Saturday, August 28, 2021
10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Inwood Oaks
484 Inwood Avenue North
Oakdale, MN, 55128
Admission: $25
Running for school board? Join us on Saturday, August 28 to learn how to win your race and excel as a board member.
Center of the American Experiment is holding a one-day campaign school for candidates running for the school board in the 2021 election, or considering a run in the near future. The school will cover current education topics, school finance, and the tactics needed to win election. There will also be a lunch panel with current and former school board members. The cost for the school is $25 and includes lunch and all materials. It is open to any candidate running for school board this year.
Agenda
Check-in begins– 9:30 AM
Current Issues in Education– 10:00 AM
Catrin Wigfall, Education Policy Fellow, Center of the American Experiment
Catrin’s experience in education and policy research began during her time with the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. Her interest in education policy led her to spend two years teaching 5th grade general education and 6th grade Latin in Arizona as a Teach for America corps member. She then used her classroom experience to transition back into education policy work at the California Policy Center before joining American Experiment in February 2017.
Her presentation will focus on the policy behind current issues in education and how to connect with voters.
School Funding in Minnesota– 11:00 AM
Chas Anderson, Co-CEO and Senior Principal, Park Street Public
Chas has more than two decades of experience in the public and private sectors as an advisor on state policy, government relations and communications. Her government service includes working for two governors, including serving as Deputy Commissioner of Education for Governor Tim Pawlenty where she successfully led efforts to implement the state’s first accountability system for K-12 education, passed and implemented the Q Comp, a nation-leading alternative teacher compensation program, expanded charter schools and increased access and transparency regarding school performance in Minnesota.
Most decisions made by school board members revolve around the allocation of funds, so Chas will provide a School Funding 101 seminar explaining the per-pupil funding formula for Minnesota schools.
School Board Member Lunch Panel– 12:00 pm
A panel of past and present school board members will discuss their experiences both as candidates and serving on the school board.
You Can’t Govern if You Don’t Win: Campaign Tactics– 1:00 pm
Bill Walsh, Director of Communications, Center of the American Experiment
Bill has almost 30 years of experience winning elections in Minnesota at the local, legislative, congressional and state levels. Most recently he managed the successful campaigns in 2016 and 2020 for the Senate Republican Caucus as they gained and held the majority. Bill is currently serving his second term on the White Bear Lake City Council.
This session will cover basic tactics to win election including fundraising, voter targeting, direct mail, digital advertising and campaign structure.
Adjournment– 2:30 pm