Kerry Claypool-Lambert (Detroit Lakes Public Schools, At-large, Minnesota, candidate 2024)
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Kerry Claypool-Lambert ran for election to the Detroit Lakes Public Schools, At-large in Minnesota. She was on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.[source]
Claypool-Lambert completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
[1]Biography
Kerry Claypool-Lambert provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on October 7, 2024:
- Birth date: July 10, 1975
- Birth place: Hazen, North Dakota
- High school: Bemidji High School
- Bachelor's: Bemidji State University, 2013
- Military service: United States Navy, 1993-1997
- Gender: Female
- Religion: Unaffiliated
- Profession: Mental Health Counselor
- Incumbent officeholder: No
Elections
General election
General election for Detroit Lakes Public Schools, At-large (3 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Detroit Lakes Public Schools, At-large on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| Emily Bartnes (Nonpartisan) | ||
Kerry Claypool-Lambert (Nonpartisan)  | ||
| Gary L. Coson (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Nerissa Hendrickson (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Julie Smith-Yliniemi (Nonpartisan) | ||
| John Steffl (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Michael Walther (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Susan Walther (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Nancy Zehnacker (Nonpartisan) | ||
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Election results
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Claypool-Lambert in this election.
Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kerry Claypool-Lambert completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Claypool-Lambert's responses.
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I am a mom of five and step mom of three. All but one of those kids has grown up. My four grown kids all attended Detroit Lakes Schools after we moved to Detroit Lakes in 2013. My youngest is three years old, and just started preschool at Lincoln Education Center. Two of my kids and one of my step kids were helped through school with IEPs.
I also was a foster parent for many years, and advocated for my foster kids, many of whom had special needs.
In 2013 I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work from Bemidji State University. I majored in social work and minored in indigenous studies. I am not native, but firmly believe we have a responsibility to learn about the people whose land we live on. I am a fast learner. I was able to obtain my bachelor’s degree in 3 years. After graduation I embarked on a career I love serving the people of the White Earth Nation.- I have a passion for helping children with special needs, and want to help them and their families as they attend our schools.
- Diversity is important. Our school district is diverse with 20% being minorities. All our families deserve to feel heard, respect, and valued.
- Collaboration and connection are important when serving on any kind of board. Listening to all who have an investment in our children is something I will bring to the table.
Special education! I raised two of my children with the help of fantastic special ed teachers who truly saw their potential. Making sure our kids of all kinds of abilities get the education they need is something I am passionate about.
There are A LOT of people I look up to. I especially admire the women in my family history: my gran who was a WWII war bride, my grandma who scuba dived all over the world, my great grandma who was a college graduate and wrote for the Christian Science Monitor, my great grandma who taught school on the frontier, my great great grandma who raised her daughter on her own and worked for the Pinkerton agency. All these women were so strong and smart. I feel so honored to be one of their descendants.
I find that integrity, inclusion, and an ability to listen are truly the most important characteristics.
I love to learn. I’m a fast learner & enjoy compiling information. I have integrity and enjoy collaboration.
At this time I view representing the values and principles of our community as a key responsibility. Most importantly, however, is ensuring our children have a good education.
I would like to leave a legacy like my grandmothers did, and be remembered for being kind, fair, and smart.
Mount Saint Helens eruption! I was 5 years old. My great aunt watched it from her living room window on a neighboring mountain. I had a pen filled with ash. I remember being in awe that our planet could create such destruction and also life.
I started baby sitting neighbor kids at age 9. It was the 80’s! What can I say!
But, my first actual paycheck job was at the old Food4Less deli in Bemidji!
But, my first actual paycheck job was at the old Food4Less deli in Bemidji!
So many good books out there and I have to pick one? As a kid l think my favorite was “Anne of Green Gables.”
Buffy the Vampire Skayer
Ms Rachel “I have peace in my heart…” I have a three year old who loves Ms Rachel!
One thing that has been a struggle was when I went through my divorce in 2010/2011. I was suddenly a single mom with 4 kids, three of them with special needs, had thyroid cancer, and decided to go back to school. I powered through it, and got my four year degree in three years.
Setting goals, adopting policies, assessing various aspects of the school district, approving curriculums & plans, budget, reports, committees, hiring the superintendent, attending meetings and more!
My constituents would be the residents of our school district.
Listening! Listening to students, faculty, staff and community come first. Then engaging in conversation that leads to outcomes that benefit our children.
I would reach out and talk to people. I love to research and gather information. I think this skill would be very useful while serving on a school board. I would engage with students, teachers and parents. I would target those with children needing special education services.
There is no one size fits all for good teaching. Each teacher brings their personality and experience with them.
In measuring good teaching, I think I would look at the measures already in place as well as talk to teachers to find out their thoughts on current measures and if they need to be reevaluated.
This is one area I need to explore more.
Math is not my strength, but I am good at reading data. I would start by looking at past budgets, listening to my constituents, and leaning on the more seasoned school board members. I am a fast learner!
Safety is the very foundation for building everything else a child needs to accomplish in school. We cannot be complacent when it comes to safety. It starts with a secured building. Safety is also more that physical. And that leads to the next question…
Ensuring our students have access to mental health services to include crisis services is extremely important. We already have some professionals in the school, but more are needed. Maybe partnering with transit so high school kids can get to appointments off campus, or providing some kind of incentives to students and teachers to complete treatment plan goals. Also, de-stigmatizing mental health is something we can continue to work on.
It’s also important to have time for teachers to take care of their mental health. This is something I need to explore more.
It’s also important to have time for teachers to take care of their mental health. This is something I need to explore more.
Knock knock
Who’s there
Interrupting chicken
Interrupting chuck
At this time I need to really dig into some research in order to properly answer this question.
Safety is first. Our kids need to know that they are in a place where they feel safe. Kids also need to have needs met, supplies on hand, and good food to eat. Students cannot learn until their basic needs are all in line.
I also think kids need clear rules, boundaries and expectations.
I feel our school district handled it beautifully. There was some frustration in the community, but I feel the Detroit Lakes school district did the best they could with an impossible situation.
I think we all learned so much about our capabilities, how technology enhances learning, and the importance of connecting. Even virtual connections. Moving forward with those lessons in mind is how I would face any future pandemic.
I think we all learned so much about our capabilities, how technology enhances learning, and the importance of connecting. Even virtual connections. Moving forward with those lessons in mind is how I would face any future pandemic.
Be available. Listen. Answer questions. Engage in conversations. Do all I can to represent the residents of our school district.
It starts with posting jobs and making sure the word is out there when positions are open. Also, working with the school board and the current employees to define the workplace values and ensure that new hires fit into those values. Most importantly, I think making sure that the excellent teachers, faculty and staff we do have know that they are valued.
Definitely keeping good records, and ensuring that how the budget is managed and spent is public record.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
