Candidate Profile: Jaymz Touchstone For Waukesha School Board

WAUKESHA, WI— The 2022 election is heating up in Wisconsin and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Voters will also decide the outcome of state representative, senate seats and local government and school boards.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Name

Jaymz Touchstone

Age (as of Election Day)

53

Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable)

Waukesha School District

Party Affiliation

Family

Married 30 years, Six kids, 2 boys 4 girls.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Yes

Education

Bachelors Degree

Occupation

Currently starting a job at the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, as a Section Chief

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

JaymzTouchstoneforschoolboard.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

The School District of Waukesha is broken with over 60% of the kids below proficient in English and Math for several years. We need Education Freedom to fix the problem immediately. The current board is either unable or unwilling to fix the problem and I am running not with a 12 point plan or new curriculum idea. I'm running with the simple idea of returning Education Freedom to the stakeholders of the WSD, the parents and allowing them to choose the best idea for their students. Educational Freedom is the fundamental belief that parents should have a wide range of high-quality schools or educational options to choose from – be it traditional public schools, public charter schools, private schools, or virtual learning. Private school choice, through scholarship tax credit programs, vouchers, education savings accounts, and individual tuition tax credits, gives students, including those from low-income families or those with special needs, the opportunity to receive educational instruction that meets their needs immediately.

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

Students not being educated. What I intend to do about it is I'm running with the simple idea of returning Education Freedom to the stakeholders of the WSD, the parents and allowing them to choose the best idea for their students. Educational Freedom is the fundamental belief that parents should have a wide range of high-quality schools or educational options to choose from – be it traditional public schools, public charter schools, private schools, or virtual learning. Private school choice, through scholarship tax credit programs, vouchers, education savings accounts, and individual tuition tax credits, gives students, including those from low-income families or those with special needs, the opportunity to receive educational instruction that meets their needs immediately.

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

I am willing to return control to the parents with the faith in them that they know how to best educate their children with lots of options out there. I think that the current board has failed in the one job that they have of ensuring that our children are educated, and the other challengers, have long slow fixes, not immediate solutions.

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

They are either unwilling or unable to make sure that our students are educated, as the current proficiency levels are below 60%

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Transparency: Everyone involved in the educational system (School Board Members, Administration, teachers, teachers aides, etc.) shall ensure that all information is displayed on the school website in an easily accessible location: classroom curricular instructional or training materials, and activities. staff, and faculty training.

To equip the students with the tools that they need to pursue the career of their choice.

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

My leadership in multiple roles in the United States Army, qualifies me to handle this job. While deployed in Afghanistan I was the forward operating base (FOB) mayor, which involved the oversite of all the operations on the FOB as well as running normal Army operations. I received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart from my second deployment for my achievements. I can handle the stress of the job as it will not equal the stress found in combat. I have been a 1SG in the Army reserves which has taught me to balance work and the reserves, which is the same work-life balance that being on the school board requires. I am not afraid to talk with everyone, as I was the only conservative candidate to participate in the election forum. I have raised 6 kids, two of which are still in the WSD, so I understand the challenges of being a parent with kids in the system. I have been a volunteer in my Church youth groups, and Royal Ranger groups, so I understand working with kids and parents.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Always tell the truth in love, and meet trouble halfway as it will always find you if you try and avoid it. My Dad taught me these two truths.

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

I am willing to meet and talk with any group, or person about school issues. Just contact me.