Candidate Profile: Sarah Harrison 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

Sarah Harrison

Age (as of Election Day)

44

Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable)

Waukesha School Board

Party Affiliation

Nonpartisan Office

Family

Two children in Waukesha Schools: Lucas (Senior at North), Chuck (Freshman at South)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BA, Communication Studies, University of Iowa, 2000
MBA, Executive Management, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business

Occupation

Solution Consulting Manager at Dematic. Leads a team that designs ergonomic material handling systems in distribution and manufacturing environments.

One year in current role. Seven years total at Dematic.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

First-time candidate for public office. Experienced as a volunteer for non-profit organizations dedicated to issues such as hunger relief, tutoring at-need students, athletics, and environmental causes. Mother of two School District of Waukesha students.

Visit the campaign website for more information.

Why are you seeking elective office?

My goal is to help our children succeed - all of them.

As the mother of two Waukesha students, I have paid close attention to policy and given my input in many Board of Education and subcommittee meetings over the years.

Many of the current board members are slow to hold the administration responsible for enacting responsible policy. I am not satisfied with our school board’s response to community members.

I will work with our administration to close the achievement gap, to attract and retain quality educators, and to ensure the safety of all people in our school facilities.

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

The School District of Waukesha has an ongoing achievement gap. To close this gap, we must address the opportunity gap and provide fair and equitable opportunities to all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status or ZIP code.

Resources that SDW can provide to at-risk students include additional one-on-one time with educators, setting clear benchmarks and tracking progress toward goals, and training students in key learning techniques such as note-taking and self-assessment.

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

I am a mother of two Waukesha School District students. I am not endorsed by nor will I accept money from any political party. In my work, I have experience working with stakeholders with goals that do not always align, so I know how to collaborate well in high-stakes situations.

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

Our current board has not held the administration accountable for explaining their decisions and answering concerns raised by community members.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

1. We need to close the student achievement gap by acknowledging and addressing the opportunity gap. We must provide fair and equitable opportunities to all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or ZIP code.
2. We must attract and retain quality educators by fostering an inclusive and accepting workplace that is focused on the academic process, not partisan politics.
3. We must ensure the safety of all people attending, working, or visiting facilities within the School District of Waukesha.

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

Years of service on volunteer committees and in business management roles give me hands-on experience listening to diverse points of view, and collaborating with others to find the best solution for complex issues. My strength in facilitating discussions on critical issues will serve me well on the school board.

My professional and volunteer experience also includes setting policy and procedures, which is a key aspect of serving on the Waukesha School Board.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” -Marie Curie

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

I believe in our kids, our teachers, and our schools. I believe that every child can achieve academic success when given the resources they need, including a nurturing educational environment.

As I have listened to my SDW neighbors over the past weeks, I have heard a common theme: people are concerned about the increasingly divisive rhetoric, scare tactics, and political decision-making they see in our school district. As a member of the board, I will seek solutions alongside others, regardless of their political leanings. My goal is to help our children succeed - all of them.

Our children are always learning. We adults must also continue to learn and evolve. I will make merit-based decisions using the available information. When new learnings come to light, I pledge to be humble and mature enough to adapt decisions when needed. It is more important to do what is right for the education of our children than for me to maintain that I was correct.

My name is Sarah Harrison, and I’m asking for your vote on Feb. 15 and April 5. Let’s work together to make the School District of Waukesha an even better place to learn, to work and to grow.