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Mark Wasserstrom
Mark Wasserstrom was a member of the Kansas City Public Schools Board of Education, representing Sub-district 5. Wasserstrom assumed office in 2019. Wasserstrom left office on April 15, 2021.
Wasserstrom ran for election to the Kansas City Public Schools Board of Education to represent Sub-district 5. Wasserstrom won in the general election on April 2, 2019.
Wasserstrom completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Wasserstrom was a 2010 Democratic candidate for District 43 of the Missouri House of Representatives.
Elections
2019
See also: Kansas City Public Schools, Missouri, elections (2019)
General election
General election for Kansas City Public Schools Board of Education Sub-district 5
Mark Wasserstrom defeated D. Jensen Adams in the general election for Kansas City Public Schools Board of Education Sub-district 5 on April 2, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mark Wasserstrom (Nonpartisan)  | 60.2 | 3,022 |
 | D. Jensen Adams (Nonpartisan) | 35.9 | 1,803 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 3.8 | 191 | ||
| Total votes: 5,016 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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2010
Wasserstrom's opponents in the August 3 primary election were Gail Beatty and Kim Douglass. Beatty advanced to the general election and won the race on November 2, 2010 after winning unopposed.[1][2][3]
Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Mark Wasserstrom completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Wasserstrom's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Pay teachers more money Find early childhood education through the school district Stop unfair lowball assessment of commercial real estate (example: tax of Country Club Plaza at 25% of Fair Market Value — based on 2017 sale of Plaza at a net loss of $2 million to School District EVERY YEAR.)
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Giving kids a quality education so they can actually read. Having real education by having kids from all parts of our community attend public schools.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
Rev. Robert Lee Hill Rabbi Michel Zedek Rev. Vern Barnet Rev. Adam Hamilton Rev. Wallace S. Hartsfield, Ii
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
There are so many good books. Anything by Abraham Joshua Herschel is good, perhaps “The Prophets.” Michel Lerner’s book “The Left Hand of God” is a great discussion of social justice. But then it is difficult to beat the classics, starting with the Book of Psalms.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
A school board member should be will to study the reports and evaluations and audits that are continually generated. Even more important is the willingness to listen to all of the voters living in Kansas City so that a board member understands what folks actually want.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
While I worked as an arbitrator and an attorney, I was trained to listen endlessly.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
The school board sets policy. It has been much too long since the Kansas City School District has been accredited. Educating the kids is goal number one.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I would like to leave a legacy of white, Black, and Latino members of the Kansas City community working in harmony to give kids a good education.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
My first job was working as a waiter for curb service at Sidney’s Drive-In Restaurant on the Plaza while I was in high school. That was a summer job. My first full-time job was working as a young attorney for Ilus Davis at Dietrich, Davis, Dicus, Rowland’s
What happened on your most awkward date?
I used the study very long hours. At the Junior-Senior Prom in high School the fellow I was double-dating with got into a deep discussion with my date at 3 am; and I fell asleep with my eyes open. That was embarrassing.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
My favorite holiday is the 4th of July. I like to eat chilled Black Diamond watermelons and watch fireworks.
What is your favorite book? Why?
My favorite book is Mark Twain’s “Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.” I share Twain’s skepticism about how quickly social engineers can change social values and prejudices.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
Probably I would be Mighty Mouse because he could do anything. Maybe Mickey Mouse because he was always happy.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My favorite thing is my library. I have been collecting books since grade school and have lots of friends.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
My younger son wrote a song to advertising a “singing greeting card” business that he set up at Mizzou to raise money to buy toys for kids in the hospital. He dressed up as Elvis Elf and ran around MU with his guitar. Really, anything he writes and sings is electrifying. Right now he is running a piano bar in the Caribbean for Carnival Ship Lines. They actually pay him money to have fun. His stage name is “Davey Wild.” If you ever have a chance to hear him, do not miss it.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
My life has been continually blessed.
What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?
The members of the school board evaluate the performance of the superintendent and set broad policy for advancing the district. Right now whites continue to flee KC public schools. The board has to continue to direct an effort to attract white students back to the public schools.
Who are your constituents?
My constituents are all of the residents of the metropolitan Kansas City area. If the KC public schools fail, the entire community falls apart.
How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?
I see great usefulness in reopening Southwest High School.
How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?
I would reach out to major businesses in the Kansas City area for sponsorships.
What will you do to build a better relationship with parents in the district? What plans do you have to be inclusive of parental involvement?
I would encourage greater use of open houses and forums to solicit input from parents and other district residents.
Do you believe it is important to intentionally recruit with the aim of diversifying the district’s faculty, staff, and administration? If so, what would be your policy to achieve this?
From what the school administration reports, 25% of the teachers are minority people. I think the focus should be on getting a better mix with math and science teachers; attracting top teacher candidates; and retaining the teachers we get.A major issue I hear time and time again is mobility of families within the district. Some classes have 2/3 change of students during the school year. Related to mobility is instability in the homes of some students. I am impressed by the student mentoring program. God bless Dr. Bedell for mentoring a child along side all of his responsibilities as superintendent. I think the mentoring program should be extended.
What issues get in the way of quality education? How would you address these obstacles?
I think more money always helps. The district has 2 representatives on the Board of Equalization. They never say a word. Every time some lobbyist or lawyer comes whining for a low-ball assessment (like assessing the $660 million sale of the Country Club Plaza at about $150 million, the School Board should do everything legally permitted to block such scandalous conduct.
What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?
I believe that good teaching starts with sparking curiosity and a love of learning in students. I would leave this magical process to the classroom teachers.
What type of skills should students be learning for success in the 21st century?
Students should learn to read carefully and challenge the premises used by authors. Students also need basic computer skills and research techniques to pursue learning on their own.
How might you improve the value of a high school diploma? What should a 21st century diploma reflect?
I would get KC schools accredited. A diploma from a school that is not fully accredited is questionable.
In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?
I would like a viable track for technical job training. I have heard that North Kansas City has been attracting private sector support away from Manual.
What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?
I would object to under-assessment of commercial real estate. Also, I would negotiate voluntary contributions from developers who asked for Tax Increment Finance and other tax breaks.
How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?
I would encourage classroom teachers to identify students with characteristics of emotional problems and to direct such students to professional evaluation.
What role do you imagine technology playing in (and outside) the classroom in the future? How would you prepare the district for this?
I think that podcasts currently available universally provide unlimited opportunity for enrichment
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
2019 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Missouri Secretary of State "2010 Primary Results"
- ↑ Missouri Secretary of State, "Official Election Returns, State of Missouri Primary Election, 2010 Primary Election," August 24, 2010
- ↑ Missouri Secretary of State, "Official Election Returns, State of Missouri General Election, November 2, 2010 General Election," November 30, 2010
