Bemidji School District 2026 Election Guide

Age on Election Day: 63

Community: Bemidji, Frohn Township

Employment: Harmony Food Co-op, General Manager

Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.

33 years of business experience, 33 years of building local community partnerships, experience serving and leading Bemidji Board and Committee work, education experience teaching adjunct at BSU, teaching and advocacy work in alternative education. Bachelor of Science degree in English Teaching, Master's degree in English.

Why are you running?

I believe passionately in Public Education! It is where our children grow essential knowledge, learn critical civil engagement, and are guided by experienced professionals to navigate social community life skills.

Why should voters elect you?

I bring not only significant business experience, but understanding in our public education systems. This experience blended with years of building community partnerships has deepened my commitment to see our school systems strengthened knowing our communities are stronger when we invest and support our school systems. I will bring a value of representation at the table and working together for successful outcomes.

Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.

School Board is a governance role working to provide rigorous commitment to fiscal School District needs, Academic Goals, and Stabilization in Enrollment. It works to fulfill the mission of District 31 "To empower all students to achieve their fullest potential by providing a high quality education in a safe environment".

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Former MN Senator Paul Wellstone. He represented the common person, he was a doer not just a talker, and I am committed to living out his belief that "We all do better, when we all do better".

What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.

Continue balancing the fiscal budget while seeking strategic revenue and expense saving opportunities that further stabilize the District resources in order to grow and better serve students, staff, and the community. Community commitment and engagement with the school that strengthens the interactive capacity between schools and their community. Representation of ideas, concerns, and continued vision that is built on existing service work but continues to reach further and serve all.

What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing your district, and how do you plan to address it if elected?

Continued fiscal commitment while reaching further in growing resources that allow the school to move beyond operational crisis. Building out the next level of school organizational health and the resource commitment to accomplish this next growth phase. While significantly challenged by funding changes and cuts, we are able to take schools to a path where resiliency is embraced as a passed lesson from crisis paving the way for healthy systems and growth with a new understanding and forward empowered vision.

What is one success in the district that you would offer support for as a board member?

The district navigating significant deficit over the past three years accomplishing a projected balanced budget for 2026-2027 school year.

Incumbent

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.

Contributed

Age on Election Day: 71

Community: Bemidji

Employment: Bob and Jill's Drive and Buy

Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.

I am a graduate of Bemidji State University where I received my Bachelor's Degree in Education and my license in Special Education. I've been privileged to teach in the Bemidji, Red Lake, and Cass Lake school districts, and have also worked with families as a home-based counselor at Upper Mississippi Mental Health Services. I raised four daughters who graduated from Bemidji schools and currently have two grandsons attending school in Bemidji. I believe my background will allow me to be an ally and advocate for parents, students, and teachers.

Why are you running?

I'm running for school board because I care about the future of our students and our community. Running a business for many years has also taught me the importance of living within a budget, setting priorities, and making thoughtful decisions about where money is spent. Our district has limited resources, and I believe we need to make sure those dollars are being used wisely and where they can have the greatest impact on students and teachers.

Why should voters elect you?

I bring experience, common sense, and a genuine concern for the families in our district. I've spent a lot of my life working with young people and families, and as a longtime local business owner, I understand the importance of listening, being accountable, and making responsible decisions. I want to keep the focus on student success, support our teachers, listen to families, and make sure taxpayer dollars are being used wisely.

Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.

Participating in meetings and discussion that ultimately benefit the students, teachers, and families in Bemidji.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

I admire Abraham Lincoln for his perseverance and ability to lead through difficult circumstances.

What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.

I don't have a personal agenda. I want to ask good questions, listen to parents and teachers, and be responsible with taxpayer dollars.

What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing your district, and how do you plan to address it if elected?

I believe the biggest challenge is the decline in enrollment since COVID, which also means loss of funding. We need to understand why families are choosing other options and work to earn and maintain their trust in our public schools.

What is one success in the district that you would offer support for as a board member?

Bemidji has some test scores that are above state average, and that's something we should be proud of. But there are also areas where we can do better. Particularly reading and graduation rates. I think we should look at what is working, build on it, and keep finding ways to help more of our students succeed.

Contributed

Age on Election Day: 68

Community: Bemidji

Employment: Retired from Ken K. Thompson Jewelry. Currently employed at Sanford Health as a Cafeteria Cashier. Private Piano Teacher.

Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.

I was a member of the Bemidji Jaycee Women for many years. Service to community is important to me. I learned leadership skills and chaired many projects. I served as a Director, Secretary, Vice President and President after years of experience. I have been fortunate to combine my BSU education in business and music in my career path. I have been a private piano teacher for over 40 years and share my music in the community accompanying the First City Singers and Bemidji Community Theatre musical productions and serving as co-director of the First City Handbell Choir. I have played clarinet in the Bemidji Area Community Band for over 40 years.

Why are you running?

I am a strong advocate of public education and Bemidji Area Schools. I support staff and students. I want to give back in a positive way as my Johnson family has four generations of BHS graduates. I currently have four great nieces and one great nephew attending Bemidji Area Schools. I feel that all children deserve a quality education and is what Bemidji Area Schools provides.

Why should voters elect you?

I bring 18 years of experience serving on the Bemidji School Board. I was a dedicated board member in the past and I will be in the future. If it is board related, I will be there. I believe if you sign up, you show up. I am very protective of our district. I feel that the Minnesota School Board Association provides excellent opportunities for learning and networking with other district. I was awarded the Presidents Award from MSBA in 2019.

Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.

A school board member is a community representative who oversees the school district. The board sets goals, policies, the budget and implements a strategic plan. The board hires the Superintendent. Board members are open to conversations with community members.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Dolly Parton is a genuine caring person who never forgot her humble beginnings. She had a vision and goals. She persevered and became a beloved entertainer and humanitarian. She shared her music all over the world. She shared her wealth on causes she believed in. Most notably, the Imagination Library, putting millions of books into the hands of millions of children.

What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.

I believe we need to promote Bemidji Area Schools and the opportunities offered. The basics and beyond, Academics, Arts, Athletics, varied curriculum fostered by an exemplary staff. I also believe that we need to increase dialogue with our legislators regarding education funding. Bemidji Day at the Capitol provides board members that opportunity.

What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing your district, and how do you plan to address it if elected?

We have limited resources. Transportation is an unfunded mandate. The ask is to just make us whole. Imagine what we could do with the approximately one million dollar cost to transport our students to school. Declining enrollment is a challenge. Again, promote our district and all the opportunities we provide for students.

What is one success in the district that you would offer support for as a board member?

The READ Act. I appreciate the effort of numerous staff in the preparation and implementation. Reading is the core of education.

Incumbent

Age on Election Day: 60

Community: Bemidji

Employment: Northern Bible Church - Pastor

Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.

Current school board member, experience in personnel management, director roles in companies. Bachelor of Religious Education, BA in Linguistics/Anthropology

Why are you running?

My decision to run again is the fact that we have a good trajectory happening in the school district: 1. Academic trajectory of the district is on the increase – this is a direct result of working toward what the school district is there for: education of kids. Graduation rates among all students are up 9% and 16.9% among Native Americans. 2. Fiscal responsibility – we will reach the goal of eliminating an operating deficit in 2027. 3. Enrollment – this has been a challenge due to a couple of factors. First demographics: we have a declining birthrate in the district which is impacting our district with a short fall of approximately 50 students. Secondly, confidence in public education is waning. My goal is to make public education competitive and win back the confidence of parents and allow the district to assist families by providing quality education.

Editor’s note: Bemidji’s four-year graduation rate was 80.2% in 2025, up 9.9% since 2022. The graduation rate for Native American students was 59.8%, up 16.9% from 2022.

Why should voters elect you?

I promote the goals of the school district to provide quality education, I promote fiscal responsibility with public funds, and I believe the school district can assist family in the education of their children.

Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.

The role is to direct the affairs of the school district to provide quality education with fiscally sound operating procedures. Board members are responsible to attend monthly board meetings and work sessions to facilitate this role.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Pete Hegseth - I believe he has really turned around the mission of the military to focus on what it is there for. He has also returned a merit based qualification for military service.

What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.

To see the academic resilience of the district to continue to increase. This means to breakaway from state averages and excel in all areas of academics in the district. To operate in fiscally responsible without adding more tax burden to constituents. To increase enrollment by rebuilding the confidence of parents in public education.

What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing your district, and how do you plan to address it if elected?

Enrollment is the biggest challenge as that is where our main revenue source comes from. Again, confidence needs to be rebuilt among families in the district.

What is one success in the district that you would offer support for as a board member?

Graduation rates are up 9% among all students and 16.9% among Native American students.

See previous editor's note.