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Gina Acevedo (St. Cloud Area School District, At-large, Minnesota, candidate 2025)
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Gina Acevedo is running in a special election for an at-large seat of the St. Cloud Area School District in Minnesota. She is on the ballot in the special general election on November 4, 2025.[source]
Acevedo completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
[1]Biography
Gina Acevedo provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on October 6, 2025:
- Birth date: July 18, 1985
- High school: Riverview High School
- Bachelor's: University of South Florida, 2009
- Gender: Female
- Profession: Healthcare Professional
- Incumbent officeholder: No
Elections
General election
The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.
Special general election for St. Cloud Area School District, At-large
Gina Acevedo, Al Dahlgren, and Peter Hamerlinck are running in the special general election for St. Cloud Area School District, At-large on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
Gina Acevedo (Nonpartisan)  | ||
| Al Dahlgren (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Peter Hamerlinck (Nonpartisan) | ||
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Endorsements
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Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Gina Acevedo completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Acevedo's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I’m a proud District 742 parent, community advocate, and St. Cloud resident who believes in the power of a high-quality education. I was born in Vicenza, Italy, into a U.S. Air Force family and spent my early years living in different countries before growing up in Tampa, Florida, a vibrant melting pot that shaped my understanding of community.
I went on to study Sociology at the University of South Florida, where I developed a passion for understanding how society shapes the way we live, work, and learn. Since 2011, I’ve called St. Cloud home and am proud to have children enrolled in District 742, where they have spent their time in the immersion program. Those experiences continue to strengthen my belief in the importance of creating learning environments where every child feels they belong.
My purpose is simple: every child deserves a safe, supportive, and high-quality education. I’ve built my career in equity, leading initiatives that center community voice and break down barriers to access. I want to bring that same compassion, collaboration, and commitment to belonging to the School Board, because when every child feels seen, supported, and valued, our whole community thrives.- Ensuring Every Student Has Access and Opportunity to Succeed Every student deserves the chance to reach their full potential, and that starts with access to the resources and support they need to learn and grow. Every child learns differently, and it’s important that we recognize and nurture those differences. By equipping students with the tools and opportunities that meet their individual needs, we prepare them not only for academic success but for life beyond the classroom. We’re not just teaching students, we’re raising future adults to be confident, intelligent, hard-working, and compassionate members of our society.
- Creating Safe, Inclusive, and Welcoming Learning Environments Every student and parent deserves to know that school is a place where they can arrive feeling safe and return home safely each day. Physical safety is fundamental. Students should be able to focus on learning without fear of violence, threats, or harm. Equally as important is emotional and psychological safety: ensuring our schools are free from bullying and discrimination, and that every student is seen, heard, and valued as their authentic self. When students feel safe, they can focus, grow, and reach their full potential, and that’s when real learning happens.
- Strengthening School, Family, and Community Partnerships Education works best when schools, families, and communities support one another. Each plays a vital role in helping students learn and grow. When communication is open and everyone feels valued, it creates a sense of trust and shared purpose. By working together, we can ensure students are supported both in the classroom and at home, and that schools reflect the needs and strengths of the communities they serve.
I’m passionate about creating learning environments where every student feels they belong, and are truly safe, supported, and able to succeed. Both physical and emotional safety are essential for academic success. Students learn best when they feel secure. I also care deeply about equitable access to resources, including strong funding for public education and support for special education services. Every child, regardless of background or circumstance, deserves the tools and opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive in a supportive school community.
I believe the most important qualities for an elected official are honesty, transparency, compassion, empathy, and a strong work ethic.
Honesty and transparency build trust with the community. People deserve leaders who communicate openly and make decisions with integrity. Compassion and empathy ensure that policies are people-centered, reflecting the real needs and experiences of those they serve. And being hard-working is essential; public service requires dedication, follow-through, and a willingness to listen, learn, and put in the effort to make meaningful change.
Honesty and transparency build trust with the community. People deserve leaders who communicate openly and make decisions with integrity. Compassion and empathy ensure that policies are people-centered, reflecting the real needs and experiences of those they serve. And being hard-working is essential; public service requires dedication, follow-through, and a willingness to listen, learn, and put in the effort to make meaningful change.
To serve as a voice for students, families, and educators by working hard, listening with intention, and showing dedication to the success and growth of our schools and students.
I want to leave this world better than I found it, but above all, to be remembered as a good mother.
My earliest memory of a historical event is the fall of the Berlin Wall. I lived in Germany when it came down in 1989, and I was 4 years old at the time.
I worked at an ice cream shop throughout high school and into the beginning of college.
To bring multiple lenses and perspectives to the table when shaping policy and making decisions. It’s about considering the needs of all students, families, and educators to ensure that policies are equitable and effective.
All those who live in District 742, work with the district, or send their children to school here.
Supporting the diverse needs of our district requires an equity-based approach, not just equality. Equality gives everyone the same resources, but equity recognizes that each student and staff member has different needs and circumstances. This means honoring differences in ability, language, culture, identity, and life experience, and ensuring that every individual has the tools and opportunities they need to thrive. We are not a one-size-fits-all community. Each student is an individual with unique strengths and needs and we don’t all fit in the same box. Recognizing, valuing, and supporting those differences is what truly sets us up for success.
I live, work, and raise my family in this community. The community isn’t the “other” - I am part of it. Building relationships starts with being present, listening, and engaging with people where they are. I believe in connecting with anyone who wants to contribute to the success of our students and schools, including families, educators, local organizations, and neighborhood groups. Strong schools are built through shared commitment and collaboration.
Good teaching inspires, adapts, and supports student growth. It’s measured through engagement and progress, not just test scores. Supporting advanced teaching means providing educators with resources, collaboration, and opportunities to innovate.
Ensuring our schools are properly funded requires both advocacy and responsibility. It’s important to plan accordingly and realistically, making thoughtful and cautious decisions that prioritize students, support staff, and the long-term stability of our district.
Students can’t focus on learning if they live in fear. When we know kids are physically safe first, they’re able to focus on learning, growing, and connecting. In addition, safety must go beyond the absence of physical harm, it also means protecting students from bullying, harassment, and emotional distress.
Supporting mental health means ensuring students and staff have access to qualified mental health professionals and resources when they need them. It also means creating a culture where students, parents, and educators know their concerns will be heard, addressed, and supported with compassion, follow-through, and action.
I’d like to take time to review our current policies with fresh eyes and see where there’s room for improvement. Policies should grow and adapt with the needs of our students, families, and staff, and I believe thoughtful review is part of building stronger schools.
An ideal learning environment is one where every student feels safe, supported, and equipped with the tools they need to succeed, and where they feel a true sense of belonging. Belonging begins by creating a welcoming environment and honoring their dignity, creating the foundation for learning, confidence, and long-term success.
As a parent in District 742, I’m not speaking from the outside, I’m living it right alongside other parents. I understand the daily reality of raising children in our schools and the joys and challenges that come with today’s world. Building relationships starts with connection and empathy, listening, showing up, and engaging in honest communication and collaboration.
I believe recruitment should involve multiple lenses throughout the interview process to ensure each candidate is seen fully and evaluated thoughtfully and fairly, with attention to both skill and character.
I think it’s important that our curriculum reflects the many paths to success. Four-year college degrees are valuable, and we should also encourage and celebrate trade schools, apprenticeships, and technical careers. I’d also love to see more focus on life skills like financial literacy, budgeting, taxes, and practical home or workplace skills that prepare students for real-world independence and confidence.
AI is part of our world and here to stay. It’s important that we learn to evolve thoughtfully with it. AI can be a valuable tool when implemented with clear guidelines and an ethical lens, while safeguarding privacy and preserving the human connection and creativity that’s at the heart of education.
I’m proudest of my kind, intelligent, and thoughtful children.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
