Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Phil Sammon (Alexandria Public Schools, Position 1, Minnesota, candidate 2024)
From Ballotpedia
Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!
Phil Sammon ran for election to the Alexandria Public Schools, Position 1 in Minnesota. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.[source]
Sammon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
[1]Biography
Phil Sammon provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on October 1, 2024:
- Birth date: January 30, 1958
- Birth place: Freeport, Illinois
- High school: Washington & Lee HS, Montross, VA (1976 Honor Graduate) - and Orangeville HS, Orangeville, IL
- Military service: United States Navy, 1978-1990
- Gender: Male
- Religion: Christ Follower
- Profession: Communications Director
- Incumbent officeholder: No
- Campaign slogan: "Cast Your Vote for Sammon for School Board!"
- Campaign website
- Campaign Facebook
Elections
General election
General election for Alexandria Public Schools, Position 1
Tracy Capistrant and Phil Sammon ran in the general election for Alexandria Public Schools, Position 1 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| Tracy Capistrant (Nonpartisan) | ||
Phil Sammon (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 Sammon in this election.
Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Phil Sammon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Sammon's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
I'm a US Navy veteran and retired federal employee (34 years total), with a depth of experience in public information, community relations, media relations, crisis communications and strategic planning.
I have proven, successful skill sets in these areas in offices and assignments from Europe to Alaska. My diverse worldview of communities, cultures and issues give me a broad base of experiences to draw upon in a wide range off situations, issues and controversies. I served at five different commands in the US Navy as a Journalist, Broadcaster, DoD Instructor, and community and media relations and public information. I left the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer, and applied my skills to positions with the Veterans Administration, Department of the Army, and the US Forest Service. My depth of knowledge, experience, leadership and skills were best displayed in the US Forest Service. I served as an integral team member on three different Land and Resource Management plans in Kentucky, Ohio and Alaska. I served with distinction as the writer/editor, public information and public forums director, community relations coordinator, and lead Facilitator for a number of highly-contentious public forums and focus groups. I served as the community information coordinator with the EPA on a multi-million-dollar Superfund cleanup site in Alaska during my time there.
My skills in decision-making, leadership, strategic planning and problem solving are proven and very successful.- I bring a unique objectivity to this race: I can more clearly and objectively help identify issues, as well as faulty policies and processes that hinder real success in education here without subjective, personal biases.
Major companies do this routinely to help identify and resolve problems: they bring in outside consultants who are not part of the organization, and who have no subjective goals or ideologies to cloud their analysis.
I possess proven planning and analysis skills to long-range and short-term issues and situations that focus on the stated organizational Mission and Vision. - Throughout my federal career I have become accustomed to meeting transparency and clarity policies and laws. The public expects fiscal accountability, integrity, and openness in the handling of their money. I have been part of many teams and committees responsible for examining and preparing presentations to local staff, regional directors, and the Washington Office for the US Army and US Forest Service at a number of sites. The transparency and accountability of the public's money is paramount and cannot be shaded or have the appearance of being hidden, glossed over, or in any way mishandled.
- Public officials must be held to higher standards of conduct, decorum, and integrity because of their positions. They must gain and maintain the public's trust in the conduct of their duties. No one ion a public position is above these expectations, policies and laws. Teachers, faculty and staff in a public school setting must be held to a measurable performance level or be removed.
Primarily my concerns generally all point back to our nation's security and sovereignty.
The underlying policies and principles within our governing systems in America include fair and equitable opportunity in all educational and judicial institutions. Everyone must be treated the same in the eyes of a public school, and in our justice system. Without these standards, and without a cohesive and consistent program of academic expectations, our national security becomes threatened form within by the lack of civic involvement, our nation's history, and the opportunities that our culture and heritage demand.
The underlying policies and principles within our governing systems in America include fair and equitable opportunity in all educational and judicial institutions. Everyone must be treated the same in the eyes of a public school, and in our justice system. Without these standards, and without a cohesive and consistent program of academic expectations, our national security becomes threatened form within by the lack of civic involvement, our nation's history, and the opportunities that our culture and heritage demand.
Jesus Christ. He treated everyone the same and gave everyone the same opportunities in their lives. He never forced His ways, thoughts or lifestyle on anyone, but made it known that He was the Way. I have had experiences with a wide range of races, religious faiths, cultures, and working environments. His way and His mindset have given me the desire to represent the respect, love, grace, and opportunities to others without judging or condemning.
Isn't that what we all talk about doing these days?
Isn't that what we all talk about doing these days?
"It's A Wonderful Life" - Throughout this Christmas classic, George Bailey tries and tries to escape to do what he wants to do, for himself. He is continually drawn into situations where he chooses to lift up another (objectivity), to help someone else while disregarding his own desires. (subjectivity).
In his selflessness, he improves the lives of everyone around him and realizes in the end that his life was, truly, wonderful, because he had chosen to put the needs of others ahead of himself in ways that brought immeasurable benefits to his family, friends, neighbors, and his town, Bedford Falls.
In his selflessness, he improves the lives of everyone around him and realizes in the end that his life was, truly, wonderful, because he had chosen to put the needs of others ahead of himself in ways that brought immeasurable benefits to his family, friends, neighbors, and his town, Bedford Falls.
Personal and professional conduct that is above reproach.
Integrity, fairness, and leadership.
The ability to set aside personal, subjective ideologies and favorites, to look at issues and challenges with an objective, goal-oriented and measurable solution.
Objectivity; a strong, diverse worldview; exceptional communications skills; proven strategic planning. Over my 34 years in federal service I have developed and applied these skills in numerous controversial and crisis situations and succeeded in meeting the objectives of my organization very well.
Unwavering commitment to making decisions and developing policies that move the District toward sustained improvements in student performances, abilities, and in faculty and administrative excellence.
That my children grow up to be men and women of integrity, strong character, with a love and respect for others, and who raise strong, respectful and motivated children of their own; and that I am remembered for being a strong man of character and integrity, a loving and faithful husband, and a concerned and attentive father.
I remember school being cancelled - kindergarten - when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I was 5.
I baled hay, milk cows and rove tractors on a farm for between $1 a day and $1 an hour. At the age of 10 and 11 it taught me responsibility, the value of a strong work ethic. I did this over two summers, then moved on to mowing lawns and clearing building sites.
"Terra Nullius" by Phil Sammon (me). It is, what I call, a theo-political thriller that exposes the misguided efforts and rhetoric of the Christian Nationalist movement.
"Plastic Jesus" written by George Cromarty, 1957
In my younger days it was my ego.
School Board members must be focused on providing a broad, comprehensive and successful set of policies and academic decisions in curricula, staffing, and the financial decisions of the District. They must also be on guard to keep political ideologies and social issues from determining what needs to be taught and how it needs to be measured if they are to be successful in their positions.
They must be accessible and willing to meet with parents, members of the public, students, teachers and administrators on issues over which they have governance as a Board. They need to take diverse perspectives into consideration in terms of policy proposals and academics, and make decisions on these items measured against existing policies, educational needs, and financial responsibility.
They must be accessible and willing to meet with parents, members of the public, students, teachers and administrators on issues over which they have governance as a Board. They need to take diverse perspectives into consideration in terms of policy proposals and academics, and make decisions on these items measured against existing policies, educational needs, and financial responsibility.
Parents, students, staff and faculty in the District, other Board members, and the general public.
Ask questions, listen to concerns, observe the teaching and daily school routines and functions, and analyze these findings against established metrics by the state and federal governing bodies who have financial, academic, and behavioral oversight for the District.
Ask questions. The best way to garner information from people, groups and organizations is to ask targeted questions, phrased in ways that solicit descriptive answers and input.
Listen to the concerns and problems from parents, students and teachers. Those who are in the classrooms and see the immediate results of the academic atmosphere are the ones who know what works and what doesn't, irrespective of test scores and other metrics.
Listen to the concerns and problems from parents, students and teachers. Those who are in the classrooms and see the immediate results of the academic atmosphere are the ones who know what works and what doesn't, irrespective of test scores and other metrics.
Good teaching requires that the teacher be deeply versed in, and capable of, understanding, all facets of the subject being taught. It includes keen skills in observation and listening. Effective teachers should be able to relate their material at different levels and with different approaches that convey the material in a comprehensive way to each of their students. A teacher's effectiveness must be gauged against a measurable standard or scale that fairly evaluates and measures the subject material that is taught against the evaluation of the students in that class. If teacher evaluations are left to strictly subjective elements, there is no effective or equitable way to remove ineffective teachers who are well liked.
A full year curriculum in America History and Civics & Government that must be passed in order to graduate from a high school. I experience the lack of knowledge and understanding in these areas on a weekly basis among younger adults. This systematic dumbing down in these areas is a threat to our Republic, our forms of government, and our national security.
Tight scrutiny on how budgets are handled now. Most schools have more than enough funding, but lack considerably in terms of accountability, transparency, and measurable results tied to that funding.
Life is valuable. Mutual respect is an absolute. The rights of others have value just as your own rights do.
When a generation grows up believing that life is not valuable, they will no longer hold respect for the lives or livelihoods of others. This leads to a cavalier attitude about their actions and behaviors that unnaturally infringe on the rights of others to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness".
When a generation grows up believing that life is not valuable, they will no longer hold respect for the lives or livelihoods of others. This leads to a cavalier attitude about their actions and behaviors that unnaturally infringe on the rights of others to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness".
Direct all issues involving mental health to outside agencies within the community. Public schools are NOT public health. There are no licensed doctors on school staff to properly or professionally diagnose mental health issues and find suitable resources to address those problems. Any student identified with any type of metal health disorder or condition needs to be directed to public health officials, family doctors or local clinics for treatment plans. THEN the school becomes a part of an IEP or other personalized treatment plan instead of being the generator of a medical plan for which they have no authority to establish.
What do you call a stupid man with chocolate and marshmallow on his face? A s'moron.
Drop the idea of individual book bans altogether. Institute a policy that specifically outlines that ANY book placed in the school library must directly connect to existing approved curricula, or it doesn't go in the library. Curricula comes with recommended books to support the materials. Any books not recommended, or that cannot be directly connected by committee to that approved curricula is left out. Public libraries, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kindle and a host of other online and retail outlets carry those books that are left out of public schools. There is no reason that a parent cannot find the book they want their child to read through another source, without forcing another family to object to its placement in the library.
from my experience, every child will have a different learning style. So the best environment would be one that can accommodate the common cross-section of those learning styles, while bringing in paraprofessionals or tutors to work with those students whose learning styles need different attention.
Poorly. We are talking about years of recovery time for those students who were left to stay at home, many times without parental guidance, to learn for themselves. there was little oversight or accountability and the test scores nationwide re the proof.
Schools should have remained open, like Walmart and Home Depot, and instituted the same measures as those retail outlets.
Schools should have remained open, like Walmart and Home Depot, and instituted the same measures as those retail outlets.
Meet them where they are and represent myself as I am - truly, objectively concerned about the performance, conduct, and outcomes of the public schools here. I intend to have several Meet-n-Greet opportunities and specifically invite parents and their children to hear first-hand what issues they face, what receptions they have had from staff and faculty, and determine the common factors that weave through their issues. From there I will identify possible solutions to their concerns and perceptions.
First and foremost, develop and establish high standards in our policies that inform potential new hires of the performance and conduct we expect in our District. Ensure that they complete a focused mentoring program and objective evaluations at regular internals to determine their effectiveness. In addition to their abilities as a teacher and member of our District, I would insist on objective metrics by which they will be measured to determine their continued employment.
Financial transparency and government accountability are of the utmost importance in terms of gaining and keeping the public trust. It is paramount for p ublic servants and officials to always remember who they work for, and answer to, with every decision they make.
Even the appearance of mistrust, poor decision-making or a compromise of personal integrity and focus, will erode and destroy that public trust and bring condemnation upon the department, board or agency who operates in this manner.
Even the appearance of mistrust, poor decision-making or a compromise of personal integrity and focus, will erode and destroy that public trust and bring condemnation upon the department, board or agency who operates in this manner.
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
