Candidate Profile: Karen Mikolainis For Whitnall School Board

Greenfield WI

03 February, 2022

2:26 PM

Description

GREENFIELD, 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 decide the outcome of state representative and senate seats, plus local government and school boards. Patch asked the candidates for the Whitnall School Board, which will have a primary vote on Feb. 15, to answer questions about their campaigns. We will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near. Karen Mikolainis Age (as of Election Day) 52 Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable) School board member Party Affiliation Family I am married to my husband David, and our three children attend Whitnall schools. Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? no Education Carroll University, B.S. Communication, 1992 Occupation Library Media Specialist, 3 years Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office Whitnall School Board member, elected in 2019 Campaign website www.karenmikolainis.com Why are you seeking elective office? I want to help our schools achieve excellence. I want to see Whitnall students learn, thrive, and succeed in life. The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it. Increasing student achievement is my top priority. In the past five years, our student proficiency declined and our district average composite ACT score fell below the state average. I will push for detailed reports about our classroom-level improvement efforts. Our current early literacy curriculum is outdated. I recommend shifting to a science-based reading model with code-based, systematic, and explicit instruction that supports struggling readers and increases reading proficiency. What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? I ask questions. I am committed to accountability and two-way communication. I am an independent thinker, and I work for the residents of the Whitnall community. Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform. We have to make Whitnall an excellent place to work to recruit, develop, and retain great people. The district must fully commit to continuous improvement in teaching and learning. We must ensure that our classroom teachers are supported, valued and respected. Teaching in the pandemic has been incredibly difficult and we must show great appreciation for our team. Our professional development must be personalized and relevant to classroom learning in core subjects, and we must have fidelity to a proven, research-based curriculum. I support teachers' lifelong learning and growth and I encourage educators to pursue advancement and content expertise through national board certification. What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? I have 15 years of experience in branding and marketing, and I am active in the community as a scout leader and church member. I have lived in the Whitnall School District for 23 years. My husband and I chose Hales Corners as the place where we want to raise a family and I am one hundred percent committed to helping our schools deliver the high value and high achievement that our community expects and deserves. The best advice ever shared with me was: Decide what you want and work to make it happen. What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I support Jason Craig as the candidate with views and values most similar to my own. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you. Please vote!