The following candidates for Falcon School District 49 addressed questions regarding their candidacy for the school board posed by reporter Natalie Gowen. There are three vacancies on the board; voting will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3.Tammy HaroldWhat is your involvement in D 49 and/or other school districts?I have been deeply involved in the district for over 10 years. I am a regular at board meetings and have been involved with the PTA for nine years. I also volunteer in the classroom and library. I am on the Building Accountability Advisory Committee at Stetson Elementary, Skyview Middle School and Vista Ridge High School; the District Accountability Advisory Committee; and I have served on various other D 49 Committees.What are your professional, volunteer, and other relevant experience/accomplishments?I am a small business owner and have had my bookkeeping business for 13 years. I have taught Junior Achievement at the elementary level for three years. I regularly volunteer at my church, for a youth golf program and I volunteer as much time as I can at my daughters’ schools – in the classroom, the library and with the PTA.What specific qualities would you bring to the board? How would they help you lead the district?I would bring my leadership skills, which have been sharpened during my time as PTA president and while serving on various district committees. I believe my ability to communicate, collaborate, be level-headed and open-minded in a team setting was essential to the success of these groups. I bring my enthusiasm for parent involvement. I would bring my openness and honesty, which are a part of every facet of my life and which are traits I foster in my kids. And finally I would bring my financial and accounting skills that have earned me the trust of all my small business clients.For more information about Tammy Harold, visit www.tammyherald.org.John KosterWhat is your involvement in D 49 and/or other school districts?As a parent of a child in special education, I have seen a side of education many parents miss. I have seen a child struggle through a system designed for “normal” children while hoping just to pass. If elected, I bring empathy for kids looking for ways to fit into a general education model.What are your professional, volunteer, and other relevant experience/accomplishments?I served 20 years in the Air Force managing budgets, programs and people. I have spent the past eight years serving in Royal Rangers, a program that builds the mental, spiritual, physical, and social skills of youth K-8 grades. I have taught in the classroom and taken a leadership role as the outpost senior commander. I believe in serving one’s community and have participated in programs such as Earth Day, Habitat for Humanity and immunization outreach programs in low income housing areas.What specific qualities would you bring to the board? How would they help you lead the district?Honesty, openness and a willingness to work with others are crucial qualities for a board member. I believe I bring these qualities. I take a conservative approach to all aspects of my life and will with board decisions as well. When tough issues come up, I believe in hearing the voice of the community, respecting their opinions and giving them equal weight before making crucial decisions.For more information about John Koster, visit www.electjohnkoster.orgDanielle LindorfWhat is your involvement in D 49 and/or other school districts?My involvement in D 49 began by helping out in my children’s classrooms. I have been serving on the parent school board at Banning Lewis Ranch Academy and the D 49 Long-Range Planning Committee. I have also been heavily involved in a LRPC sub-committee tasked to address the middle school overcrowding issues and maintenance boundary recommendations.What are your professional, volunteer, and other relevant experience/accomplishments?(I am a) small business owner since 2006 with 600 customers nationwide, vice president and former secretary of Banning Lewis Ranch Academy Parent School Board, D 49 Long-Range Planning Committee member and Boundary Sub-Committee. I volunteer at church as a Sunday school teacher and week-day activity leader. I am a state-certified and licensed home-preschool teacher with two years teaching experience, Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies from Brigham Young University.What specific qualities would you bring to the board? How would they help you lead the district?One of my skills is effective communication. Board members need to be good communicators for this district to unite and focus on improving our schools. I have a well-defined set of values and believe the best way to help our children is to teach them based on principles of self discipline, independent thought, and striving for excellence in all they do. I believe the family is the most important unit of a community, and my values revolve around protecting and honoring the family, and those who would strengthen and teach our children well.For more information about Danielle Lindorf, visit www.votedanielle.org.Donahue C. QuashieWhat is your involvement in D 49 and/or other school districts?I have not served on any school boards or committees. My experience as a D49 parent has been pleasant for the most part. I enjoyed attending my sons’ activities in the district. For instance, my older son’s soccer games and drama performances at Sand Creek, and my younger son’s choir recital and track meets at Skyview enriched my experience as a district parent.What are your professional, volunteer, and other relevant experience/accomplishments?(I am an) Army veteran (Cold War, Gulf War). (I have a) B.S. Business Administration, cum laude; executive MBA, global training, evaluation, and leadership experience (military). I volunteered as a “stand-in” soccer coach, church volunteer at a nursing home, fundraiser for Combined Federal Campaign, and a former US Postal Service letter carrier.What specific qualities would you bring to the board? How would they help you lead the district?My leadership experience while serving in the military, my customer service experience from the Postal Service, my great education and my experiences as a parent would be vital to the board. When used in combination with the other talents on the board, the teachers and staff, our district can set the standard in the state for accountability and student achievement.For more information about Donahue Quashie, visit www.quashieford49.org.Jon B. RowleyWhat is your involvement in D 49 and/or other school districts?I have not been involved with D 49 on any committees thus far. During my experience in public education, I served on accountability committees, school improvement committees and many other locally based committees.What are your professional, volunteer, and other relevant experience/accomplishments?I served as a teacher in public schools from 1980 until 2000. From 2000 to 2008, I served as an elementary principal, curriculum coordinator, assistant principal, athletic director and high school principal.What specific qualities would you bring to the board? How would they help you lead the district?I believe the best qualities I would bring to a school board would be my experience in public schools and my willingness to listen to all stakeholders when issues arise. I believe my understanding of public schools and the people who work there will help me lead in a way that is constructive and realistic.Jackie VialpandoWhat is your involvement in D 49 and/or other school districts?My volunteer experience in Falcon District 49 has included school advisory committees, the District Accountability and Advisory Committee, Mill Levy Override Task Force oversight chairperson, Sand Creek High School Booster Club Member and a Cheer mom.What are your professional, volunteer, and other relevant experience/accomplishments?My volunteer experience outside of District 49 has consisted of the production of the 2009 Quality of Life Indicators Report, and Service, Empowerment and Transformation Clinic nurse volunteer.My work experience includes United States Air Force Law Enforcement officer, District 49 and District 11 school nurse and El Paso County Health Department where I managed the Immunization Clinic.What specific qualities would you bring to the board? How would they help you lead the district?I see where student achievement has come to a standstill. I see where teachers in the classroom need help accessing data we have collected on each student. I see where the teachers need help in using that data to help each and every student. I see great potential in this school district. I see parents working together to accomplish impossible tasks. I see children working to be the best they can possibly be and I see staff willing to go with less so the students have more. My agenda is to pull all of this together and to make this a district to emulate. I posses the vision, knowledge, ability and drive to help this district move forward.For more information about Jackie Vialpando, visit www.jackievialpando.com.Christopher L. WrightWhat is your involvement in D 49 and/or other school districts?I have been attending the D 49 school boards for a year. I have been a Parent Teacher president twice (Kansas and Oklahoma), and I have been attending the BAC meeting at Falcon High School over the last year.What are your professional, volunteer, and other relevant experience/accomplishments?I bring the ability to synchronize teams. (I am a) successful change management manager. I have strong communication and listening skills – these are desperately needed to unify the district.What specific qualities would you bring to the board? How would they help you lead the district?(My experience includes) military office; veteran of two wars (Gulf War and Enduring Freedom) and one conflict (Bosnia), Home Depot and Super Target Store manager and the FedEx ground facility manager for Colorado Springs to Kansas border. (I am) currently running my own business.
