eVoter Profile of Rebecca Gagnon Candidate 2010 Minnesota General Election

As a member of DPAC, Area C Steering Committee Co-Chair, Title 1 Advisory Committee, with three children at three public schools in Minneapolis, I am well aware of the future MPS faces. MPS has the teachers, staff, parents, students, and resources to achieve their strategic goals. And the move forward has started; I want to play an active role by serving on the school board. I am the best candidate for school board b/c I am already involved & a part of the conversation.

As an At-Large School Board Candidate, I am hopeful & optimistic because literacy in kindergarten has increased significantly in the last three years for all students thanks to early childhood intervention by the District with the High 5 program and collaboration with Head Start and other pre-kindergarten programs. I am hopeful & optimistic because the District is reaching out to families with their SEPAO program that teaches parents how to be involved in their child’s education – it is working, and parent involvement is a KEY factor to a child’s success!

My vision as an At-Large School Board Candidate?

Involve all stakeholders in the success of our students – parents, teachers, principals, administrative staff, school board, and the community. IF all stakeholders collaborate, valuing parent involvement, I know our children can achieve. If State policy reflects the desire to remove some of the barriers to achievement and our financial investment reflects a commitment to change, I know our children can achieve. If all stakeholders communicate, allowing for the open, honest, and transparent exchange of information, then I know our children can achieve. If teachers differentiate instruction in their classrooms to meet the diverse learning needs of their students, ensuring rigor and high academic standards for ALL students, then I know our children WILL achieve. All these factors are interconnected. Alleviating the achievement gap requires that we do them simultaneously.

I am running as an At-Large Candidate for School Board because I want to work TOGETHER as a District, not as individual schools, or three zones, or North and South. Together we can share ideas, best practices and create a network of support and cooperation. I want standards, curriculum and instruction that address the individual needs of our children. I want greater support of our teachers and principals with job security, professional development and a strong teacher mentor program. I want to DECREASE barriers to parental involvement. From our lowest performing to our highest achieving, each student deserves the opportunity to learn, be challenged, and advance academically! Our job is not only to educate but to lift up each student, celebrating their individual achievements, helping them set academic goals and plan for success in high school, higher education, and LIFE! Students must believe in their own future to achieve!

As YOUR School Board Member, I will jump in, armed with knowledge & experience, and I will work hard. I am in it for the long haul. These are NOT overnight solutions. In fact, significant change that is sustainable requires us to patiently stay the course for several years to come, seeing gradual and them more substantial success within 2-4 years.

Thank you for your support - Vote for me Aug. 10th in the primaries and Nov. 2nd at the general election!

Rebecca Gagnon