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Sturgeon Bay School District Candidates

Four candidates, only one of whom is an incumbent, are running for three seats. 

Teri Lawrey-Hooker, 47, is an accountant. She has served on the board for the past six years, and the past three years as board president. She lives in the portion of Sevastopol that’s annexed to the Sturgeon Bay School District. She and her husband, Bill, have two sons. 

Peninsula Pulse (PP): What is your primary motivation for running for office?

Teri Lawrey-Hooker (TLH): I am running for reelection for the Sturgeon Bay Board of Education because I believe in serving in the community. Six years ago, when I started, this was a natural progression that allowed me to bring my business experience into an environment that I was passionate about. I believe local government has the most immediate impact to families and is critical to the long-term success of a community.

PP: Do you agree with how the school district has operated during the pandemic? Please explain specifically what you supported and what you did not, and what you would have done differently.

TLH: I wholeheartedly believe we handled the numerous issues created by the pandemic as best we could during an unprecedented time. We recognize for most students, in-person learning is the most effective way for teachers to teach and students to learn. We made it a high priority to listen to guidance from the CDC and local medical experts to determine if we could reopen safely for families that chose to do so. We worked

collaboratively at every level to develop procedures allowing us to do just that last September. In the fall, we rightly prioritized academics over everything else (much to the disappointment of my soccer-playing son) and have continued to monitor and adjust as needed.

PP: What’s the district’s most important challenge, and what are your ideas for solving it?

TLH: Always striving to reach higher levels of achievement and opportunity with excellent resources in personnel and curriculum, within a budget bound by the state funding formula. We must continue to pursue additional funding outside of tax revenue and weigh costs against established priorities supported by the community.

PP: What are your strengths, and how will those benefit the school district?

TLH: I am a long-term thinker. I process information deeply and consider beyond the immediate circumstance. I believe this natural bend, combined with my 25 years of business experience, brings value to the board for the particular things that we have responsibility over.

Damion Howard, 43, lives in Sturgeon Bay and is the chef/director of The Community Table at the New Boys and Girls Club of Door County. This is his first time running for elected office. He and wife, Nicole, have four children.

Peninsula Pulse (PP): What is your primary motivation for running for office?

Damion Howard (DH): I would like to see the district encourage more diversity in its daily practices. My hope is to bring to light the diversity and equity issues within our district. Teaching and modeling tolerance should be an expanded vision within our schools.

PP: Do you agree with how the school district has operated during the pandemic? Please explain specifically what you supported and what you did not, and what you would have done differently.

DH: The beginning stages of planning how to get our students back were frustrating. The communication between families and the school district was not up to par. As time went on, I felt the schools developed successful plans that we now know work. Students can function online, and I believe there should be more collaborative efforts to share successes schools are experiencing.

PP: What’s the district’s most important challenge, and what are your ideas for solving it?

DH: There are many challenges within our schools. Our students are seeing a much different world. I believe keeping the schools and their curriculums current, technology, and supporting our educators so they can teach in a diverse environment are just a few of the issues.

PP: What are your strengths, and how will those benefit the school district?

DH: I believe I can bring my experiences working for our local Boys and Girls Club [BGCDC] into this position. I have realized the gaps that students face in our district. Hunger is a real problem in our community. Students also really want to connect to other adults who understand what they are feeling. Working at BGCDC has opened my eyes to real things that youths feel. We are here ultimately to make the right choices for our youth. I feel I can bring a real perspective that others might not see through our youths on a daily basis.

Angela Kruse, 50, lives in Sturgeon Bay, where she is a homemaker. This is her first time running for elected office. She and her husband, Jon, have three children.

Peninsula Pulse (PP): What is your primary motivation for running for office?

Angela Kruse (AK): My primary motivation for running for office is to continue the board’s dedication to providing the staff, students and faculty a positive, healthy environment in which to work and learn. Opening the schools to students and keeping to a fairly normal schedule continues to be important to me. 

PP: Do you agree with how the school district has operated during the pandemic? Please explain specifically what you supported and what you did not, and what you would have done differently.

AK: I have been so impressed with the way the school board operated under the pandemic. I am so thankful they made it possible for our students to be in-person, while offering a way for others to work remotely if necessary. When a student is in school, they are receiving more than just educational instruction. They are building relationships with staff, teachers and peers; eating healthy meals; and getting fresh air and exercise. 

PP: What’s the district’s most important challenge, and what are your ideas for solving it?

AK: I believe the most important challenge for our district is to look forward. This past year has shown how well the Sturgeon Bay School District worked together to do right by the students. The district has many things to be proud of and gained considerable knowledge along the way. I want to be able to learn what worked and what needs adjusting in order to provide excellence in education in a nurturing environment for the coming year and years to come.

PP: What are your strengths, and how will those benefit the school district?

AK: I believe one of my strengths is my positive nature, which can inspire others when things may seem difficult. I can bring the smiling, reassuring face to those who may be overwhelmed or worried. I want the district to know I will be reasonable, tactful and honest. 

Roger Wood, 62, of Sturgeon Bay, is an accountant and co-owner of Asher & Wood. He served on the Sturgeon Bay School Board from 2004 to 2016. He’s married, with three children and eight grandchildren.

Peninsula Pulse (PP): What is your primary motivation for running for office?

Roger Wood (RW): I am running to ensure that our district maintains a high-quality education.

PP: Do you agree with how the school district has operated during the pandemic? Please explain specifically what you supported and what you did not, and what you would have done differently.

RW: I feel the district handled the COVID-19 pandemic very well, given the constantly changing government guidelines. In addition, people’s emotions, and varying views on how best to handle the pandemic, created situations where you can’t please everyone. So you constantly evaluate and stay flexible and responsive to the daily challenges. Without having been part of the board’s decision-making process, I’m satisfied with the outcome of their decisions. I feel the district was, and is, always striving to do the right thing.

PP: What’s the district’s most important challenge, and what are your ideas for solving it?

RW: I see the biggest challenge as being proactive, rather than reactive, in looking to the future in order to allocate the resources necessary to prepare our students and give the teachers and administrators the tools they need.

PP: What are your strengths, and how will those benefit the school district?

RW: I believe my strength lies in the 12 years I previously served on the school board. In addition, having grown up as the son of a university administrator, and now the father of a high school administrator, and myself as a small-business owner, I realize the importance of our youth receiving a quality education. I believe my life experiences will make me an effective school board member where I can be part of a team that

ensures that the youth of Sturgeon Bay are receiving the quality education they will need to prepare them for their futures.

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