Boyceville School Board Candidate: Amber Carlsrud
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AMBER CARLSRUD
Amber Carlsrud is one of the three candidates vying for the two opens seats on the Boyceville Community School District’s Board of Education in the April 6 Spring election.
Carlsrud, 38, will be challenging incumbents Peter Score and Erik Evenson for a spot on the five-member board.
Carlsrud and her husband Mike have three boys: Finn, 9; Sven, 6; and Nels, 3.
She currently serves as the child care director and an early childhood special education teacher in the Barron School District.
Carlsrud (nee McDonald), who is a 2000 graduate of Boyceville High School, received a bachelor’s of science degree in elementary education from UW-River Falls, an early childhood education certificate from UW-Stout and a master cadre WiDA-Early Childhood. She also serves on UW-Stout’s Early Childhood Education Advisory Board and has extensive focused professional development on social and emotional learning.
Below are Carlsrud’s answers to a questionnaire sent out by the Tribune Press Reporter. Candidates were asked to try and limit each of their responses to 100 words or less.
Why did you decide to run for a position on the Board of Education?
The community has been supportive of me and my family and running for school board is one way I can share my expertise and return support for the community where we live and where our children attend school. I also grew up in the district, so it’s exciting to have the opportunity to serve as a former student. Running for a seat on the school board has been a goal of mine. I care deeply about students, families and educational success.
What about your background or education or values or personality makes you particularly suited to serve on the school board?
I have 16 years of experience as an educator in Wisconsin public schools. I understand the challenges school districts face as they work to provide positive learning experiences for all students. As a special education teacher, I have experience in translating state and federal mandates into services that benefit children and their families. I’ve experienced our school system as a student and as a parent. I have a passion for school policy, curriculum, parent involvement and developmentally appropriate practice. I feel strongly that school boards should include individuals with education experience. I thrive working as part of a team and believe when you work together with a common goal, nothing is impossible.
As a parent with children who attend Boyceville schools, I want all children and families to have positive and successful learning experiences and interactions, regardless of background or economic circumstance.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unique challenges for school districts over the past year. What challenges related to COVID-19 do you anticipate will be facing the school district in the years to come?
Our school district and school districts across the state need to work toward closing ALL gaps in education. Some issues were present before the pandemic, but the pandemic brought greater attention to what was already bubbling at the surface. The Wisconsin Public Education Network highlighted these gaps:
• opportunity gaps
• racial disparity gaps
• accountability gaps
• funding gaps
• equity gaps
• political gaps
• broadband network gaps
While some gaps might be more prevalent than others in our school district, I couldn’t agree more with the highlighted gaps. Over the course of my career as an educator, I have encountered these issues in my daily work and understand the impacts they have on students and families and why we should address them.
What do you believe to be the biggest issues facing the Boyceville school district?
The biggest challenge for our Board will be meeting all of our fiscal responsibilities while ensuring our students continue to have positive and successful learning experiences that equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful.
Our current administration has been managing the budget well, but monies from the state and federal levels are not always kind to school districts our size. Northwest Wisconsin has very different challenges than other parts of the state and policies and funding don’t always take that into account. The school board must be thoughtful in how they advocate for funding, use funding, and it must think critically about how resources are used, so that we provide our students with the knowledge and skills they need.
Why are you the best candidate for the Board of Education?
I believe I am the best candidate for the school board because of my experience as an educator, my passion for student success, and my committed family involvement at all levels. In addition, I thrive by working with others to find solutions and I am driven to serve others and do what is best for my community. I am able to bring the voice of educators and families of children to the table as the Board works to make tough fiscal decisions.
Other comments?
I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a candidate for school board and look forward to serving the students and families of the Boyceville Community School District. As a former student and parent of current and future students, as well as a community member, I would be honored to serve as a voice for you, your family and the community so all students and families have positive and successful learning experiences.
