Jane Diane Hoffman (Duluth Public Schools, At-large, Minnesota, candidate 2025)

Jane Diane Hoffman

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Duluth Public Schools, At-large

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 12, 2025

Personal

Religion

Christian: Lutheran

Profession

Mental Health Counselor

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal YouTube

Jane Diane Hoffman ran for election for an at-large seat of the Duluth School Board in Minnesota. She was on the ballot in the primary on August 12, 2025.^[source]

Hoffman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Jane Diane Hoffman provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on July 14, 2025:

• Birth place: Saint Paul, Minnesota
• High school: White Bear Mariner
• Bachelor's: Minnesota State University-Mankato, 1982
• Graduate: California State Northridge, 2008
• Gender: Female
• Religion: Christian: Lutheran
• Profession: Mental Health Counselor
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign slogan: John 15:13 "There is no greater love than this-that a man should lay down his life for his friends."
• Campaign website
• Campaign endorsements
• Campaign Instagram
• Campaign Twitter

Elections

General election

General election for Duluth Public Schools, At-large (2 seats)

Kelly Durick Eder, Loren Martell, Amber Sadowski, and Harry Welty are running in the general election for Duluth Public Schools, At-large on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Kelly Durick Eder (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Loren Martell (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Amber Sadowski (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Harry Welty (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= 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.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Duluth Public Schools, At-large (2 seats)

Kelly Durick Eder, Jane Diane Hoffman, Loren Martell, Amber Sadowski, and Harry Welty ran in the primary for Duluth Public Schools, At-large on August 12, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Kelly Durick Eder (Nonpartisan)
		Jane Diane Hoffman (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Loren Martell (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Amber Sadowski (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Harry Welty (Nonpartisan)

---

	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= 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

To view Hoffman's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us an endorsement, click here.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Jane Diane Hoffman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hoffman's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Jane Hoffman. I have a Tier 3 Social Studies 5-12 grade teaching license I earned in 2024. I have substitute taught at Duluth Public Schools 2.5 years. I have also been a direct hire at the School District as a paraprofessional at Merritt Creek Academy and as a kitchen worker at Ordean Middle School. I have lived in 7 states - also working for Los Angeles Times and American Red Cross. I have also taught in Los Angeles 1 year, I was a substitute at Diocese of Duluth 3 years and I have worked 6 months at Harbor City International. I am an accomplished writer. My play, "Father, Save Your Skin," on Ojibwe Indians, was performed in Hollywood, San Francisco at the American Indian Film Festival, and cable TV. I have published my autobiography called the "The Birth of Strangers," under Jane Hammerstrom Hoffman and is available on Amazon, Kindle and the Duluth Zenith Bookstore. My historical screenplay on the Milwaukee 14, 14 men of clergy who burned 1A draft files in Miwaukee and spent one year in prison is also available on Kindle, Amazon and the Zenith Bookstore. My new book, "Falling from the Limb," is available on Kindle and Amazon. I am passionate about people, serving others and I am currently a Mental health practicioner at the Birch Tree in Duluth.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Students should have a diverse learning experience that focuses on critical thinking and community growth and less on internet driven assignments and studies.

• Don't make irrational decisions when narrowing the budget. Preserve jobs such as Library Media Specialist in all schools and Athletic Director in high schools. Don't substitute these positions with lesser trained people.

• Transparency in the hiring process at Duluth Schools. Eliminate unnecessary delays, inform candidates in a timely manner of interview times. HR should be sending all candidates to the schools to review candidates. Don't overlook employees with subjectiveness.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I think students, especially middle and high school students need a more socially engaged learning process and internet dependency is making people isolated and unaccountable. I also have advocated for potential hirees in the School District who have been overlooked by the administration.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Bob Dylan, my college cross country coach - Gary Wilson, my high school cross county and track coach, Lyle Helke. Jesus Christ, Thomas Merton, Bob Graf and Thomas Aquinas.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

My autobiography, "The Birth of Strangers." I grew up not subscribing to a materialistic culture. I practiced humility as Jesus and the disciples did. I believe each person should aim to be part of collective society, putting the needs of the public square/dialogue above their own. I believe society should pool their resources to help the poor and disenfranchised.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

A school board member must provide innovative alternatives for budget restraints, problem solving when issues arise concerning parents, students and teachers, be a good listener to members of the community who voice concerns. A school board member must engage with peer board members in a constructive manner that is cooperative.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am honest, direct, intelligent and strive to make people feel comfortable but at the same time, question their weaknesses and poor decision making.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Manage the budget, consult with the top administrators in the School District, agenda setting, allowance for listening to different perspectives of families and community members.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Thomas Merton, a trappist monk, said we should strive to leave no legacy but serving God and helping others.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

RFK and MLK being shot to death. Voting for my first president, Jimmy Carter. The trauma of the Vietnam War.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Cleaning hospital rooms at a St. Paul Hospital during double digit inflation in 1978.

What is your favorite book? Why?

"The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers and "Main Street" by Sinclair Lewis. Also, "Journey to Ixtlan" by Carlos Casteneda

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Nancy Drew

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Ring them bells, St. Peter by Bob Dylan

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Losing my 21 month old daughter to a heart transplant on Christmas Day, 1992.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

Review the budget, discuss and problem solve with other board members, meet the needs and requests of students and parents. Get involved with school improvements. Listen to others.

Who are your constituents?

The City of Duluth collectivelly and any voters who follow the School Board and have a stake in it. Regular community members who may or may not have a child or grandchild in the school system.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

I have a background in Civil rights. I was the only white person living on the campus of North Carolina Central when I attended an exchange program. I had my own anti-racism group in Stoughton, Wisconsin. There are many people with different religious views, cultural considerations and different educational approaches. Duluth schools should be an inclusive community, allowing for different customs and beliefs being represented.

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

i already have established contact with students and parents after being a substitute and regular school worker..

What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?

Good teaching involves strong, comprehensive knowledge o the subject matterr. A teacher who is able to provide enthusiam and be persuasive in students wanting to learn. A good teacher involves students in the growth prospect like a spcial assignment using mixed media, different art supplies and ability to explore the subject matter.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Sean Dineen, formerly of Northwoods

Melissa Jean

Connie Noble, former eeducator at Cooper Elementary

Describe your ideal learning environment for students.

More focus on group collaboration, teacher lectures, student roundtable discussions and projects. Overall, group learning and participation.

What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district?

I can attend PTA meetings in multiple school locations.

What are your preferred strategies for faculty, staff, and administration recruitment?

Consider the persons credential, do not be biased and subjective. Vett the candidate.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Duluth Schools needs to operate within their means for a budget. We have raised property taxes 300%. The school administration must be honest with school board members on financial shortcomings when making budget decisions. No one should hide costs or allocate money that is not publicly approved.

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.

Other survey responses

Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Hoffman completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.

• Duluth News Tribune

See also

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