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Amber Leifheit
Amber Leifheit is an at-large representative on the Marshfield School District Board of Education in Wisconsin. Leifheit sought another term in the primary election on February 16, 2016. She was one of the top four vote recipients and advanced to the general election on April 5, 2016. She defeated Mark Critelli and Dan Wald to win re-election to her seat.[1] Leifheit first served on the board from 2008 to 2011.
Biography
Leifheit is the executive director of the Marshfield Area Community Foundation. She previously worked as an administrator for Pied Piper Preschool and as the director for Pathway Partners. She has also worked as a substitute teacher in the Marshfield School District. She volunteers with the Marshfield Area Habitat for Humanity and the United Way. She is also a member of the Marshfield Sunrise Rotary. Leifheit obtained a bachelor's degree in medical technology from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.[2]
Elections
2016
Two of the seven at-large seats on the Marshfield School District school board were up for general election on April 5, 2016. A primary election was held February 16, 2016. The seats of incumbents Amber Leifheit and Pete Mancl were up for election. Mancl did not run for re-election. Leifheit faced Thomas Binder, Mark Critelli, Dan Wald and Dale Yakaites in the primary election. All of the candidates, with the exception of Binder, advanced to the general election. Leifheit and Yakaites defeated Wald and Critelli in the general election.[1]
Results
| Marshfield School District, At-Large General Election, 3-year terms, 2016 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Amber Leifheit Incumbent |
31.81% | 5,035 |
| Dale Yakaites |
28.00% | 4,433 |
| Dan Wald | 21.48% | 3,400 |
| Mark Critelli | 18.70% | 2,960 |
| Write-in votes | 0.01% | 2 |
| Total Votes (100) | 15,830 | |
| Source: Tiffany Rouse, "Email correspondence with Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Jennifer Heeg," June 6, 2016 | ||
| Marshfield School District, At-Large Primary Election, 3-year terms, 2016 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Amber Leifheit Incumbent |
31.10% | 1,546 |
| Dale Yakaites |
25.73% | 1,279 |
| Dan Wald |
17.34% | 862 |
| Mark Critelli |
13.44% | 668 |
| Thomas Binder | 12.39% | 616 |
| Total Votes (100) | 4,971 | |
| Source: Tiffany Rouse, "Email correspondence with Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Jennifer Heeg," March 16, 2016 | ||
Funding
Leifheit reported no contributions or expenditures to the Marshfield School District in the election.[3] Any candidate spending or receiving less than $2,000 was not required to file a campaign finance report.[4]
Endorsements
Leifheit received no official endorsements for her campaign during the election.
2013
| Marshfield School District, At-Large General Election, 3-year term, 2013 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Pete Mancl |
33.5% | 2,372 | |
| Nonpartisan | Amber Leifheit |
31.3% | 2,216 | |
| Nonpartisan | Scott Kenneth Noble | 18.5% | 1,311 | |
| Nonpartisan | Dennie Juncer | 16.7% | 1,182 | |
| Total Votes | 7,081 | |||
| Source: Wood County, Wisconsin, "Wood County Election Results," accessed January 22, 2016 | ||||
Campaign themes
2016
Leifheit responded to the following questions in an interview with The Hub City Times:
| “ | Why are you running?
Marshfield is my home. In the 25 years since my husband and I moved here, we raised two children who attended Marshfield Public Schools K-12. I credit many of their real world successes to the great education they got right here in Marshfield. I want to help continue the tradition of excellent education for all children. I feel strongly about paying back through community service, in particular service to our community’s youth. We have one of the top school systems in the state, and I think we can maintain its excellence if all sectors of our community work together. United we can provide the quality education that our young people need to become another generation of productive citizens, involved taxpayers, and good neighbors. I am running because I feel I have the experience and knowledge needed to contribute to that process. What do you see as the most significant issue facing the school district that you would have to deal with as a board member? Our school district is facing several challenges with financial challenges topping the list. State and federal funding for education continues to decrease. Our young people and their futures must be our top priority. We need to find better ways to help struggling students and challenge the ones who are doing well. Our curriculum offers something for everyone — from career and tech classes to advanced placement classes. We must continue to implement state mandates while inspiring teachers to do their best work. We need do all of this and more while balancing our budget and finding innovative ways of raising revenue. Data has shown that excellent schools are essential to an economically healthy community. We need good schools to attract and retain employees, and businesses and property values are directly correlated to the school’s performance. Our community has spent decades building the school system we have today. Much is at stake. I understand school finance and have experience with budgets. Why should citizens vote for you? I have participated in education in many different roles. Each has given me hands-on experience dealing with students, teachers, parents, curriculum, budget, and the community. I am willing to listen, learn, ask questions, and try new ideas to help Marshfield continue to move forward. Through my work as the director of the Marshfield Area Community Foundation and nonprofits, I have learned about our community. I know our community’s needs. I know the schools, programs, and budget, and I have a few ideas for change. The school board will need to make some difficult decisions as they tackle the challenges ahead. I take the job the voters would entrust me with very seriously. I will continue to weigh the long-range impact of each vote, the tax consequences to tax payers versus the benefits for students. I will advocate on behalf of all students. I have the experience to help Marshfield continue to move forward while keeping Marshfield, Marshfield.[5] |
” |
| —Amber Leifheit (2016)[6] | ||
Campaign website
Leifheit's campaign website listed the following campaign themes for 2016:
| “ | My name is Amber Leifheit and I am asking you to support my re-election to the Marshfield School Board. My experience gives me the background to take on the challenges ahead. I will continue working with the board to maintain quality programs and an excellent education for all children while dealing with the financial realities we ALL face today. I am running for school board because I value education and I value our community
A bit about my background: I am a Wisconsin native and a University of Wisconsin - Madison graduate. I am married and I have lived in Marshfield for over 25 years. My two children have attended Marshfield Public Schools grades K-12 and I credit many of their real world successes to the start they got right here in Marshfield. I am the Executive Director of the Marshfield Area Community Foundation. Through my work at the foundation and volunteering with non-profits I’ve learned about our community. I know our needs. I have participated in education in many different roles. I’ve been a classroom volunteer, PTO Treasurer, Pied Piper Preschool Administrator, Substitute teacher, Pathway Partners Mentors Coordinator, and have served on the school board. Each has given me hands-on experience dealing with students, teachers, parents, the curriculum, budgets, and our community. This experience is crucial. The information a school board member must know is vast and detailed. I serve on the Finance Committee and, over time, have grown to understand the complicated system we navigate to fund our schools. The breadth of Marshfield’s curriculum allows for every student to find his or her own niche, anywhere from technical classes to college-level advanced placement classes. I currently chair the Curriculum and Instruction Committee and understand how valuable each of these classes is to the whole curriculum. Further, as a member of the School-to-Work Council, I have learned a great deal about capstone classes, the trades, and what businesses are looking for in our graduates. I also serve on the Employee Relations Committee. Marshfield has great staff, we need to retain and recruit the best the best staff. In past years I have also serve on Building and Grounds, and the Communications Committees. My experience on these committees has helped me learn about our schools. Moving forward, Marshfield’s school board will need to make difficult decisions. Like every school district and many families in Wisconsin, Marshfield faces a tight budget crunch. We will need to eliminate excesses from the budget and find innovative ways to garner more income. All students must be college and career ready. Agenda 2017 wants to insure that. Marshfield has work to do and I want to be part of that. Our athletic facilities need work, and I serve on the committee to study them. I am knowledgeable, I am experienced, and want to work to finding solutions to these problems today. I will never lose sight of our top priority: the students and their futures. As a school board member, I promise to carefully weigh the long-range effects of each and every vote. Marshfield is one of the best school districts in the state. I want to serve because we need someone with experience to answer the many difficult questions ahead. Our community has spent decades building the strong schools that we have today. Much is at stake. We must tackle our budget problems head-on so that we can keep our schools moving forward. I am actively involved in our community and schools. I will continue to advocate on the behalf of all children. Our city relies on its school board to act as a conduit between professional educators and community members. I do my best to diligently fill this role by spending many hours talking with students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members about the issues at hand. I think my best quality is my ability to listen, learn, and ask questions. I am open-minded and not afraid to try new ideas. Finally, over the years, I have educated myself about the complicated legal and financial issues that go with running a $50 million-a-year business. I ask for your vote of support on February 16 and again on April 5, 2016.[5] |
” |
| —Amber Leifheit's campaign website (2016)[7] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Amber Leifheit' 'Marshfield School District'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Marshfield News Herald, "5 run for Marshfield School Board," January 6, 2015
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Amber Leifheit," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑ Tiffany Rouse, "Email correspondence with Marshfield School District Board Secretary Jennifer Heeg," February 10, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Campaign Financing," accessed January 25, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The Hub City Times, "Candidate Questionnaire: Amber Leifheit and Dale Yakaites," January 9, 2016
- ↑ Amber Leifheit for School Board, "My Platform," accessed January 26, 2016
| 2016 Marshfield School District Elections | |
| Marathon County, Wisconsin and Wood County, Wisconsin | |
| Election date: | Primary Election: February 16, 2016 • General Election: April 5, 2016 |
| Candidates: | At-large: Incumbent, Amber Leifheit • Thomas Binder • Mark Critelli • Dan Wald • Dale Yakaites |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional measures on the ballot |
