Meet Beth Dean, candidate for Wright City R-II School Board

Name: Beth Dean

Age: 42

Hometown: Wright City

Occupation: Director, Securities Operations KYC for St. Louis-based life reinsurance company

Position sought: Wright City R-II School Board

Previous political experience: Wright City R-II School Board, three years

Why are you running and why should people vote for you?

It has been an honor to serve on our Wright City school board over the past three years, representing our community within this space, and working with staff, parents, families, and fellow board members as we seek to provide a quality, positive learning environment for the students in our district. I deeply value our Wright City community, our children, our schools, and our staff. As a parent with two children in the district, I continue to believe it is valuable and necessary to have parent voices and insight within our school board governance. Our Wright City schools and teachers have been a meaningful part of my own family's journey and I am grateful for the opportunity to give back in this way. It is my hope that our district provides an enriching experience for each child and family during their time in our Wright City schools.

What are your goals if elected?

Continued focus on the following:

• Consistent, stable leadership across the district.
• Growth in our student performance indicators. Over the past several months, we have seen new enhancements implemented to target this area, including instructional coaching, MAP and EOC practice exams, and the implementation of a district-wide ELA curriculum with increased emphasis on reading and writing. 
• Continued monitoring of our budget and funds; funding for public education continues to be a concern for a number of reasons. 
• Ongoing communication, feedback, and engagement with all of our stakeholders -- including students, parents, and staff -- amplifying and representing those voices. 

What issues are most pressing for your constituency?

Please see the areas outlined above. It would be an honor to continue this work within the district on behalf of our Wright City community.