Nicole Vafadari
Prior offices
Verona Area School District Board of Education Portion 2
Elections and appointments
Personal
Contact
Nicole Vafadari was a member of the Verona Area School District Board of Education in Wisconsin, representing Portion 2. She assumed office on July 12, 2021. She left office on May 1, 2024.
Vafadari ran for re-election to the Verona Area School District Board of Education to represent Portion 2 in Wisconsin. She won in the general election on April 5, 2022.
Biography
Nicole Vafadari was born in Fort Worth, Texas. She received a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University in 2009. Vafadari's professional experience includes being a director of IT application systems implementations.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Verona Area School District, Wisconsin, elections (2022)
General election
Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Nicole Vafadari advanced from the primary for Verona Area School District Board of Education Portion 2.
2021
See also: Verona Area School District, Wisconsin, elections (2021)
General election
Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled.
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Nicole Vafadari did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2021
Nicole Vafadari completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Vafadari'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 qualifications are built on a mix of professional, personal, and community-based leadership experiences, including non-profit board service, department management, and volunteering. I understand the role of a board member and the data that goes into making tough prioritization and budget decisions that have large impacts, and I strive to support and contribute to my community. I believe I will bring a new and needed perspective to the board. As a working mom, former non-profit board member, and a daughter of an educator and an immigrant, I have the needed experience and outlook to advocate for the children and families of this district. My vision for leadership supports teachers and students, champions equity, and bases decisions on data. Details for these topics, and more, can be found at my website www.nicolevafadari.com
I am passionate about public service. I believe that you can make a HUGE impact in your local community by partaking and serving in local public office. I believe we owe the best to our children and schools play such a critical role in their development. The VASD mission is focused on supporting all students on their personal learning journeys. I would ensure that each school receives the tools and funding to meet the needs of their students. Supporting programs that continue to close the achievement gaps in our schools is critical to this effort. Because I believe that our district is able to exceed expectations because of the amazing teaching talent that we have within the district, I also believe that retaining and developing talent with fair pay and access to ongoing professional development is critical to the achievement of our students.
I look up to my first and best teacher, my mom. Not only did she and my father dedicate time and energy into ensuring the best available for my brother and I, but she taught me lessons that make up the woman I am today. She taught me what it means to be a leader with a servant's heart. She taught me the importance of caring for those around you, not just focusing on yourself. She, along with my father, taught me the value of hard work and putting a little extra hustle into everything you do. As a former teacher and a current principle, I've seen the ownership she takes over every child entrusted to her care. Lastly, she's taught me what it means to be a mother and the perpetual balance of self-care and selfless care of others. Seeking her masters and her Doctorate, all while balancing a full time job and caring for a family. As a working mom, I could not imagine and better and more relevant role model. If I end up being half the woman she is, I know I will make a great mark on this world.
There are many characteristics that are critical for an elected official to believe and truly emulate. An understanding of law and budgetary requirements, an ability to communicate, an gift for advocacy and bringing people together in conversation, and many more things. In my opinion, all of these can be simplified to 2 key principles: servant-leadership and a natural sense of curiosity. To serve as a public official is just that- to serve. I believe that ego has no place in public leadership and that things like equity are represented best when this trait exists, as the people you serve and their diverse needs are always top of mind. A nature sense of curiosity ensures two key things. First, you can know all the policy in the world on the day of election, but unless you have a natural sense of curiosity that drives you with energy to keep up with changing policy, your lexicon and efficacy will be out of date on day two. Second, with curiosity comes an open mind. If you truly are curious to learn more and understand things, you have to bring an open mind and intake new facts and perspectives as you uncover them. I believe we can all benefit from leaders who bring this open mind to there job as elected servants.
I would like to leave this world better than I found it, for my children and the children of others.
"This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" by Natalie Cole. I've been going through a 70s music vibe as of late and it's impossible to get through this song without smiling.
The primary job of a school board member is to the be the voice of the community, advocating for the needs of students, teachers and families of the district while both supporting and holding the superintendent and administration accountable to those needs. Budgeting is another core responsibility of all board members, ensuring a wholistic and equitable lens is brought to all funding decisions. But a core value that serves all purposes of any member is the ability to listen, acknowledge different points of view, and put one's ego aside to serve the community in the best way possible.
I believe that education is not a one-size-fits-all solution and our offerings to students should offer a plethora of opportunities. Being located so closely to the university, I believe there are huge opportunities to partner with and engage our advanced students and staff in potential partnerships in academia. I also believe that technical training and apprenticeships should absolutely be encouraged and incorporated into schooling. As an IT professional, STEM education is something that's incredibly important in the job market today and skills that we should be affording to our students. Lastly, I'd love to address ways for all students, especially younger students, to engage outside of the classroom, potentially in nature as studies have found that outdoor learning offers a myriad of learning benefits. Overall, if we truly believe that all students should be afforded their own personal learning journeys, we need to show our students what success looks like in any of the many avenues they may choose.
Parents are a HUGE part of the success of our students and in this digital age, there are so many ways we can make engagement as easy as possible. I hope to organize various digital forums to solicit feedback from parents from all communities, allowing access to feedback channels in a more flexible timetable, ensuring any caretaker can partake in the discussion, no matter their work or personal schedule. I also hope to partner with local community organizations to tap into their parent base to understand their needs and reach their constituents. Just like our student body, our families are diverse and have busy and complex lives and needs. I intend to find every creative solution to ensure that these challenges don't prohibit anyone from participating in their child's education.
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
External links
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 19, 2021
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
