Patch Candidate Profile: Derek Kottke 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.

Derek Kottke 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): 54

Position Sought: ISD 196 School Board Member At Large

Family:

Wife - Amy

Sabrina - 24
Cody - 20
Jules - 20
Caitlyn - 18
Cole - 16

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

Education:

UW Eau Claire - BBA
University of St. Thomas - MBA

Occupation:

Sales Manager at Software Company - 25+ years
President of Disabled Veteran Non-Profit (volunteer)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: None

Campaign website: https://www.facebook.com/Derek...

Why are you seeking elective office?:

As a parent of three children, two of whom have graduated and one of whom attends Eagan High School, I have firsthand knowledge of the radical change of the School Board’s priorities over the last 10 years from a student-first focus to a promoter of special interests groups and personal agendas. This long-term view has compelled me to run for a position on the School Board so that I can re-focus the School Board’s priorities to students first instead of focusing on the Teachers Unions priorities.

My priorities for students are that they first receive a stellar education in an engaging environment which allows all students to succeed. My decision making is guided by my years as a youth hockey and football coach and as a parent of District 196 students. My goal as a member of the School Board would be to enact the changes which are best for our students and their parents.

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

Taking the masks off our kids AND teaching them HOW to think...NOT what to think! I will put the kids and parents first and not the teachers union and special interests.

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

We've seen how both political parties have failed Minnesotan's over the last 18 months!

I'm not affiliated with a party and didn't seek endorsements from them. I declined invitations to be interviewed by special interests groups looking to endorse candidates in order to represent kids and their parents...not to represent special interest groups.

I served to defend this country and now I want to serve our students and their parents.

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

This school board has consistently enacted policies advocated for by the teachers union and has ignored the recommendations and opinions of parents and students! They put them in distance learning last year while private schools remained in person. I saw first hand the effect this had on my kids and their friends and how they learned. These kids are now behind the private schools!

This year, ISD 196 has a mask mandate, while private school students are enjoying freedom of choice in deciding to wear a mask or not!

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

Grade - F

Last year the private schools were in person and controlled any infections with quarantines and consistent cleaning of their schools. ISD 196 didn't consider the possibility of in-school learning, but deferred to special interests groups and closed our schools!

This year, I would make wearing a mask a personal choice. If a kid or teacher wants to wear one, great. If not, it's their choice!

196 talks about inclusivity, but they only want people to participate if they wear a mask. Same thing is happening at School Board meetings. They won't let unmasked people in the meeting, they put them in a room in a different part of the building, even if they can't wear a mask.

There are great teaching points that educators and school board members are missing. Instead of telling our kids what to do and what to think, they could be teaching about Freedom, Liberty and the Constitution.

Without consent, it's tyranny, and this School Board is practicing tyranny by forcing kids to wear masks.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Parents are the primary teachers of their children. Lessons regarding equity and inclusion of all people should be taught at home and, at the parent’s choice, at church, synagogue or mosque. The schools and its teachers should be focused on teaching students HOW to think NOT WHAT to think. Education not indoctrination. All students should be treated the same and no one group based on gender, race or abilities should be singled out for better or worse treatment and no group should be shamed or made to feel less than others due to race or gender.

I look forward to looking into the District's finances and understanding why they are always looking to raise money through levies. When can we start finding ways to reduce costs?

The teachers union endorses candidates for the school board (most of 196's school board is endorsed by the teachers union), then the teachers union negotiates their contracts with the school board that they endorsed.

That's a problem!

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

As a successful business leader that has a deep understanding of finance, I will bring a different prospective to the school board.

As the President of a large disabled veteran non-profit, I understand how to work with a board of differing viewpoints and build consensus's to get things done for the greater good of the organization.

I served 6 years in the Air Force (100% DAV) and spent 28+ years coaching hockey. I understand kids and parents, and know KIDS FIRST is the first step in any decision making process.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

If you don't like change, you'll like irrelevance even less.

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

If you aren't happy with this current School Board, I'm with you, and I'd like to ask for your support and your vote.