Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
May 10, 2017
Page 7
Jefferson County 509-J school board candidates
There are three positions up for election on the
five-member board of directors of the Jefferson
County 509-J school district.
The vote is coming up on Tuesday, May 16.
Ballots are due by 8 p.m. on that day.
There is an official ballot box in Warm Springs
across the street from the Post Office, by the old fire
station.
If you vote on election, instead of by mail, you
can also drop your ballot off at the county clerk’s
office by 8 p.m. on May 16.
Candidates who are running in-clude:
Position no. 1: Brian Crow of Madras, and
incumbent Laurie Danzuka of Warm Springs.
Position no. 1: Laurie Danzuka
Position no. 1: Brian Crow
My name is Brian Crow
and I am running as a candi-
date for school board.
I am asked regularly why
I am running for this posi-
tion. Honestly, it’s the ques-
tion that keeps me up at
night.
Why would I want to be-
come the recipient of the ire
of some of our community?
Why would I want to sacri-
fice a lot of my time as a
volunteer?
The answer is simple: The
future of Jefferson County
is directly tied to the quality
of the workforce.
We need to be delivering
graduates who are capable
and qualified to work.
The previous board has
done a good job of increas-
ing the graduation prospects
for students in our commu-
nity, and I want to see that
continue to improve.
As we improve our
school system, it will be-
come more attractive to new
families and in turn will help
Jefferson County.
When we moved to Ma-
dras almost a year ago, it
took about two weeks to
completely fall in love with
Jefferson County. We could
not be more thrilled about
digging in like ticks!
Here are some of the is-
sues that I am concerned
about:
• Improving student per-
formance from Early Child
Education to Career Tech-
nology Education.
• Grow Technology Edu-
cation to give kids a career
path, even if they don’t in-
tend to attend university.
• Continue to improve
graduation rates.
• Appropriately sizing
classrooms.
• Meal programs that are
nourishing and interesting.
• Providing a safe envi-
ronment for teachers and
students alike.
•Restoring our com-
munity’s faith in the finan-
cial operation of the district.
• Our district should be
teaching kids how to think,
not what to think.
Brian Crow
Position no. 2: Jamie Hurd
My husband and I
moved to Madras five years
ago. He is the Public Works
director for the City of
Madras.
We have three young
boys: Lucas, 8, Jacob, 6, and
Nolan, 2.
I grew up in Colorado
and attended Colorado
State University, where I
graduated with two degrees:
Bachelor of Science in
Wildlife Biology and Bach-
elor of Science in Fishery
Biology.
I worked professionally
as a biologist for many or-
ganizations, but most re-
cently the Confederated
Tribes of Warm Springs.
I stepped away from
wildlife management to
manage a different kind of
wildlife, my three energetic
boys. I am grateful for my
time at home with my chil-
dren because it has allowed
me to both spend more
time in their classrooms and
help serve our community.
I am devoted to the posi-
tive growth of our commu-
nity because I cherish and
respect it.
I am currently serving
on the Madras Aquatic Cen-
ter (MAC) Recreation Dis-
trict board. During my time
on the board I have been
part of taking a failing dis-
trict to a balanced budget
with rapidly growing pro-
grams.
We have developed em-
ployee manuals, policies,
cost recovery plans and a
strategic plan. My time with
MAC district has helped to
develop board member
skills and knowledge of eth-
ics and regulations.
I started a non-profit or-
ganization called MADras
Runners that has raised
thousands of dollars for
youth and athletic programs,
as well as hosted multiple
community health activities.
I have coordinated sev-
eral events, fundraisers and
volunteers for several
groups.
Parent Teacher Organi-
zations, Our Community
Event, Community Clean
Up, Canyon Rumble Frozen
Half, Cycle Oregon and po-
litical action committees are
just a few of the groups I
have served in a leadership
role.
I am a big believer that
actions speak louder than
words. That is why I have
spent time in all eight of our
schools.
I have meet with admin-
istration, staff, teachers, par-
ents and students. I have
had meetings with all of the
board members. I did this
so I could have an under-
standing of the entire dis-
trict. It is important to me
that I understand the
strengths and weaknesses of
our district.
I want to be on the
school board because I am
passionate about seeing our
students thrive. I want them
to feel inspired, motivated
and ready for life outside of
our schools.
As a member of this
community, everything I
have been a part of has a
direct relationship to the
success of our school dis-
trict. I’ve seen the need for
community support of our
schools.
Here is what I am most
passionate about focusing
on in our schools:
• Let’s celebrate student
and staff achievement. We
have a lot of amazing things
going on in this district, and
we need to give the people
behind them proper recog-
nition and support.
Position no. 2: Jamie Hurd of Madras; Sue
Matters of Warm Springs; and Gary Sisk of Madras.
Position no. 3: Alyssa Macy of Warm Springs,
and incumbent Tom Norton Jr. of Madras.
Here are brief statements from each of the
candidates.
We live in a world of
negativity, and I believe if
we embrace our successes,
it will make our staff and
students feel valued and in-
spired.
We need robust, proac-
tive programs to capture
our children’s unique gifts.
If they are motivated, they
will perform.
We have a lot of good
electives, extracurricular,
and upper learning oppor-
tunities. Let’s work on
strengthening them. If our
students are connected to
something, they will have
the drive to perfor m in
school.
Our children need to be
emotionally, educationally
and physically healthy. Sup-
porting our staff will be key
in helping them to take ad-
vantage of individual learn-
ing opportunities, recogniz-
ing trials and dangers, and
inspiring them to bring in
creative options and re-
sources for our students.
Our students need to be
ready for life outside of
school. Our students need
an education and not a cer-
tificate.
Their parents need to be
engaged, informed and play
an active role in their
student’s education.
If we do all of the above
they will be ready. The
health of our community is
directly related to the suc-
cess of our students. If our
students are thriving, so will
our community.
As a school board mem-
ber I will take into account
the community’s goals and
visions and hold the district
accountable.
I will take my unique tal-
ents and gifts, and work
cooperatively with the board
and the superintendent to
ensure we are making the
best decision for the entire
district.
I am grateful for your
time and support, and I en-
courage you all to vote!
Vote for our children, staff
and community.
Jamie Hurd
Greetings family, friends
and community members,
My name is Laurie
Danzuka. My parents are
the late Gerald Danzuka Sr.
and Kathleen Heath. My
maternal grandparents are
the late Chief Nathan Heath
and Lillie McBride Heath.
I have four children.
Three are school age and
my youngest grand-nephew
is in Warm Springs Early
Head Start.
I am a Warm Springs,
Wasco and Paiute tribal de-
scendant. I am a proud
graduate from War m
Springs Head Start, Warm
Springs Elementary, Madras
Junior High School and
Madras High School.
It has been a privilege to
serve on the board for the
past eight years.
There has been positive
change and continued
growth through our curricu-
lum and expanded options,
such as Bridges career and
technical high school, and
the Madras High School
futures program to name a
few.
In War m Springs the
Rise and Shine program—
in partnership with the Cul-
ture and Heritage Depart-
ment and Committee—pro-
vides language instruction,
dance, and a variety of cul-
tural projects for kids.
This will continue to ex-
pand as the American In-
dian/Alaska Native state
plan is rolled out next year.
There has also been slow
but measured growth in
math, reading, and atten-
dance at all grade levels.
I chose to run for re-elec-
tion to continue the work
that is starting to address
big-picture items such as
graduation rates, profes-
sional development and bud-
get/program sustainability.
The support systems put
in place need to be sustained
to achieve upward move-
ment. I will continue to sup-
port the expansion programs
that address the different
learning styles through the
arts, career and technical,
and partnerships with the
Confederated Tribes for job
shadowing and internships.
At the same time we will
continue partnerships with
colleges to challenge higher
end learners on their learn-
ing path.
It is important to con-
tinue to provide appropriate
development programs and
tools for staff to continue
to see their own success in
the classroom as well as in
the learners.
I am fortunate to have
been raised in a family that
promotes all education,
whether it is formal, or oral
history from my parents and
grandparents.
I believe kids will learn in
an environment they are
comfortable in, and that pro-
viding options for those
families will bring more suc-
cess to the families and
learners in the district.
In order to continue the
forward progress it will im-
portant to build upon what
we have started; and con-
tinue to lead the district for-
ward, putting us in a posi-
tion where people are look-
ing to us as an example of
how to do it right.
I believe all these things
can happen by gaining paren-
tal support, trust and in-
volvement at all grade lev-
els, and build the partnership
with each child’s teacher and
school.
I am a committed advo-
cate for learners and their
families, and I ask for your
support. I have grown pro-
fessionally and will serve the
community to the best of
my ability.
Thank you,
Laurie S. Danzuka
Position no. 2: Sue Matters
My name is Sue Matters
and I’m asking for your vote.
I am a candidate for the 509-
J school board seat #2.
I ran for school board two
years ago and I’m running
again because I believe I have
what it takes to make in-
formed decisions that benefit
the students and families of
the 509-J school district.
I’ve lived in Warm Springs
for more than 30 years. I’m
married to Kenman Miller,
and we have two adult chil-
dren who went through 509-
J schools—Carina Miller and
Dylan Miller.
I served on School Site
Councils for Warm Springs
Elementary, the Jefferson
County Middle School, and
at Madras High School dur-
ing the time each of my kids
attended.
That gave me insight into
school issues and access to
amazing teachers and princi-
pals. I’ve also participated in
various school district oppor-
tunities over the past 25 years.
I have experience serving
on boards and committees—
from national non-profit
work like the National Fed-
eration of Community
Broadcasters and Native Pub-
lic Media, to local community
service including Johnson
O’Malley, Collage of Culture,
Warm Springs Cultural Trust
and the Boys & Girls Club.
I understand the role of a
board and the importance of
process, planning and proto-
col.
I have worked at KWSO
radio 91.9FM (and kwso.org)
or the past 14 years.
I have the ability to under-
stand information, ask ques-
tions, learn from others and
summarize information.
Through my work I com-
municate information daily,
verbally and in writing, in per-
son, over the radio and online.
We need to learn to com-
municate more effectively
and genuinely with one an-
other. The district needs to
improve information sharing
and to listen and consider in-
put from teachers, students,
families and the community.
Previously, I worked at
Warm Springs Early Child-
hood Education for 12
years—in Head Start, the
School Age Care Program,
and in Support Services.
That allowed me to better
understand families, child de-
velopment, and the positive
impact of early learning.
I believe good things hap-
pen in our school district all
the time, and many students
go on to do amazing things
in the world.
What I’d like to see is a
higher success rate for all our
youth by ensuring all students
get the skills they need to pur-
sue their interests beyond
509-J. And I’d like to see
teachers supported in helping
to make that happen.
In the Jefferson County
509-J School District, we
have a vision of what we want
students, teachers and fami-
lies to demonstrate in an ef-
fective learning community.
To achieve that vision, 509-J
needs to have a strategic plan
with short- and long-term
goals, measurable objectives,
strategies and tasks. All the
schools need to be working
toward the same goals.
I believe initiatives, beyond
just academics, need to be
included in that plan. Improv-
ing academic performance is
absolutely a goal—but I be-
lieve it is critical to also in-
crease understanding of is-
sues like trauma-informed
and culturally relevant prac-
tices, wrap-around services,
and educational equity.
It’s an exciting time for
509-J with three positions be-
ing voted on for school board
and a new superintendent.
I want to be part of the
ongoing effort to raise-up the
509-J school district to meet
the needs of all our youth.
Meeting their needs not only
will change their lives, but will
boost their contributions to
our community and we will
all benefit! Our kids deserve
the very best.
Sue Matters