Matthew Kuennen

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Matthew R. Kuennen

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

May 17, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

University of Northern Iowa, 2003

Graduate

University of Northern Iowa, 2005

Ph.D

University of New Mexico, 2010

Personal

Birthplace

Fayette, Iowa

Religion

Methodist

Profession

Associate Professor in the Congdon School of Health Sciences at High Point University

Contact

Campaign YouTube

Personal LinkedIn

Matthew R. Kuennen (Republican Party) ran for election to the Guilford County Schools school board to represent District 6 in North Carolina. He lost in the Republican primary on May 17, 2022.

Kuennen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Matthew R. Kuennen was born in Fayette, Iowa. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 2003, a graduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 2005, and a Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico in 2010. His career experience includes working as an associate professor for the Congdon School of Health Sciences at High Point University.

Elections

2022

See also: Guilford County Schools, North Carolina, elections (2022)

General election

General election for Guilford County Schools, District 6

Incumbent Khem Irby defeated Tim Andrew in the general election for Guilford County Schools, District 6 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Khem Irby (D)	52.6	13,142
		Tim Andrew (R)	47.4	11,825

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 24,967
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Khem Irby advanced from the Democratic primary for Guilford County Schools, District 6.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Guilford County Schools, District 6

Tim Andrew defeated Matthew R. Kuennen in the Republican primary for Guilford County Schools, District 6 on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tim Andrew	63.7	2,399
		Matthew R. Kuennen	36.3	1,365

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,764
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Matthew R. Kuennen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kuennen's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Matthew R. Kuennen and I'm running for the District 6 seat on the Guilford County Board of Education. My wife and I have 3 children in Guilford County Schools (GCS). We both also teach students in the classroom on a daily basis. If elected, I will work to put GCS back on a path that promotes student success and academic excellence. I will also scrutinize GCS budgets, to ensure money is not being misappropriated, and that our children and our teachers are not losing out due to waste, graft, or fraud. As the father of three young children, I promise you - I will be the fiercest advocate for Parents Rights that GCS has ever seen.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I am a teacher. I also have significant classroom teaching experience. I will listen to what teachers are telling us needs to be done to put GCS back on the path towards academic excellence.
• I have significant budget experience. My projects come in under-budget. I will scrutinize all budget proposals to ensure the review process is open/honest/transparent.
• I have three children in GCS. Like many other families, we have been concerned about the lack of transparency within GCS. I will be the fiercest advocate for parents rights that GCS has ever seen.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about ensuring that every child in Guilford County has the opportunity to receive a high quality education, provided by teachers who feel valued by school administration, and funded by Guilford County taxpayers (who feel comfortable about the way in which their tax dollars are being spent).

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have 3 children in Guilford County Schools, 35 years of experience in education, 12 years of direct classroom teaching experience, and significant budget management experience. I also have the desire to make GCS better, and the work ethic required to ensure things get done. I'm not afraid to speak my mind, and am committed to doing whatever it takes to support children, parents, teachers, and taxpayers in our local Guilford County community.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

In my interpretation of NC115C-12, which governs the powers and duties of a school board at the state level, the function of the GCS Board of Education is to utilize it's financial powers (apportionment of funds, submission of budget requests, salaries, equipment and textbook purchases, building upkeep and maintenance) to develop the best possible content standards (coursework and curriculum oversight) for our students, while simultaneously ensuring (via exit standards and graduation requirements) that they are prepared not only for the world as it is today, but for the world that is going to be.

My background in education makes me a strong fit for this position. For the past 12 years I've taught undergraduate students at public and private universities. In addition to my education and curricular experience, my position at High Point University has also afforded me extensive budgeting experience. Of note: the research programs that I coordinate regularly run under-budget. I also have 3 children in GCS schools, so I know the landscape, and my youngest child is a kindergartner (so I'm in it for the long-haul).

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I grew up on a farm in Iowa, out in the middle of nowhere. Farm kids learn early on that chores always take precedence over everything else. I'm not exactly sure how old I was when I started, but I do remember when my brother and I used to have to work together to roll small square bales into the hay mow. That sentence won't make sense unless you grew up on a farm yourself. Regarding that job, I guess I held it continuously until I was 18 and moved off for college. But you never really "leave" farming - I went back home to work during the first few summers of my undergraduate program. Good times!

What is your favorite book? Why?

1984 (George Orwell). I think my rationale for liking this book is obvious.

Who are your constituents?

Every single child in Guilford County Schools. Every single parent of a child in Guilford County Schools. Every single teacher in Guilford County Schools. Every single taxpayer within Guilford County. My job is to ensure the needs of our children are met, the concerns of our parents and teachers are heard, and the monies used to fund this process are disseminated in an open/honest/transparent manner.

What issues get in the way of quality education? How would you address these obstacles?

Politics get in the way of quality education. Discipline problems get in the way of quality education. Administrative decisions that are not in the best interest of students, parents, and taxpayers get in the way of quality education. I would address these obstacles by: (1) performing my duties in a non-partisan manner, (2) ensuring GCS administrators address teachers concerns about classroom management/safety, and (3) ensuring all monies expended by GCS are directly used to provide students the opportunity to receive a sound, basic education (per state charter).

In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?

In the U.S. we have a severe shortage of skilled tradesmen/technical workers. A renewed focus on career & technical education programs would help to bridge this gap. These jobs also pay very well, and don’t saddle young adults with inordinate amounts of debt. We also need to return the focus in our classrooms to providing students “a sound, basic education”. That starts with rigorous academic programs, where teachers feel empowered to make that difference, and students feel empowered to learn.

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.

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Candidate

Guilford County Schools, District 6

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