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Derek Diesen

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Derek Diesen
Education
High school
Richfield High School
Other
Dunwoody Institute
Personal
Profession
Small business owner
Contact
Personal website

Derek Diesen was a candidate for an at-large seat on the Wayzata school board. He did not win a seat in the general election on November 5, 2013.

Biography

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Derek Diesen graduated from Richfield High School and studied at the Dunwoody Institute before beginning his career as a tool and die engineer for ten years. Diesen has owned and operated his own small construction contracting business for 9 years.[1]

Elections

2013

See also: Wayzata Public Schools elections (2013)

Derek Diesen was defeated in a race against eight fellow candidates for three vacant at-large school board seats in the general election on November 5, 2013.

Results

Wayzata Public Schools, At-large General Election, 4-year term, 2013
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Nonpartisan Green check mark transparent.pngChris McCullough 21.9% 1,607
     Nonpartisan Green check mark transparent.pngSarah Johansen 21% 1,539
     Nonpartisan Green check mark transparent.pngAndrea Cuene 15.2% 1,112
     Nonpartisan Ted Victor 13.4% 981
     Nonpartisan Dan Haugen 12.2% 894
     Nonpartisan Derek Diesen 6.6% 486
     Nonpartisan David A. Lloyd 3.7% 268
     Nonpartisan Bill Pritchard 2.9% 215
     Nonpartisan Phil Napier 2.7% 200
     Nonpartisan Write-in votes 0.4% 29
Total Votes 7,331
Source: Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, "Results for Selected Contests in School District No. 284 - Wayzata," accessed December 18, 2013

Funding

Derek Diesen reported $250.00 in contributions and $1,495.00 in expenditures to Wayzata Public Schools, which left his campaign with $1,245.00 in debt.[2]

Endorsements

Derek Diesen received an endorsement for his campaign from John Alexander, who serves as the head of the Groves Academy school for students with disabilities.[3]

Campaign themes

Diesen's campaign website listed the following campaign themes for 2013:[4]

  • I believe Wayzata is a great school district, with fantastic teachers.
  • I believe literacy is the single most important issue any school, including Wayzata.
  • I believe poor literacy instruction affects ALL students and teachers in the system. If a few students in every classroom are struggling with basic skills, it slows everyone down. It makes teaching and learning more difficult.
  • I believe that there is an opportunity to improve by figuring out why 12% of Wayzata students did not graduate in four years and working toward a solution.
  • I believe there are cheaper more effective alternatives than Reading Recovery to help struggling readers. For example: Systematic Phonics.
  • I believe too few students in Wayzata, with reading issues, are identified for special education. The national average is about 4%, state average is 3% (3rd lowest in the country), Wayzata is at 1.31%. Do you know anyone who just missed getting into Special Ed. for reading?
  • I believe that people do not realize how many families are self funding outside academic help for either struggling or advanced students.
  • I believe the achievement gap comes not from a lack of access to technology but from access to outside instruction.
  • I believe every decision made should be viewed through the "who, what, and how" it affects student outcomes. How does a new desk in every classroom, in every school, improve student outcomes?
  • I believe that the 21st century skills we plan to teach are currently undefined and unmeasurable.
  • I believe we have a finite number of resources available.
  • I believe there is a need for more facilities and class offerings in Industrial Arts. When I talk with students, this is often an overlooked group.
  • I believe the High School start time is too early, the bus comes at 6:25 in my neighborhood.
  • I believe in accountability and transparency.
  • I believe there is room for improvement.

Note: The above quote is from the candidate's website, which may include some typographical or spelling errors.


Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Derek + Diesen + Wayzata + Public + Schools"

Derek Diesen News Feed

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Stefanie Briggs, Plymouth Patch, "Wayzata School Board Candidate: Derek Diesen of Minnetonka," October 14, 2013
  2. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through email from Wayzata Public Schools on January 3, 2014
  3. ↑ Derek Diesen for Wayzata School Board, "Endorsements," accessed October 23, 2013
  4. ↑ Derek Diesen for Wayzata School Board, "I Believe...," accessed October 23, 2013
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