Michelle Pedersen (Carson City School District, District 7, Nevada, candidate 2024)
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Michelle Pedersen ran for election to the Carson City School District, District 7 in Nevada. She was on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.[source]
Pedersen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
[1]Biography
Michelle Pedersen provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on October 7, 2024:
- Birth date: April 26, 1978
- Birth place: Los Gatos, California
- High school: Santa Teresa High School
- Gender: Female
- Religion: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Profession: Volunteer
- Incumbent officeholder: No
- Campaign slogan: Keeping Kids First
- Campaign website
- Campaign Facebook
Elections
General election
General election for Carson City School District, District 7
John W. Henley and Michelle Pedersen ran in the general election for Carson City School District, District 7 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| John W. Henley (Nonpartisan) | ||
Michelle Pedersen (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 Pedersen in this election.
Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Michelle Pedersen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Pedersen's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My husband & I moved to Carson City 20 years ago, just after our oldest son’s first birthday. We were drawn to its laidback, small-town feel and the beauty it’s surrounded by. We knew it would be a great place to raise our family. We’ve raised our four children here, now ages 15, 17, 19, 21. As soon as they entered the school system, I entered with them, as a volunteer. I have the mindset that, when one of my kids joins something – weather it be school, sports, the arts, etc – we join it with them. There are so many aspects of the community that can only thrive when people step up in supportive roles. I don’t just live here – I am a member of this community, and I feel an obligation to serve how/where I can. And that’s what I’ve spent the last 20 years doing. In regard to the School Board, kids are
my happy place. I have always found myself thriving in environments where I get to be a part of watching, encouraging and creating paths for their success. Public schools are the foundation of future generations. This current generation of students are the people who will run the society my generation will live in as we age out of the work force. We will rely on them and their knowledge, determination, tenacity and ability to provide a world we can continue to thrive in. We owe it to them now - to us all - to ensure that their foundation is protected, firm, and made up of the ingredients that matter most.
- Per-pupil funding. Despite legislative efforts, Nevada ranks low in per-pupil funding. We need to be very deliberate as we invest in the future to ensure the success of the next generation. As stewards of public funds, our responsibility extends beyond managing money. Convincing people of our worthiness for funding requires a history of responsible stewardship. By being intentional and transparent, we can build trust with our community, encouraging them to join us and advocate on our behalf. With transparency, collaboration, education, and clear objectives, we can shift the focus towards education spending that benefits students and teachers alike.
- Low morale/teacher retention. There’s been a shift in respect and an imbalance in expectations for educators. Criticism often overlooks the challenges that turn a straightforward path into a difficult journey filled with obstacles. Issues like poor funding, outdated materials, high student-teacher ratios, Covid-19 recovery, standardized testing pressures, behavior problems, mental health responsibilities, lack of admin support, and feeling undervalued contribute to burnout. Identifying and validating this burnout is crucial, and I’m open to hearing ideas and solutions from others.
- Mental health & student safety. Kids are struggling. The number of students experimenting with drugs, seeking attention in overly-mature ways, chasing the spotlight through online threats of school violence, and worst of all, actually bringing weapons to schools are just a few of the signs of the mental health crisis affecting our younger generation. I believe we have good systems of support in place through our schools, but I also believe that they are underutilized. A greater emphasis on educating parents and students of the resources available could be beneficial. I also think a greater encouragement by parents & staff for kids to pursue extra-curriculars could help.
Improving student achievement is always a priority. We need to focus on helping children succeed, understanding that success looks different for everyone. Key pieces include reducing student absences, recruiting/retaining highly-qualified staff, fostering parent involvement, and offering various educational opportunities. We have great resources like the high school’s JumpStart program with WNC, AP and honors courses, CTE programs, and targeted interventions in the younger grades. By leveraging these resources and focusing on individualized success, we can create an environment where every student thrives. Our commitment to these goals will address the diverse needs of our student population and ensure a brighter future for all.
I am seeking this seat to do what I’ve always done – and that is to protect the environment where our children grow, learn and develop. I am here to advocate for them, and them alone. While I have never sought political office, I have served in many leadership roles throughout the community, managing large volunteer staffs, even larger budgets, and thousands of kids. I am not emotionally reactive. I am very logic-driven. I can take differing views and find common ground to build from. I’m firm in defending my viewpoints, but not so rigid that compromise is unreachable. I am organized, I am responsible, and I am dedicated to being a voice for our children.
I started my first job on my 16th birthday, working at Taco Bell! I don't sit still well and I was eager to start using my energy to put some money in my pocket! Between school, extra-curriculars and work, I was never home and never stopped moving. I loved jumping in, learning new skills and interacting with others while offering a service. Since then I have had an incredibly diverse resume of work. I love to try it all and learn new things.
Ormsby County Education Association
Nevada State Education Association
Success to me is not one-size-fits all. At a student level it is a child who has a desire to try – a child who is present and engaged, regardless of actual grades. High grades do not always equal a strong student, it could just be a kid who is academically gifted but lacks study skills. But a child who shows up ready to try – that is an incredible success to me. One of my favorite quotes is “Be brave enough to be bad at something new.” Trying is hard, the fear of looking like a failure in front of your peers is hard. A child who shows up each day, being vulnerable enough to learn something new, is a child who is succeeding. At a District level, I feel it is similar. What does attendance look like? Are kids showing up? Are they being provided an atmosphere where they feel valued and safe? Is staff invested in what they’re creating? Do they feel supported by admin, students and parents? Are they trying? Are scores moving in a positive direction? To me, those are important signs of success. Of course that is just one angle of many that create the picture we’re aiming for, and I’m happy to dig more if needed.
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
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
