Erik Edgren Candidate Profile

1. Relevant background information,i.e. name, age, employer, ect.
My name is Erik Edgren. I am 46 years old. I am self-employed: I own and operate our family farm and have side business flying in airshows. I was born and raised in Oskaloosa, and attended Oskaloosa Public Schools K-12. I graduated in 1987.

2. Please describe your prior community involvement (appointed or election positions, volunteer activities, ect.)
I have read in OES classrooms more or less annually during the Read-a-Thon since 2006, fundraised for Robotics team, and I am a former board member of Air Power Museum.

3. Why are you running?
I have considered running for many years but decided now is the time partly because my son is freshman and I want to take an active roll in his education.
I want to be a part of the board that, through healthy debate and teamwork, best serves the needs of the district, always keeping in mind that our guiding principal is doing what is best for the students.

4. What do you believe is the biggest problem facing the Oskaloosa School District and what is the solution?
I will preface my answer by saying that I have always considered reading to be the most important skill to be taught to students: If you can read well, have the will to learn, and can find a book on the subject you wish to learn, you can teach yourself just about anything. (And you will never be bored!)
That being said I believe that the biggest problem facing our district is the low student test scores, particularly in reading.
We need to support our teachers and administrators with the tools and resources necessary to better meet our students’ needs.
We also need to foster an attitude within our community that education, and academic achievement, reading in particular, is important for every student and every citizen.

5. What is the role of the school board?
First and foremost to have the best interests of its students as its top priority at all times.
To work with the Superintendent to achieve the district’s goals
To be a good steward of the taxpayers money
To act on behalf of students, parents, teachers and administrators on issues that have not been resolved through the proper chain of command.

6. How can the school board promote increased student achievement?
That was really answered in my response to question #4:
We need to support our teachers and administrators with the tools and resources necessary to better meet our students’ needs.
We also need to foster an attitude within our community that education, and academic achievement, reading in particular, is important for every student and every citizen.
I would also add that we must be careful not to just “teach to the test” but to help to create well-rounded and responsible citizens. We must strive to create an environment where students are not told what to think, but rather how to be critical thinkers.

7. Have you ever been in a role that called for accountability in the public sector and do you have any objections to the accountability the position you seek will require?
That depends on what you define as the “public sector”. While I have never held a public office or worked for the government, I certainly have been accountable to the public:
As a farmer I have the responsibility of growing safe food for the world and doing it in a manner that protects our land for future generations.
As a commercial pilot, flight instructor and airshow pilot I have held the sacred trust of, literally, holding the lives of others in my hands and if need be putting those lives before my own.

8. Why should voters cast their ballots for you?
I was born, raised and educated in Oskaloosa. After working in other states I returned home to Oskaloosa in large part because it is an ideal place to raise a family. This is my home and I have no intention of ever leaving. My wife is a teacher at Oskaloosa Elementary School and my son is a freshman at Osky High School. I am committed to doing what is best for students. I own and operate two businesses and I am fiscally responsible.

9. Anything else you want to mention?
I hope that the voters will find me worthy of their trust on September 8th!

Posted by on Sep 1 2015. Filed under Local News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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