Candidate Profile: Jason Craig For Whitnall School Board

Greenfield WI

03 February, 2022

2:20 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. Jason Craig Age (as of Election Day) 45 Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable) Whitnall School Board member Party Affiliation Family Kyle 13, Ivy 10 Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No Education Some college Occupation National Sales Representative 7 years Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office None Campaign website https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077163844413 Why are you seeking elective office? I'm looking to bring a current parent view to the board. I want someone that has higher stakes in the game to have a seat on the board. I want to have the opportunity to help lead the board to act decisively to create a superior environment to learn with dynamic curriculum, retained teachers, and a true return to the high standards that were the norm at Whitnall. The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it. Student achievement. I intend to examine the work on the edges. Are the students that have special considerations being taught in a way that they are able to learn, process, and retain in a way that they can demonstrate mastery of the subject matter? Also, is there enough challenge to the gifted and talented students that they will still be captivated by topics that will ignite their curiosity and lead them to become captains in their fields of study? What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? Working in the private sector for over 30 years, I have learned how to balance different performance indexes to hit metrics, limit at risk dollars, grow customer satisfaction, and strengthen team dynamics. I will bring those same skills to the board. I work well with others and will do my best to forge strong relationships with the community. I have high goals for proficiency, and I am good at working within the budget. I plan to help reestablish the district as the center of the community again and revitalize that community "Falcon Pride." If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency) The current board has failed the Whitnall School District in student achievement and proficiency. Our students are struggling and some of our current board members are asleep at the wheel. Student proficiency has been on a steady decline for half a decade, and our current state can not fully be blamed on COVID-19. The last newsletter sent out to members of the community highlighted that only 31.30% of 3rd graders are proficient in English language arts and only 25.90% of 8th graders have math skills at the appropriate grade level. The district's average ACT scores are also below the state average. We have some great teachers in our district. We need to empower them, retain them, and we need to supply them with appropriate curriculum to help all of our students get back on track. We need to turn it around and get this district back to being highly desirable. Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform. I want to bring a high level of accountability and transparency to the board. I believe that the community should be well informed about issues and thought processes of those on the board to the "why" they vote the way they vote. I promise to issue at a minimum a quarterly recap of the issues facing the board, why I vote the way I vote, and the next steps on the items that I want to see improved on in the district. I want those in the community to hold me accountable to the promises I make as a candidate, and the actions that I take as a member of the board. What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? The best advice ever shared with me was: Don't ever quit. Not even to your last drop of blood. You got folks relying on you then you just can't afford to. But even if it's only for yourself you still can't give in. Can't go to meet your maker and say "I'm here because I lost my nerve" What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I believe that the relationships between schools and parents has to be one of trust. Trust that the school is working tirelessly to provide world class instruction to the children. Trust that the parents will make good decisions for the children and their peers. Being good partners to each other will only result in the betterment of the students and the community as a whole.