2023 Voter Guide: Candidates running for school board elections in Clinton County
Welcome to the Belleville News-Democrat’s Voter Guide for the school board races in the April 4 election in Clinton County.
The News-Democrat has contacted the candidates running in contested seats for school boards and asked them to complete a candidate questionnaire.
While this article has information about candidates in school board races in Clinton County, you can go to this page at bnd.com to get links to read about candidates running for local and school board positions across the metro-east.
Here are the responses from the Clinton County school board candidates who have replied: (The candidates are listed alphabetically.)
Carlyle School District 1 Board
NAME: JEANETTE DEICHMANN
Age as of April 4, 2023: 38
Campaign website or social media page: Jenny Deichmann
Office seeking: CUSD 1 School Board
Are you an incumbent? No
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought) No
Occupation: Billing analyst
Education: Associate of science in accounting
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: N/A
Who are your top three campaign contributors? N/A
Why are you running? To help make our school the best it can be for every student. And to make sure our town and our community has a voice.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? Transparency and helping the community be heard on all topics
Why should people vote for you? I want parents to feel they have a voice at their school. I also want to help make our school better internally and externally. Our community and our kids deserve the best.
NAME: SARA FRANK
Age as of April 4, 2023: 38
Campaign website or social media page: Facebook - Sara Frank for Carlyle School Board, Facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089367124732
Office seeking: Carlyle Community Unit School District 1 School Board
Are you an incumbent? No
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought) No
Occupation: Associate professor, communication
Education: Ph.D. in communication, University of Missouri
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: My civic involvement in the community includes serving as the secretary for the Carlyle PTO for three years, attending sporting, fine arts, and fundraising events hosted throughout the community, and helping organize and host a yearly baseball tournament for a local baseball organization.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? N/A
Why are you running? I believe in the power of education. As a parent of two, an educator at McKendree University, and a former officer on the Carlyle PTO, I know the Carlyle School District has done wonderful things to mentor, educate, and support our students, faculty, and staff. However, I see students leaving our school district to attend institutions that provide better facilities, challenging curriculum, and numerous opportunities for college preparation. We are also losing faculty and staff for a variety of reasons. While I believe some faculty and staff retention is out of our power, some reasons are very much within our control. As a community, we should work together to ensure we are keeping top notch educators and students in Carlyle. I believe there are several ways we can make Carlyle a more desirable district. Together, let’s build our school district, which, I believe, in turn, can revitalize our community. I am running so I can work with our administrators, faculty, staff, and community to build a better future for Carlyle.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? There is no one particular issue that is the focal point for running for the Carlyle School Board. However, after conversations with community members, I recognize there are several strengths and areas of improvement for our school district. I learned that individuals in our community feel as though our district has several strengths including a phenomenal faculty at the grade school and a wide variety of extra-curricular activities at the junior high and high school. While Carlyle possesses many strengths, there are also areas that need enhancement. Community members acknowledge areas for improvement including examining current policies such as our bullying policy, examining and strengthening the curriculum, enhancing communication, and improving our dual credit offerings at the high school. Based on my conversations within the community, I think we can improve our quality educational experience by reviewing our curriculum and course offerings, assessing our faculty and staff evaluation process, examining options for continued professional development, and evaluating and implementing our strategic plan. My goal is to see all three of our schools recognized with distinction from the State of Illinois Board of Education.
Why should people vote for you? I believe in highlighting our school districts’ strengths, while also addressing areas for improvement. I believe listening to administration, faculty, staff and our community is how we strengthen our school district. If elected, I will encourage a transparent process, in which every decision made is made with our students in mind. The community of Carlyle should vote for me because I am dedicated to building an educational environment that enhances our mission in the Carlyle School District. Together, let’s build a better future for Carlyle.
NAME: DANI HUELS
Age as of April 4, 2023: 37
Campaign website or social media page: N/A
Office seeking: Carlyle District 1 Board Member
Are you an incumbent? No
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought) No
Occupation: Curriculum specialist
Education: Master of science in education-curriculum and development
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: I am a Legion Auxiliary member. It is important to me to support many different local organizations, whether that is with monetary donations, donation gifts, and/or volunteering my time.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? N/A
Why are you running? I am running for the Carlyle District school board because it is important to me as a parent of three, community member, and a small business owner to have a thriving school district. The Carlyle District already has great qualities, but I want to be a part of bringing it to the next level. I have a passion for education and would like to bring my experience and expertise to Carlyle to build a thriving district.
My overall goal as a board member is to be a part of a team, consisting of other board members, staff, parents and community, to partner together to create an environment where students can learn and grow.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? There isn’t one specific top issue that I am running for. I am running because I want to be a part of making proactive decisions before an issue arises.
Any current issues would need an action plan to address it. With making decisions it isn’t just how I would address it, I would want to work as a team member of the board to create an appropriate plan. There are many logistics to a plan and I would make sure that all barriers are addressed, while keeping the mission of the district: Challenging all to learn...expecting all to achieve.
Why should people vote for you? In addition to being a parent, community member, and a small business owner in Carlyle, I have also been in the education field for 12 years. I taught six of those years at Carlyle Junior High. Throughout my time teaching at CJHS, I built relationships with parents and students in Carlyle and surrounding towns within the district. All of those relationships are very important to me, which inspired me to run for the school board. My heart has been in the Carlyle district ever since I student taught there in 2011.
I currently have a child in each building and will be a parent of the district for the next 10 years. Because of that, my parental experience spreads throughout the entire district, and my commitment to this position is long term. I have the best interest for a lot of stakeholders: my three children, hundreds of former students who are still in the district, and former colleagues.
My current work in curriculum and assessment development, coupled with my classroom experience, helps me to stay up-to-date with current educational practices, which is important for supporting teachers with innovative, effective, and appropriate curriculum decisions for the district.
My experience in the district allows me to know both the successes and struggles. I am not just trying to improve the district for my children, but for all children, now and in the future. I want to ensure pertinent, education-centered decisions are made in the best interest of students and staff in order to maintain a positive learning environment for all. I know the influence of a robust school district and its impact for community growth. My goal is to unify community members, parents, students, and staff to work together and have pride in our tribe.
NAME: MICHAEL KING
Age as of April 4, 2023: 43
Campaign website or social media page: N/A
Office seeking: School Board member Carlyle School District
Are you an incumbent? No
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought) No
Occupation: Electronic Technician at Union Pacific
Education: Bachelor’s in Business
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: N/A
Who are your top three campaign contributors? N/A
Why are you running? For our children and our community.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? The issue of the state and union deciding what is best for the students and not allowing the parents to have the say in what is good and decent for their children.
Why should people vote for you? Because I am looking out for the interests of the children and not the agenda of the establishment.
NAME: DENNIS PEREZ
Age as of April 4, 2023: 46
Campaign website or social media page: None
Office seeking: School Board member
Are you an incumbent? Yes
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought) Carlyle School Board
Occupation: Acting chief deputy Clinton County Sheriff’s Office
Education: Associate degree from Kaskaskia College
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: President of the 708 Mental Health Board in Clinton County, 17-year volunteer firefighter, volunteer softball and basketball coach, served on multiple advisory boards at Kaskaskia College
Who are your top three campaign contributors? No contributors
Why are you running? I’m running for school board to better the educational experience of children in our community and to support those kids that may not be supported at home.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? Curriculum is one of the most important issues in this race. During my four years, I have been a part of hiring outstanding teachers, administrators and an outstanding superintendent. These new faces are re-evaluating our curriculum needs by studying our data and implementing the strategies needed to push our kids to success.
Why should people vote for you? I’m a graduate of Carlyle and I am a parent of an elementary student in our school district. I’m a 26-year deputy sheriff and have prided myself on helping and supporting those that need it most and that is what I will do if re-elected to the board. I helped navigate our district through the pandemic and will continue to fight for the education of every child.
The BND has not received a response from Carlyle School District 1 Board candidate Chris Tucker.
Germantown School District 60 Board
The BND has not received a response from Germantown School District 60 Board candidates Lee Deerhake, Michael Elliott, Shannon Hickman, Andrea Linders, Nicole Peters, Danielle Ribbing and Ashley N. Winter.
Wesclin School District 3 Board
NAME: MATTHEW ALBAT
Age: 45
Campaign website: https://bit.ly/mattalbatforwesclin
Have you run for public office before? Treasurer of the Edwardsville Education Association
Are you an incumbent? No
Occupation: Teacher of 23 years
Education: Graduated from Kaskaskia College 1998; Bachelor’s in history from McKendree in 2000; Master’s in educational administration and higher education from SIUC in 2003
Highlight your civic involvement: My most recent civic involvement includes my active participation in the local Edwardsville teacher union. In that organization, I have the privilege of chairing a committee that addresses issues focused on special education. This committee advocates for kids and teachers.
Why are you running? I would like to give back to the community in which we live. My drive to run for the board is the desire to contribute and improve our already great district. The students in Wesclin deserve the same quality educational experiences as every other student in the surrounding communities.
What is the top issue in your race and how would you address it? From the perspective of a parent/community member I view the recruitment and retention of quality employees as a significant issue facing schools, including Wesclin.
To help resolve the issue, the board, along with guidance from administration and current staff, can review reasons why people stay at Wesclin and why people choose to leave. The board can assist in the development of policies that effectively target recruitment and retention of employees.
Why should people vote for you? Education is my passion. In 1996 I graduated from Carlyle High School, continued my education and became a graduate of Kaskaskia College in 1998. I then pursued my bachelor’s degree in history from McKendree and graduated in 2000. In 2003, I earned a master’s degree in educational administration and higher education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Currently, I’m a teacher in Edwardsville School District #7, where I’ve been since 2005. From 2003-2014 I taught as an adjunct instructor for Kaskaskia College. I taught in Germantown Elementary School District 60 (2000-01) and worked for the Regional Office of Education (2001-2005).
For 23 years, I’ve been putting the needs of children first. The best part of my job is watching and helping kids learn. I want to bring that passion to the Wesclin school board.
TINA M. LITTEKEN
Age: 48
Campaign website or social media page: Facebook
Have you run for public office before? Wesclin CUSD 3 School Board Member
Are you an incumbent? Yes
Occupation: Domestic specialist
Education: Western Illinois University
Highlight your civic involvement:
Trenton Torpedoes swim team president
City of Trenton Park board member
TrentonFest chairperson
Trenton Elementary PTG officer/discount card chair
Middle School Scholar Bowl sponsor
Wesclin High School bass fishing team
Why are you running? It has been an honor to serve my school district for the past eight years. I look forward to continuing to serve Wesclin and its communities. My oldest three children received a stellar education at Wesclin, and I want to continue to help make Wesclin retain its high level of excellence.
What is the top issue in your race and how would you address it? I hope to continue to work hand in hand with the administration, teachers, and Kaskaskia College to continue expanding the vocational/trade programs offered at Wesclin. These programs help Wesclin graduates enter the workforce more prepared and ensure that they excel in their fields/trades, and have the option of entering their career path with every option available to them.
Why should people vote for you? I’ve served two terms on the school board, and because of this I bring experience and knowledge to the board. I look forward to serving with others that are elected, and am excited to set new goals for Wesclin. I actively engage in the community, and prioritize my service on the board by regularly preparing for and attending meetings.
The BND has not received responses from Wesclin School District 3 Board candidates Kayla Athmere, Dustin Biggs, Jared Poettker, S. Jeff Stroot, or Michael Twenhafel.
