Jim Rostad, Minot
My involvement with the North Dakota School Boards Association has afforded me the opportunity to get to know many of our state's school leaders rather well, including Kirsten Baesler.
Baesler's proposed agenda for the Department of Public Instruction demonstrates the foresight and ingenuity that is so necessary to strengthen our state's schools. Not only does she understand the real challenges our schools and students face, but she understands the systems and how to work within them to effect real solutions. The ideas she proposed on Aug. 22 are comprehensive and allow for teamwork among various departments to produce comprehensive solutions.
One of Baesler's core ideas is that K-12 education and higher education ought to be the seamless beginning of person's life-long process of learning. Baesler has creative solutions to help our systems of education work in harmony. Her idea to address college readiness through better student assessment and preparation will save students, parents and institutions of higher education hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. Strengthening that partnership and allowing more dual credit courses for high school students will increase the success of all students, encourage high school graduates to attend North Dakota colleges and trade schools, and will strengthen our higher learning institutions.
Our schools and our students need proven leadership with a deep understanding of education from the inside out. Baesler's plan shows that she has what our students need.
As the vice president of the NDSBA Board of Directors, I am concerned for the well-being of all public school students in North Dakota. Because of the reasons outlined above, it is without reservation that I encourage you to join me in voting for Baesler for Superintendent of Public Instruction on Nov. 6.