Tiffany Larson
Tiffany Larson is an at-large member of the West Bend District School Board in Wisconsin. Larson ran for the seat in the primary election on February 16, 2016. She was one of the top four vote recipients and advanced to the general election that was held on April 5, 2016.[1]
Biography
Larson owns her own personal training business, Home Training, LLC. She obtained a bachelor's degree in psychology from Auburn University. She went on to earn a master's degree in occupational therapy from the University of Florida.[2]
Elections
2016
Two of the seven seats on the West Bend School District school board were up for general election on April 5, 2016. A primary election was held on February 16, 2015. Incumbent Randy Marquardt ran for re-election, Incumbent Karen Betz did not file for re-election. Marquardt faced challengers Ken Schmidt, Jenn Donath, Robert Miller and Tiffany Larson in the primary election. All of the candidates, with the exception of Miller, advanced to the general election. Larson and Schmidt defeated Marquardt and Donath in the general election.[1]
Results
| West Bend School District, At-Large General Election, 3-year terms, 2016 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Tiffany Larson |
27.56% | 7,790 |
| Ken Schmidt |
27.56% | 7,789 |
| Randy Marquardt Incumbent | 24.85% | 7,022 |
| Jenn Donath | 19.57% | 5,532 |
| Write-in votes | 0.46% | 129 |
| Total Votes (100) | 28,262 | |
| Source: Tiffany Rouse, "Email correspondence with Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Deb Roensch," June 13, 2016 | ||
| West Bend School District, At-Large Primary Election, 3-year terms, 2016 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Randy Marquardt Incumbent |
24.33% | 2,453 |
| Ken Schmidt Incumbent |
23.66% | 2,385 |
| Tiffany Larson |
23.45% | 2,364 |
| Jenn Donath Incumbent |
19.96% | 2,012 |
| Robert Miller | 8.18% | 825 |
| Write-in votes | 0.43% | 43 |
| Total Votes (100) | 10,082 | |
| Source: Tiffany Rouse, "Email correspondence with Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Deb Roensch," March 28, 2016 | ||
Funding
Larson reported no contributions or expenditures to the West Bend School District in the election.[3] Any candidate spending or receiving less than $2,000 was not required to file a campaign finance report.[4]
Endorsements
Larson received no official endorsements for her campaign during the election.
Campaign themes
2016
Larson gave the following statement to The West Bend Current:
| “ | Providing strong leadership and representation for our youth and their families is my primary motivation to campaign for a seat on the West Bend school board. There is a general concern that the school board is not effectively representing its constituents. While I understand they cannot appease every issue, I believe members must practice the art of respectful listening and thoughtfully consider their responsibility to students, parents, teachers, and taxpayers. A lack of representation will negatively affect a district. Campaigning for a school board seat is a positive step and renews my excitement and hope for our town, its history and traditions, and its strong familial roots. Whether I win the election or not, I already feel major strides have been made to increase the public’s awareness that we have drifted from the values that made West Bend a reputable, spirited, creative school system. This is certainly not “my” campaign but a community campaign to get back to our roots and celebrate the depth and diversity West Bend School District provides to its students and community. Strong schools with successful academic, athletics, and art programs attract families to our community. When schools thrive, the community prospers.
My intention and focus include: 1) Improved oversight (checks/balances) between the school board and administration 2) Respect and support the cornerstone of education, our educators 3) Question and investigate the necessity, prior to the investment, of standardized tests and new curriculum 4) Limit the extensive initiatives and clerical work that steals time from teachers actually teaching students 5) Consider all parent concerns, but particularly one that I hear voiced often, the current discipline policy 6) Manage and conserve our financial resources; consider cost/benefit ratio of direct versus indirect labor 7) Veteran teachers have contacted me and shared dramatic testimony about factors contributing to their resignation. The school board must seek to value and retain these professional, life-long teachers in our community. Literally, since the day they were born (on an even-numbered day of course), my kids were thrilled to be East Suns. Like their dad, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, they have developed respect and loyalty for West Bend. As young children they spent hundreds of hours in the fieldhouse where their dad coached boys basketball for six years. Now with my daughter a freshman, and my son a seventh grader, there are more concerns of teacher attrition and general mistrust between administrators, parents, and teachers. While some things may feel out of the control of local administration and a consequence of changes at the state level, there are simple business skills which administrators can do to improve outcomes in our district. For instance, practice judicious hiring procedures, promote positive employee relationships and recognition, employ empathetic listening skills, engage in active communication and participation, and execute financial decisions and investments that yield an improved climate for growth and education. Demonstrate respect to the numerous parent volunteers who fund-raise, tutor, donate, and organize countless events for the district. Rather than emphasize a “standard” or one-size-fits all brand of curriculum, give teachers professional autonomy in the classroom. Children learn to think and act through exploration, play, and curiosity. Veteran teachers know how to develop critical problem solving skills and creative thinking through their years of practice. Interpersonal skills such as demonstrating kindness, being a good listener, and making wise choices benefit all students and should be automatic behavior. Treat others how you wish to be treated; we expect it from our kids, most certainly it should be demonstrated by our leaders. A school board member is a public servant, elected to represent their electorates, with humility and purpose. It would be an honor to humbly serve this incredible community.[5] |
” |
| —Tiffany Larson (2016)[6] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Tiffany Larson' 'West Bend School District'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tiffany Rouse, "Email correspondence with West Bend School District Board Clerk Therese Sizer," January 11, 2016
- ↑ Facebook, "Tiffany Larson for West Bend School Board," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑ Tiffany Rouse, "Email correspondence with West Bend School District Board Secretary Deb Roensch," February 12, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Campaign Financing," accessed January 25, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The West Bend Current, "Meet the Candidates for School Board," February 9, 2016
| 2016 West Bend School District Elections | |
| Washington County, Wisconsin | |
| Election date: | April 5, 2016 |
| Candidates: | Incumbent, Randy Marquardt • Jenn Donath • Tiffany Larson • Robert Miller • Ken Schmidt |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional measures on the ballot |
