- Give every student the same starting point and opportunity, so that they are prepared for their future endeavors in life.
- Ensure that teachers feel supported and equipped to help each student achieve their academic goals.
- Focus on education: Reading, writing, arithmetic, and access to technology that prepares them for college, job force, trade school, and ultimately their career of choice.
Re-Elect
Dennis Stubbs
Putting education first.
Why am I running for re-election for Eden Prairie’s school board?
Eden Prairie has perhaps the most reputable educational facilities in all of Minnesota. That is one of many reasons my wife and I moved here 10 years ago. It has been a rewarding experience that has helped me engage with the community while playing a role in the things that matter most.
Whether our younger generation decides to enter the work force immediately, head off to college or trade school, or join the military; I want our students to be prepared for this next chapter in their life. I believe all students should be given the same opportunity to thrive from a world class education. We still need to introduce them to the basics such as reading, writing, and mathematics, combined with access to everchanging technology. Social interaction amongst students from all backgrounds is highly important!
Being on the board is a lot of work, and it’s a sacrifice. But you get to be there on opening day at the elementary schools and see the excitement on those little faces when they come running into the building. Then, to be there on the back end of it all, at graduation. Being able to hand out a diploma to a smiling, teary eyed senior who has worked so hard to earn it. Those 2 days I never forget. That’s what it’s about for me. I’m honored to do this for our kids and try to help them on their journey.
Meeting the community I serve
I got to spend time with the Rahkola family and many other Eden Prairie families while out campaigning! This is “Coach” Jon, wife Shannon, Mikko, Mila, McCoy, and Max (not pictured, it was his nap time inside!)
I'm simply focused on the education of our kids.
I want our students to thrive and our teachers to feel supported. We need to give our teachers the tools they need and our students an environment where they can focus on education.
Dedicated to our teachers.
Dedicated to our teachers.
Dedicated to our teachers.
Dedicated to our teachers.
Dedicated to our teachers.
Dedicated to our students.
Dedicated to our students.
Dedicated to our students.
Dedicated to our students.
Dedicated to our students.
My Family: Dennis, Miranda, Decker – 10 (5th grade), Reece – 8 (3rd grade), and
Mykah – 5 (Kindergarten)
Photos by Ashley McDonnell Photography
Exploring The Issues
EDUCATION FIRST
GIVE PARENTS A VOICE
Simply put: Our children’s education is not a one-man band. I believe it takes all of us to get things right. Alongside teachers and other administrative staff, our parents should feel safe to have a voice and be able to give input in their child’s education. As board members, voted in by the public, we have a responsibility to listen and genuinely try to understand each parent or caregivers’ concerns, and be prepared to come up with solutions.
SAFE, KIND, RESPONSIBLE, RESPECT, AND OBEDIENCE
Obedience in the classroom is pivotal to a valuable learning experience. While serving on the community linkage committee, we drafted a piece called “It Takes All of Us.” Respect in the classroom is a two way street, and it has to be emphasized from a district-wide level.
SCREEN TIME
As soon as I was elected to the school board, I asked to be on the board development committee. Which is where ideas are gathered and generated to improve and inform our board work. One of the issues early on and still at the surface of all conversations, involves screen time and excessive screen time. Having young kids in the district, and being around other parents, I was approached far too many times with concerns about screen usage. My wife and I also share those same concerns. When folks reach out to you, you listen and get to work. Being on the board development committee, I spent a significant amount of time pressing the issue of devices and the impact that they and screens have on our kids, the social impact, their mental health, their physical health, and their general behavior. We pushed for a policy that was aimed at protecting human to human interaction and the effects of too much screen usage. We even coordinated and brought in a guest speaker, a professor from the University of Minnesota, to present to the board and the district admin team the harms (and benefits) of devices.
SAFETY
It is imperative that our families trust their children will be safe in our schools, and for our students to feel the same. The district thoughtfully invests time and resources to ensure the safety of our kids, teachers, and staff. My votes at the board table when monitoring Executive Limitations, reflect a strong and consistent advocacy for safety and security.