Election: School board district #1
AJ Rasmussen Dickson
BHC School Dist. 1 Board Area B Byron
Please give us a brief biography.
I was born in Laramie, where I lived for several years before moving to Lovell in fifth grade. I attended and graduated from Lovell High School, where I participated in cross country, indoor track, outdoor track and SkillsUSA. Upon graduation I served a two-year church mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile, Concepcion. Shortly after getting home from my mission, I married Afton George and moved to Rexburg, Idaho, where I began pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business management. After graduating from college, we planned on staying in Idaho for the foreseeable future. Our plans were changed when we had our first child and a school shooting happened in the town we lived in about three blocks from our home. At that point we started to reflect on what we wanted for our children and how important it was for them to be raised back home in a safe community with great schools. We decided at that time to sell our home and move back home to Byron. Once back in Byron we built a home where we plan to raise our children. Currently we have a 4-year-old girl who will be starting school soon and is very excited for it; a 2-year-old boy who’s just obsessed with cars and tractors; and a third child on the way that we look forward to meeting next year.
What prompted you to seek office or re-election?
When I heard about the school board position being open for the Byron district I was intrigued. Growing up, education wasn’t a main focus for me, but while in college and upon having children I started to see the importance of education. I now place high value on education and helping our children have the tools they need to be successful in any endeavor they pursue. For this reason, I’m interested in being a part of the school board so I can help in improving the education available for our children.
What are your qualifications for office – strengths, experience, leadership style, etc.?
While in Idaho I worked for Melaleuca, The Wellness Company as a customer assistance representative, supervisor and an international data analyst. One of my favorite parts of being a supervisor was taking bottom performing employees and helping them reach their true potential as top performers. To do this involved discussing with them what their goals were and making a plan to achieve them. I was able to learn a lot about how to lead by example and how helping each of my team members achieve their goals helped them to be better performers in their job. As an analyst I looked at a lot of data and worked with a group to come up with business solutions to help international markets grow. We developed complex reporting suites to help us see what was going on in these international markets and to identify what our weaknesses and strengths were. With this data we had the answers needed to help those markets grow. This role allowed me to really develop my critical thinking skills and ability to work in a group to achieve a group focused goal. With these skills I believe that I will be able to work with the other board members as we discuss and analyze issues in the district and come to solutions that will best benefit the district as a whole.
What issues do you believe your district needs to address in its academic program and offerings? What changes would you recommend?
I believe one of the main focuses we need to have as a district is in our academic offerings. We have students in our schools that plan to pursue many different avenues. Some may be interested in college, some in trade school, some in the military, some in going directly into an industry and some that are unsure what they want to do. With all these different students with different focuses we need to be able to provide each of them with a path for success. In doing this I think it’s important that we utilize all resources available to us to create the best academic experience for each type of student. I remember when I was in high school I was able to get college credit for some of my classes, I’d love to look into and pursue that avenue more. What certificates can we offer in high school for those pursuing an industry career or trades career? How can we help a student preparing for the ASVAB to be successful, what college credits can we get to our children now before they become costly, and how can we utilize job shadowing for those who don’t know what they want to do? Mainly how can we help our children get what they will need then, now.
With the future of school funding uncertain, what are your priorities for school district budgeting in regard to spending cuts, staffing and ways to enhance revenue?
Funding is something we’re never certain of. We hope that it’s always there and will continue to be there, but if there’s ever a time where it’s reduced I feel that it’s very important that we focus on our teachers and academics above all else. For each of our children their most influential person during the school day is the person in the room teaching them. For this reason, it’s very important that we stay focused on having exceptional teachers that can help our children stay on a path for success or if needed guide them back onto a path for success. It’s also important that in conjunction with great teachers we continue to have an exceptional academic offering for our children so that they can continue to learn and grow. If we lower our standards on teachers and academics, then our children will pay the price.
Holly Michaels
BHC School Dist. 1 Board At Large
Please give us a brief biography.
My name is Holly, and I live in Burlington. My husband, Landon, and I have three sons attending Burlington Elementary School. My education includes a BS degree from Southern Utah University and an MS degree from the University of Utah. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. My employment includes a private practice working with weight management, diabetes, student athletes and geriatrics providing nutrition services.
What prompted you to seek office or re-election?
I have served with the board the past four years and feel I’ve made a positive contribution. Some areas I’ve worked on are updating polices; advocating for higher wages; celebrating a variety of successes from academics, athletics and more; having a voice in curriculum selection; evaluating the test score data in the district and creating a plan for improvement; and more. My hope is to continue working with the other board members to make our local educational system the best it can be for our children. With three young sons, I am invested in the school system for the long haul and want to provide great quality educational experiences for all the children to help them succeed in school and in life.
What are your qualifications for office – strengths, experience, leadership style, etc.?
A. As an undergraduate at Southern Utah University, I was a student senator for the College of Education. As senators, we wrote bills and resolutions to improve the quality of education and experience for the students. We allocated funds for specific events or educational experiences.
B. As a graduate student at the University of Utah, I served on the Student Advisory Committee for the College of Health Division of Nutrition. I worked with the dean and department chair to host fundraisers, service projects, student activities and award ceremonies.
C. After moving to Burlington, I served on the Burlington Recreation Board. During my tenure on the board we coordinated youth sports, hosted many events including a trunk-or-treat, movie and ice-skating day, free swimming night, and accomplished the design and installation of a safe and more inclusive playground in Burlington. I served as the treasurer for the Burlington Rec Board and had an active role in responsibly allocating the annual funds to benefit the communities of Burlington and Otto.
D. Lastly, I have served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the past four years and desire to continue serving in this capacity.
What are the biggest issues the district must address in the near future?
Our district has a lot of good things in place. Over the past four years, we have refined policies making a better work and education environment for all attending the school. I would like to see more opportunities for extending students on the higher end of achievement. The district is already focused on academic growth, and I look forward to seeing a continued progression of this.
With the future of school funding uncertain, what are your priorities for school district budgeting regarding spending cuts, staffing and ways to enhance revenue?
Our district is very fiscally minded and is careful about spending. Each month, the business manager presents the budget report, and we go over the expenditures and income while comparing the current financial state to the previous year. As funding may be uncertain, I know that the district administrators continue to search and apply for grants that help finance the district. I also believe there are ways to consider bringing in funds for certain programs while trying to reduce cuts.
Jared Boardman
BHC School Dist. 1 Board Area A Deaver-Frannie
I’m happy to run again to represent the communities of Frannie and Deaver
and the entire Big Horn County School District #1.
As a former educator I feel strongly that the education offered in our
district is second to none. I know there are many challenges facing public education currently, but I feel blessed to represent such a great community and district.
I feel we have excellent administrators and educators, and I hope to continue to support them
in their important work. I’m proud to send my own children to be educated in our district.
Julie Michaels
BHC School Dist. 1 Board Area C Burlington
With 39 years of experience working for Big Horn County School District #1, I’ve served as a head teacher, mentor to multiple new employees and coach of basketball, volleyball and track. I am a 33-year member volleyball official for the Wyoming High School Activities Association. Throughout my career, I’ve observed the contrasts between policy and action, particularly when it comes to supporting those directly working with students. I advocate for a bottom-up approach in administration rather than a top-heavy structure. Additionally, I believe in transparency and open dialogue, as opposed to decisions being made behind closed doors in session meetings.
As a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and a lifetime teacher, I have spent many years working with children of all abilities -- ranging from gifted students to those with special needs. It is my firm belief that every child deserves equal access to the best education possible, regardless of their individual learning capabilities.
To achieve this, we must ensure that funding is distributed fairly to meet the diverse needs of all students. This means more support for educators who work directly with students, including teachers, aides and specialists. These are the individuals on the front lines, helping to shape the future, yet their resources are often limited.
Additionally, I believe it is time to take a closer look at salaries within our school districts. In particular, the number of employees and the compensation at the district office level should be scrutinized to ensure that resources are being used efficiently and that those who work directly with students are fairly compensated.
A strong educational system is built on the dedication of its teachers and staff, but for it to truly thrive, it must be backed by adequate and equitable funding.
Taliesha Beech
BHC School Dist. 1 Board Area B Byron
Please give us a brief biography.
I grew up in Lovell and attended Lovell High School. For the past 10 years I have enjoyed living in Byron. I have been married to my husband since 2021. We have a wonderful family with my stepdaughter and son. I work in Cowley, specializing in accounts payable. In my free time, I love spending time with my family and gardening.
What prompted you to seek office or re-election?
I wanted to make a positive impact in our community. Having grown up here, I have seen firsthand the challenges we face, and I am committed to making changes. My vision is that every child has access to resources, opportunities and support to help them succeed. I am committed to working with educators, parents and community members to address the challenges facing our schools and to ensure that every student can thrive.
What are your qualifications for office – strengths, experience, leadership style, etc.?
Although I do not have direct experience, I believe my strengths, qualities and leadership will make me a great choice for this position. My strengths include communication, strategic thinking and a strong work ethic. I am dedicated, empathetic and always willing to learn -- qualities that are essential for public service. My leadership style is collaborative; I believe in encouraging team members and having high team morale and having successful projects. These attributes, I believe, make me well-suited to service in this office.
What issues do you believe your district needs to address in its academic program and offerings? What changes would you recommend?
I believe our district needs to address achievement gaps, technology and support services. Firstly, I would ensure our schools provide the necessary tutoring and mentoring to help students succeed, and I advocate for incorporating more life skills education into the curriculum. Secondly, I would evaluate our technology and resources to ensure that both teachers and students have access to the tools they need. Lastly, I would enhance student support services, as it is crucial that all students receive the support they need to flourish.
With the future of school funding uncertain, what are your priorities for school district budgeting in regard to spending cuts, staffing and ways to enhance revenue?
Given the uncertainty in school funding, my primary goal is to secure grants and additional funding sources. I will actively pursue grants and collaborate with local businesses and community members to support our programs. My budgeting priorities for the school district include focusing on essential programs such as core academics, special education and extracurricular activities, while also optimizing operational efficiency. To enhance revenue, I will actively seek grants and develop community partnerships.
Wendy Fuller
BHC School Dist. 1 Board At Large
Please give us a brief biography.
My name is Wendy Fuller. My husband Ross I have lived and worked in Cowley/Lovell for over 20 years. We have four Rocky Mountain High School graduates, one son currently attending RMHS and two grandchildren who will eventually attend school here. I have taught math and economics at the collegiate level for 25 years, including at Northwest College and Brigham Young University Idaho. I also earned my teaching certification grade 6-12 with a Social Studies endorsement. My husband and I also own two local businesses and are actively involved in our church and community.
What prompted you to seek office or re-election?
Do you know that many of our students took eight or more major assessments last year, including two WY-TOPP and six Renaissance STAR tests? I understand the need for statistics and monitoring student growth, however, that level of testing is clearly excessive. Every one of those test days was a day teachers were not teaching new material. In fact, days leading up to the assessments were also dedicated to getting ready for the test. We are teaching to the test and missing the purpose of those tests – actual student learning. Furthermore, PLC (professional learning committees) meetings for teachers are not being used to improve lesson plans but are instead used to evaluate test results and creating more tests. Clearly, we are losing the trees for the forest. Students are getting lost even if our “statistics” look OK. Students are not statistics. I have also seen time, money and other resources being used to make teaching harder, or at very least not improving teaching or outcomes. Why are we spending thousands of dollars to bring in “experts” in math or other topics? We have on staff experts – that is why we hired teachers. But those teachers do not have time to develop basic lesson plans, let alone create interactive lessons that engage students. Years have been spent trying to tie curriculum to hundreds of specific standards and changing grading scales, but none of that has improved student outcomes. Much of the work tying into those standards is not even complete. In addition, I have seen ever increasing pressures on teachers to preform duties not directly improving outcomes for students and interfering with teacher’s ability to complete the work required of them. I see teacher morale suffering. As we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic, federal and state actors who set and influence educational policy often do not know or care about the concerns of students in Big Horn County. We need a strong and well-informed board member that will serve as a watchdog and a bulwark against educational policies that harm our children. None of these issues are being addressed by the current board. Instead, there seems to be a push for more statistics and talk.
What are your qualifications for office – strengths, experience, leadership style, etc.?
Because of my broad experience and conservative upbringing, I am uniquely qualified to stand up for teachers, students and parents against the bureaucracy. I have 30 years of experience in education at all levels. In college, I worked in Washington DC lobbying for increased education funding and saw firsthand the corruption of the Department of Education. There is no such thing as free money. All money has strings attached. I also spent years teaching fifth grade math to college age students. Those students were intelligent, but they graduated from our local high schools without basic skills. Teachers gave students calculators at too young of an age, and those students were disadvantaged. We now have the use of AI coming into our schools and ever-increasing use of tablets and computers in school. We need to make sure that modern technology helps our students, true. But too much time on screens has been proven to harm the health of children. Improper use of AI could harm student learning. Change can be wonderful, but someone must ask the question, “Will this help our students succeed?” Not all change is good change.
What issues do you believe your district needs to address in its academic program and offerings? What changes would you recommend?
Our students have the best resources available in the country. We have wonderful teachers, beautiful schools, small class sizes, strong communities and families and resources beyond most other schools in the nation. We should have students that can compete with any in the nation, but we don’t. Why? Because our schools are bogged down in bureaucracy. Our teachers are discouraged, our students bored. We need to make sure that teachers have time to teach. We need to make sure that resources are used wisely. Student learning must come first over all other priorities. Students need a path to succeed and excel no matter their academic standing. A good start would be to limit the number of tests that can be administered in the year. A second priority is to evaluate teacher job descriptions and minimized time spent on tasks not directly impacting student learning.
With the future of school funding uncertain, what are your priorities for school district budgeting in regard to spending cuts, staffing and ways to enhance revenue?
My first and most important question for every budget item put before the board is “How does this directly affect student outcomes?” and “Would this help teachers do their job?” Any budget item that directly helps students should take priority over those that do not.
Craig Jones
BHC School Dist. 1 Board Area C Burlington
Please give us a brief biography.
I was born and raised in the Big Horn Basin, growing up in Otto on a sheep ranch. My mother was a schoolteacher, and my father a rancher. I graduated from Burlington High School, then attended Ricks College and graduated from Idaho State University with a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree. I married my high school sweetheart, Leslie Iverson, and we have seven children and nine grandsons. We live on the family ranch in Otto and together own and operate three businesses in Basin: Basin Pharmacy, Copper Corner Café and Wheeler’s Basin Market.
What prompted you to seek office or re-election?
Having been selected to finish a term vacated by the resignation of Jesse Hamilton, I have only been on the board for a few months and am still on a steep learning curve. However, I have enjoyed the time spent on the board and am enjoying working with the other board members. There are areas where I feel my perspective and experience have helped and will continue to assist with decision making.
What are your qualifications for office – strengths, experience, leadership style, etc.?
Owning and operating multiple businesses has given me a wealth of experience in managing employees, working within a budget, maintaining physical facilities and dealing with multitudes of government regulations. Having lived the majority of my life here in the Big Horn Basin, I feel, has given me a good sense of the priorities and values of the school district. However, having lived several years in another state, I have been able to see the strengths and weaknesses of other school districts.
What issues do you believe your district needs to address in its academic program and offerings? What changes would you recommend?
We have an excellent, well run, school district, however I feel that for many years we have focused on preparing students for college to such an extent that we have
at times understated the importance of trades. Training as an electrician, plumber or an HVAC expert can be more valuable than some of the college degrees that are available. If you have needed to hire any of these professionals recently, you have noticed the need for more of them here in the Basin. I would like to see more opportunities and emphasis placed on the value of trades.
With the future of school funding uncertain, what are your priorities for school district budgeting in regard to spending cuts, staffing and ways to enhance revenue?
Our most valuable resource, our teachers, must be a priority. We need to make sure that they have the resources, time and compensation to fulfill their responsibilities. I am concerned with the number of students we are losing to home schooling. I feel we need to address this problem as it affects school funding and may negatively impact the overall education of the youth of the Big Horn Basin.
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