GMG School Board Candidate: Ann Jackson

Age: 45

Residence: 1310 220th St, Garwin

Profession: teacher

Education: Master of Arts in Teaching, Morningside University; Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education and Spanish, Cornell College

Family: My husband, Matt & I have 3 children. We have three children: Frances, 18, is a freshman at Iowa State, Wyatt, 16, is a junior, and Violet, 12, is in seventh grade.

What motivated you to run for this office?

I’m excited about the future of GMG and I want to continue to be a part of it! I believe the board has made some great changes during my last term and I want to be a part of keeping the district moving forward in a positive direction.

What qualities and behaviors should school board members exhibit?

School board members should be trustworthy, honest, reliable, and open to ideas. I also feel school board members should be present at all types of school events from fine arts to athletics showing support for our great students and staff.

What do you see as the primary roles and responsibilities for the position you are running for?

The primary responsibility of a school board member is to establish policies that move the district toward its mission and to ensure the fiscal health of the district.

How would you handle requests if approached by an individual? Special interest group?

I think it’s important to listen to the concerns of our district patrons. As appropriate, I would pass those concerns onto district administration and/ or encourage the individual to follow the appropriate chain of command, starting with the staff member closest to the issue.

What do you feel are the three most important issues the school board will face during your (anticipated) term as a school board member? How do you plan to address those issues?

There are several important issues facing GMG. I think the most important is attracting and retaining high-quality teachers in a time when there is a teacher shortage in our state. I believe the school board needs to take a hard look at our budget and find funds to move toward teacher salaries. We also need to create a ‘marketing plan’ that will highlight why GMG is a great place to work and live. Another important issue facing GMG is ensuring that we continue to attract open enrolled students. More than half of our students’ families choose to open enroll to GMG. It is imperative that the GMG school board continues to make GMG the school of choice in Marshall and Tama counties by investing in programs and facilities. Finally, I think that continuing to improve the culture of GMG is tremendously important. We need to ensure that the community feels invested in the success of GMG schools and vice versa. I would love to see work sessions between the city council and school board that would address issues like the need for daycare and housing.

Why should people vote for you on November 2, 2021?

I believe that people should vote for me because I have been a reliable voice for education in our community. Since I’m involved in education every day, I bring important insight to the table as a board member. Because of my experiences in the classroom and at the board table, I can help move GMG forward into an even brighter future!