our students, families, and the community and I'm ready to serve.

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

Equity. We have the infrastructure in place and now we need the vision from leadership along with the underlying deliverables that we intend to reach along the way to make progress. As a school board member, I would work alongside leaders, staff, and community members to advance and prioritize this work so that we’re correcting the structures (like racial disparities in discipline practices) that aren’t serving our learners.

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

Outside of the two incumbents, none of the candidates have worked harder than me to connect with people within the district. Whether it’s at the district, school, or community level, I consistently show up to learn, gain perspective, and listen carefully so that I can represent the varied groups within the district with integrity.

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

The current board hasn’t transparently brought issues before the community for discussion. There’s value in disagreement and in sharing multiple perspectives. Oftentimes, when an issue is brought before the board for a decision, there’s little to no discussion or questions asked before it’s put to a vote. The community needs to see their leaders work through issues to believe that their viewpoints are being weighed and considered.

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

The district did a fair job of implementing and communicating their approach in the face of difficult odds and a lot of unknowns. It wasn’t possible (and still isn’t) to anticipate all the ways that the virus would impact our communities and schools. Going forward, the best plan is one that puts science at the center of every decision and errs on the side that benefits the learners most at risk. The education of kids is the reason for the district – they need to remain the priority of every decision that’s made.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

(Didn't answer)

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

My full-time role is within Transportation. A big part of every day for me is engaging with partners to communicate both good and bad news. I pride myself on my ability to make connections with people and to find a way to reach a resolution that suits both parties.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

You can't make everyone happy, you're not a taco.

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

(Didn't answer)