Tom Bennett (Bloomington Public Schools School Board At-large, Minnesota, candidate 2025)
From Ballotpedia
 |
Special state legislative • Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • All local elections by county • How to run for office |
 |
Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!
Tom Bennett ran for election to the Bloomington Public Schools School Board At-large in Minnesota. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.[source]
Bennett completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
[1]Biography
Tom Bennett provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on October 6, 2025:
- Birth place: Albuquerque, New Mexico
- High school: El Dorado in Albuquerque NEw Mexico
- Graduate: Universtiy of New Mexico, 2000
- Other: Mankato State University, 2017
- Gender: Male
- Profession: Case Manager
- Prior offices held:
- School Board Member (2014-Prsnt)
- Incumbent officeholder: Yes
- Campaign website
- Campaign Facebook
Elections
General election
General election for Bloomington Public Schools School Board At-large (4 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Bloomington Public Schools School Board At-large on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
Tom Bennett (Nonpartisan)  | ||
| Alex Blanco (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Beverly Buchanan (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Matt Dymoke (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Ted Moore (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Dawn Steigauf (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
Bennett received the following endorsements.
- Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
- Senate District 51, Minn., Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
- LiUNA Minnesota and North Dakota
- Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation
- Service Employees International Union Minnesota State Council
- Everytown for Gun Safety
- Moms Demand Action
Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Tom Bennett completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bennett's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
I'm Tom Bennett, and I'm running for re-election to the Bloomington School Board to ensure every student—regardless of ability or background—has access to a safe, supportive, and high-quality education. I bring over 20 years of experience in education, with most of my teaching focused on special education and working with students with disabilities. That work shaped my belief that all students can succeed when we meet them where they are and provide the right tools and support. I also have a director of Special Education license which also gives me an administrative perspective.
Currently, I serve the Bloomington community as a case manager in social services at VEAP, our local food pantry. In this role, I work directly with families facing housing instability, food insecurity, and other challenges. This front-line perspective deepens my understanding of the issues many of our students and families face outside the classroom.
As a longtime Bloomington resident, I’ve volunteered on local committees, mentored youth, and worked closely with parents, educators, and school leaders. My priorities include academic excellence, student well-being, equity, transparency, and strong family-school partnerships. I’m not a politician—I’m an educator, a neighbor, and a social service advocate. I’m running for re-election as a compassionate, thoughtful and experienced voice on the Bloomington School Board.- Every student in Bloomington deserves access to a high-quality education in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment. As a school board member, I will continue to prioritize policies that promote academic growth, mental health support, and equity across all schools. I believe in transparent decision-making, listening to families and educators, and using data and community input to guide our work. Our schools should reflect the values of our community—where every child is seen, supported, and given the opportunity to thrive.
- Strong schools are built on strong relationships—between educators, families, students, and the community. I believe in collaborative leadership that brings people together to solve problems and make thoughtful, informed decisions. As a board member, I will continue listen with respect, ask hard questions when needed, and always keep students at the center of every decision. Together, we can make our schools more responsive, resilient, and reflective of the diverse voices that make Bloomington a great place to live and learn.
- Having served on the Bloomington School Board, I’ve worked every day to make sure our schools are not just managing, but moving forward. As the current vice chair and board member, I've pushed for and supported responsible budgeting and policies that invest in our students while keeping taxpayers’ dollars focused where they matter most. If re‑elected, I will continue maintaining safe, well-equipped schools; ensuring that staffing and resources are strong; and making thoughtful, long‑term decisions so our schools continue to thrive—not just now, but for our children’s future.
As a current Bloomington School Board member, I’m passionate about policies that create safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environments for all students. This includes expanding support for students with disabilities, promoting gender inclusion, and ensuring every child has access to high-quality education regardless of their background. Addressing students’ mental health and well-being is also a top priority, as these are critical to academic success. I’m committed to transparency in decision-making and building strong partnerships between schools, families, and community organizations, because student success depends on all of us working together.
President Reagan getting shot. I was in kindergarten
Fast food joint called Taco Mayo as a fry cook when I was 15.
The primary job of a school board member is to provide thoughtful oversight and governance to ensure our schools deliver a high-quality, equitable education for every student. This means setting clear policies, responsibly managing resources, supporting educators, and representing the community’s values—always with students’ best interests at heart.
My constituents are the students, families, educators, and community members of Bloomington School District 271. I serve everyone who is part of our public school community—across all neighborhoods, backgrounds, and abilities—working to represent their voices and interests in decisions that impact our schools.
Building strong relationships with the broader community is essential to making informed and inclusive decisions on the school board. I plan to engage regularly with parents, students, educators, and school staff through open forums, surveys, and attendance at school and community events. I also aim to strengthen partnerships with local organizations such as VEAP, youth programs, cultural groups, and advocacy organizations focused on equity and inclusion. Collaborating with city officials, mental health providers, and businesses will help ensure our schools are supported holistically. My goal is to listen actively, foster trust, and create channels for ongoing dialogue so that diverse voices in Bloomington are heard and reflected in our policies.
My ideal learning environment is safe, inclusive, and supportive—where every student feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. It fosters curiosity and creativity while providing high academic standards and personalized support, especially for students with diverse needs. Mental health and well-being are prioritized alongside academics, with accessible counseling and social-emotional learning programs. Classrooms are staffed by well-trained, caring educators who collaborate closely with families and the community. Technology and resources are used thoughtfully to enhance learning, and students have opportunities to explore their interests and build critical thinking, communication, and life skills. Ultimately, it’s a place where all students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
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
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
