Heather Felton

Q. What is your top priority for the district as a candidate for School Board and what strategies do you suggest to address it?

My top priority is teacher and staff retention. We need to address the compression of the pay scale, provide better opportunities for growth and recognition, and reduce the pressure of all the extra responsibilities they have foisted on them.

Q. What is the biggest opportunity that, if embraced by the district, would lead to an improvement in student achievement?

Let teachers teach more and test less. Teachers want their students to do well and have great ideas on how to do so. They are so restrained by the testing calendar, they can’t take deep dives into their curriculum.

Q. How can we ensure our Pre-K through 12th grade district programs and curriculum meet the needs of our business community in preparing students to successfully enter the workforce and/or pursue post-secondary educational opportunities?

For the younger students, guest speakers and tours of businesses give kids the opportunity to see what jobs are out there. Internships, sponsorships, and apprenticeships give students the opportunity to try those jobs out and gain skills.

Q. What role should local businesses play in supporting our schools to ensure students success and that they are graduating with the skills necessary for successful employment?

As stated above, businesses can partner with schools to give students the opportunities to learn new skills and gain experience which will lead to careers for the students and employees for the businesses.