Meet the candidates running for Saydel School Board in the 2023 election

Seven candidates are vying for four seats on the Saydel School Board, including incumbent Ryan Buman, incumbent Gary Christensen, Joshua Kirkpatrick, Samantha McNeeley, incumbent Jimmy Van Der Kamp, incumbent Jennifer Van Houten, and Tricia Zeis.

The Des Moines Register asked each candidate to respond to questions on why they're running and the issues their district is facing. Their answers may be lightly edited for clarity or length.

Buman and Kirkpatrick did not respond to the Register's questionnaire.

The election is Nov. 7.

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Gary Christensen (incumbent)

AGE: 43

GREW UP: Saylor Township

CURRENT HOME: Saylor Township

EDUCATION: Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Iowa; Bachelor of Arts, Central College; Saydel High School, 1999

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Current vice-president Saydel School Board; Saydel School Board, 2019 to present; president of the Cornell Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, 2017-2023

Samantha McNeeley

AGE: 37

GREW UP: Des Moines/Saydel

CURRENT HOME: Saydel district

EDUCATION: Bachelor's in criminal justice/sociology. Working on master's in social work.

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

Jimmy Van Der Kamp (incumbent)

AGE: 40

GREW UP: Saydel school district

CURRENT HOME: Saydel school district

EDUCATION: High school, trade school

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Appointed to School Board in April

Jennifer Van Houten (incumbent)

AGE: 51

GREW UP: Centerville

CURRENT HOME: Saydel school district

EDUCATION: Centerville High School; Associate of Arts, Indian Hills Community College; Bachelor of Arts in computer science, Simpson College

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Saydel School Board as vice president and as a director for the last eight years

Tricia Zeis

AGE: 48

GREW UP: Traer, Iowa

CURRENT HOME: Saylorville/Des Moines

EDUCATION: North Tama County Community School District, 1993; Associates in arts, Waldorf College; attended Iowa State University to study photography, calligraphy and art

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

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Why are you running?

Gary Christensen: I am running for reelection to continue to be a voice for my community and a force for positive change for the school district. I have seen many beneficial changes in the district, from updated classroom spaces and buildings, a productive relationship with teachers and staff, and continued engagement with the community. I want to continue this positive momentum and make Saydel a destination district for teachers, students and families.

Samantha McNeeley: I want to bring unity and clear communication to the community. The efforts and improvements made for the sake of our children often go unnoticed, and I am committed to protecting our students, teachers, and staff. Saydel needs an advocate and a voice for the ones who care for, protect, and are dedicated to educating our children. We need proper compensation for veteran teachers and reason for quality teachers to stay with us. United, we can cultivate an environment that we are all proud of for many years to come and maintain the charm of our small community.

Jimmy Van Der Kamp: To help provide students with a place to gain a quality education and become prepared for life after high school as well as provide our staff with a work place they can enjoy, be proud of, and provide students with a quality educational experience.

Jennifer Van Houten: I am running for the Saydel School Board to be engaged, learn, and educate others on the board process, actions, and policies, to serve Saydel students, staff, and residents and to help provide the best education possible for all Saydel students.

Tricia Zeis: Many know me as a parent who likes to keep the community informed, and I want them to know they can depend on me. Although my daughter is a senior this year, I feel it’s important to stay involved in the school district as a community member and taxpayer. Once your child graduates it doesn’t mean you have to step away from the schools because there are many kids out there that still need guidance in one way or another. I feel the knowledge I’ve gained working in higher education, in the Saydel district office and the business world can be beneficial in helping navigate today’s educational needs.

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What is the most pressing issue facing the school district and how would you address it?

Gary Christensen: A challenge faced by Saydel Community Schools is teacher recruitment and retention. Education is a demanding profession that requires passion, patience, and support. We have worked on modernizing our classrooms to enhance the learning environment. We have also been looking at our culture, climate, and compensation for teachers. As a board, we facilitated changes to assemble a tremendous team to empower our marvelous teachers to perform to their full potential. This past year we saw a dramatic increase in standardized testing scores that exceed the state average score. I look forward to sustaining this momentum and continuing our positive growth.

Samantha McNeeley: I believe growth and educational progress are major issues for our district. Saydel has a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. Keeping balance between learning challenges, mental health and behavioral issues, and learning progression is difficult. We need to implement sustainable ways to increase funding for additional staff resources to students who need them and allow classroom teachers to focus more on educational development. We have the potential for significant future growth, but we need to cultivate a positive narrative for our district and ensure it is a desirable place for new and returning families.

Jimmy Van Der Kamp: Retaining high caliber staff. To produce productive students it takes great teachers and administrators. I look forward to having the conversations with the staff members about what is and isn’t working and make sure their concerns are heard. I want to make sure the teachers are feeling supported.

Jennifer Van Houten: There are many topics facing the school district and it is hard to narrow it down to the most important, but the district is always trying to improve the quality of education. I serve on committees not only as a board member, but as a parent and community member to provide feedback to help Saydel administrators make decisions on how best to serve our students.

Tricia Zeis: As a new School Board member it is wise to step into my role with an open mind, listen and help work on projects that are currently on the agenda. Changes take time, but my hope would be to do some of the following as I know these are a few issues we need to look into: teacher retention, teaching students better study habits and test taking skills, and keeping those living in the district going to school in the district.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Six candidates are running for Saydel School Board in 2023