On Nov. 7, Harrison County voters will choose from the various candidates running for mayor, city council and school board.
The Missouri Valley Times-News reached out to candidates ahead of the election with a brief question and answer.
Following are the candidates' responses, published verbatim. All candidates were contacted; if you do not see their answers here, they either did not respond or elected not to participate.
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Name: John Ferris
City/town: Honey Creek
Candidate for: Missouri Valley School Board
Explain who you are: I have been a lifelong member of this community. My wife Jennifer and I live in the Honey Creek area where I farm part-time. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree from Northwest Missouri State and a Master’s Degree from University of Nebraska at Omaha. I’m currently a Vice President for Farm Credit Service of America in Omaha. As a father of four Missouri Valley students (2 current, 2 graduated), the quality of their public education as well as all students in our community is very important to me.
Why did you run for this position? The School Board must be responsive and receptive to parents, staff, students, and the community at large, encouraging an open dialogue. It is the board’s responsibility to have the right people, programs, opportunities, culture, and curriculum in place to prepare each student to reach their individual goals following graduation.
My goal is to make Missouri Valley a school district of choice and desirable for families. I have a personal interest in preserving and improving the quality of our school system. It’s an exciting time for our district and I just like to do my part.
What from your background qualifies you for this position? I have served on the Missouri Valley School Board for the last 8 years and have been an advocate for the educational needs of our children. I’m proud to share my time, present new ideas, bring energy, provide leadership, and listen to different perspectives. I approach issues with an open mind and believe in honesty, transparency, and accountability. I also have excellent attendance at board meetings and make my service a priority.
What are your goals if elected? I have several goals for our district. Out students must have the resources so they have a positive learning environment and can grow as individuals and be prepared for life after high school. We must continue to invest in excellent teachers, administrators, and support staff. The culture of the school district should allow for positive relationships and interactions in order to attract and retain students that live in the district. Our schools need to be safe for our children, parents, and staff. With declining enrollment, we need to balance the needs of the district with the responsibilities we have to the taxpayers.
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Name: Bridget Myler
City/town: Missouri Valley, IA
Candidate for: Missouri Valley School Board
Explain who you are: My name is Bridget Myler, and I am married to Jimmy Myler, both of us are graduates and alumni of Missouri Valley High School. We have three children, Ella (18) who is a freshman at Wayne State College, Daxton (16) who is a sophomore and Dilynn (12) who is a seventh grader. All have been active in school, sports and clubs. I have served on the school board for eight years and am looking forward to another term. I am currently employed with Amazon as a regional HR Manager overseeing six states and a member of the Human Resource Association of the Midlands (HRAM) and Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). We are also members of the Missouri Valley Christian Church.
Why did you run for this position? When I first was elected, I had a board member reach out who was stepping down and recommended I run. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I have served as a way to give back and provide a positive experience for the children in our community. I enjoy the role and have a good working relationship with the board and am proud of what we have been able to accomplish. I would like to keep the progressive momentum in moving our school district forward and I also have a vested interest in having two children who attend our middle school and high school.
What from your background qualifies you for this position? Serving on the school board for eight years has provided me with experience as this position does have a learning curve and takes time to understand the role of a board member. The current board members have a diverse background of experiences, and many have strong backgrounds in business. The role of the board is similar in how a business is run and my background in Human Resources has helped see situations from a different point of view. I have also served on one of the largest HR Boards with over 1,000 members for multiple years in which I served as President and was awarded Volunteer of the Year.
What are your goals if elected? My goals are to continue supporting the priorities the board has already established: 1) Ensuring School Safety; 2) Focusing on Instruction and Student Achievement; 3) Enhancing Culture and Climate; and 4) Being Fiscal Responsibility. Through these priorities, my goal is to continue supporting our district administrators, teachers, and support staff. My ultimate goal is to see the Missouri Valley CSD continue to grow and develop our students; ensuring they are part of a learning community that is Built on Pride and Destined for Greatness!
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Name: Joanna Barnard
City/town: Missouri Valley
Candidate for: School Board Director for Missouri Valley Community Schools
Explain who you are: I was born and raised here in Missouri Valley. My husband & I both graduated from Missouri Valley and now our son, Bobby, is a freshman here. We live just outside town with our dog, Diesel, and our four bottle calves! I work from home as a day trader and property manager. I love spending time with my family, being outdoors, and feeding baby calves!
Why did you run for this position? As a parent and former 2nd grade teacher, I am extremely passionate about education, and everything that goes into a school day for our kids. From academic achievement to school safety to social/emotional wellness, I want to help ensure our administrators and staff have all they need in order to help our students reach their full potential.
What from your background qualifies you for this position? First and foremost, I am a parent, which I think is a very important thing that qualifies me for this position. Beyond that, I have a degree in Elementary Education, and taught Second Grade here in Missouri Valley for 6 years. I think that having been a teacher gives me a unique perspective. I have been in the classroom and seen how budgets directly impact our students and teachers. I’ve seen firsthand some of the struggles students and staff face, and how they work through those struggles to come out successful.
What are your goals if elected? Currently being on the board, I would want to keep moving forward with the momentum that we already have. I would most definitely want to continue to support our administrators and staff to create the safest possible place for our students to learn and grow. Now, more than ever, school safety needs to be a top priority. I would also continue to support our mental health team to provide the best services possible to our students, so that they are able to learn to their highest abilities. I would also advocate for school funding so that as enrollment declines across the nation, we are equipped to stay the course and provide quality education to our students.
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Name: Stefanie Staben
City/town: Missouri Valley, Iowa
Candidate for: Missouri Valley School Board
Explain who you are: I am a former preschool teacher at Missouri Valley Elementary School and now work for Green Hills Area Education Agency as an early childhood and special education consultant. My roles in education have been grounded in early education with an emphasis in special education. My husband, John Staben, and I reside outside of Missouri Valley with our six children. John is a Missouri Valley Alumni and our children currently or will attend Missouri Valley CSD. We have a middle schooler and four in elementary school. I am a proud community supporter who actively assists with the array of activities our children are involved in. I am a long-time resident of Harrison County, having grown up in Dunlap, Iowa. We are members of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Missouri Valley. My family owns Cogdill Farm Supply and my husband’s family operates SPW, Inc.
Why did you run for this position? My decision to run for school board was long-time in the making. When I was a teacher in the district, I was unable to be a candidate so when the opportunity presented itself, I knew I must pursue it. Serving others has always been a huge part of my life and servant leadership is a prominent character trait I possess. I have a passion for equitable education, desire to support district staff and promote excellence in our schools, willingness to collaborate for unified goals, and strive to gain a deeper understanding of varied perspectives with an open heart and mind. I am vested in the community and our schools. I bring a unique perspective, having been a teacher for the district, that could be of value if elected. My stance as an educator was always to advocate for students and families, this has not changed even with my evolving career path.
What from your background qualifies you for this position? First and foremost, I am a team player and work to collaborate cohesively with an aligned vision. My professional experience and commitment to education is an integral part of me! I am dedicated to doing what is best for children, students, families, and staff. The Missouri Valley community is a special place that I am humbly grateful to call home. We value school pride, positive learning climates, and intertwined community involvement. I pride myself on my abilities to maintain confidentiality, engage in respectful interactions, be understanding of alternative perspectives, and remain rooted in core values. Additionally, I strive to approach personal decisions in an ethical and fiscally responsible manner; this approach would stay the same if elected to school board.
What are your goals if elected? Though I understand a board must act together with shared goals, one thing I would strive to increase is transparency. I believe without transparency in policies and decisions, trust in our school board may be more difficult to achieve. I would like our school website to reflect, as much as possible, what our district has to offer without details being cumbersome to locate. Another aspect I would present to the group is reviewing current school board policies to ensure what is stated is what occurs. One challenge public education is currently facing is staff shortages and, specifically, retention of support staff. Therefore, it would be valuable to review salary schedules for these staff and consider potential pay inequities. Additionally, I would like to encourage exploring health insurance and benefit options that may increase feasibility for staff members while continuing to offer cohesive coverage. Lastly, it would be beneficial to our community if we pursued an expanded childcare program for young children or connected with partners to offer something that is lacking in our town.
