Michael Riffle

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Michael Riffle

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 2, 2021

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Army

Personal

Birthplace

Orem, Utah

Religion

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Twitter

Michael Riffle ran for election for an at-large seat of the Academy School District 20 school board in Colorado. He lost in the general election on November 2, 2021.

Riffle completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Michael Riffle was born in Orem, Utah. He began serving in the U.S. Army in 1996.

Elections

2021

See also: Academy School District 20, Colorado, elections (2021)

General election

General election for Academy School District 20 school board, At-large (3 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Academy School District 20 school board, At-large on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Nicole Konz (Nonpartisan)	18.2	17,118
✔		Thomas LaValley (Nonpartisan)	17.8	16,832
✔		Aaron Salt (Nonpartisan)	17.0	16,059
		Jackie Lesh (Nonpartisan)	10.5	9,893
		Tiana Clark (Nonpartisan)	10.2	9,652
		Brian Coram (Nonpartisan)	10.1	9,548
		Nathan Johnson (Nonpartisan)	5.4	5,132
		Lindsay Moore (Nonpartisan)	4.5	4,245
		Jason Silva (Nonpartisan)	3.7	3,483
		Michael Riffle (Nonpartisan)	2.5	2,338

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 94,300
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Campaign themes

2021

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Michael Riffle completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Riffle'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.

I am an invested community member and resident of ASD20. I decided I could best serve my community and children by running for the school board. I have three beautiful daughters enrolled in this district, and like all parents, I care deeply for the wellbeing and education our children need to thrive in todays environment. My work and life experiences exemplify the qualifications required to best represent the most important part of the community, our children.

In my 25 years of military service, I have served my country as a Green Beret, combat veteran, and warrant officer. At the local level, I moved to Colorado Springs where I worked at Special Operations Command - North in Current Operations. It is here that I learned operational and strategic competencies, which have given me the skills to understand and write policies and procedures'.

I am a faithful Christian and an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where I am blessed to be Primary teacher for the youth in my ward. One of our core beliefs is that service is essential for building a strong community and giving support to our friends, neighbors, and those in need. Service is at the center of my faith, and as a candidate, I will emphasize the importance of service - advocating for our children's education as the priority, and not politics.

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?

• Education not politics
• Voluntary extended hour of school for students to catch up or complete assignments in a safe place with educators present
• Parent voices heard. We have elections to keep the appointed bureaucrats in check with voters wishes.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

We need elected Board members that will be the true voice of the parents in ASD20. I believe that politics have no place in our children's education. When it comes to our students and their education, our policies should be determined by facts and data, not political party lines. As a parent I find it hard to believe that any social or political agenda has a place in the school district. I believe no student should feel guilt, shame or out of place based on race, gender, ethnicity, or religion.

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

At the age of 14 I was a dishwasher at a seafood restaurant. At $4.25 an hour I worked weekends for over a year. At the same time I had my own business of mowing lawns in the summer and shoveling snow in the winter.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand

It shows the beauty of Human Potential

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

We Thank Thee, Oh God, For a Prophet

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

In todays world, I see the primary job as keeping parents informed while keeping politics out of our schools. Yes, budget, student experience, and legal/disciplinary issue are important. But we need to keep our schools focused on education.

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

I believe this is a elected position in order keep the community and the parents involved in the education process of their children. No matter what, the education of the students must come first. It is an elected position to keep the bureaucrats in check with the ideas and needs of the parents.

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

I always everyone with respect. The best way to build a community is service and honesty. These are skills I have learned over the years as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

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?

No. I believe that the most qualified for the position should have the job. It is very important that the school district write work requirements that fulfill the required position without adding any auxiliary requirements that limit the opportunity for a more diverse candidate

What issues get in the way of quality education? How would you address these obstacles?

Politics. I will do what ever it takes, even taking the fight to the Colorado Board of Education to ensure we focus our time and energy on what matters, educating students.

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

Good teaching requires 10 factors: Passion and Reason, Substance, listening and responsiveness, flexible agenda, style, humor, caring and development, leadership, mentoring, and having fun. My time as a Language Instructor taught me that measuring this success is not easy. We had some kids that excelled in the oral presentation and reading, but failed listening. Ultimate success can only be measured by students who are willing to do the work. I was lucky enough to be a part of educational research that would change the method of teaching in order to see if student knowledge increased or decreased. Education is always a moving target and needs constant research and adjustment as times change.

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 to expand the Career and technical education program ASD20 already has to include more trade jobs.

What principles drive your policies for safety in schools?

As a Special Forces Officer, evaluating risk and providing acceptable risk management is always on the forefront of my mind. I am classically trained in Risk Evaluation and mitigation.

How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?

There needs to be time carved out that teaches all resiliency in life. This formal training needs to be developed for age appropriate instruction as the beginning foundation to identify mental health needs and refer to appropriate experts for follow up.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Have you heard the story about the vegetarian?

Never mind, you probably have never heard of herbivore (her before)

What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district? What plans do you have to be inclusive of parental involvement?

Open and honest conversations. They are the primary stake holder in educating their kids. The district is there to provide a service.

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

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Candidate

Academy School District 20 school board, At-large

Website

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