Robin Folkerts, candidate for Derby school board
Name: Robin Folkerts
Age: 56
Occupation: Teacher Educator
Previous government service: Appointed to Derby Board of Education in July 2020, Currently serve as VP of the Board
Have you run for office before? (Please list any previous offices sought)
No
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it?
The top issue for Derby BOE is to create a new strategic plan to guide the district for the next 5+ years. The current plan is in its final year and has shown significant results.
Improved measures have been put in place to effectively communicate with all stakeholders, including our non-English speaking families. Additional career pathways and individual plans of study were implemented for secondary students to begin planning for post-graduation. Bond issue work is near completion resulting in new and remodeled buildings. Pay scales for classified staff were increased to become more competitive with surrounding districts. We have increased participation in civic engagement, volunteerism, and business partnerships.
These are just a few examples illustrating the importance that strategic planning plays in shaping the future of a district. We will need input and collaboration from all stakeholders to do the serious work of creating tomorrow’s vision of Derby Schools.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
Priority 1: Keeping students in school. I will continue to support our Covid testing protocol and current masking policy which places each school in a zone depending on their rate of positive Covid cases and quarantine numbers. This policy works well and has achieved the desired effect of keeping students in school.
Priority 2: Academics. We must combat the post-pandemic learning loss. Our job is to prepare our students for their futures with a strong academic base, problem solving skills, resiliency, civic responsibility, and the necessary social emotional skills to be successful when they graduate.
Priority 3: Staffing. The pandemic has caused a drought in the workforce, which has had a significant effect on the number of substitutes available. This has been difficult for staff and students, causing overcrowded classrooms and added stress. I will continue to work to find creative solutions to solve this problem.
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