Read about the 2009 candidates! View PDF
Abdighani M. Ali: Parent, Banaadir Academy
Assistant Director @Banaadir Academy
Registered Imam (minister) @ Hennepin County
Former Executive Director of Somali Communities of America
Founder of Islamic Foundation of America
Former VP of Ihsan Relief Organization- www.ihsanrelief.org
Director of Al-furqan Institute of Arabic and Islamic Education (weekend program)
Education
Computer Programming, AA degree @ Minneapolis Comm and Tech College
Business Management, Bachelor @ St. Mary’s University Minneapolis.
Islamic Law, Master candidate @ Islamic University of Minnesota, Robbinsdale, MN www.iumn.net
J. Deana Cavaliere: Parent, ComArts High School
My name is Deana and I am running for one of the parent positions on the Board. I have lived in the Twin Cities since 1999, residing in St. Louis Park, and now currently, Richfield. My daughter has attended the CommArts High School since March 2008. My background is in art and design. I attended The Art Institutes International Minnesota and received a BS in Interior Design. Upon graduating, I began teaching classes at AI, specializing in architectural history, materials, textiles, concept development and residential design. I taught for 3 years before returning to school to obtain a master’s degree. Last year I completed an MFA program in Ecological Architecture at Vesper College in Minneapolis.
While parenting is my number one priority, I do devote a lot of my time to creative and cultural pursuits. I spend time writing poetry and philosophizing. Last year I was one of four finalists in the Greatest American Thinker essay contest. I placed second in the philosophical debate portion of the contest (please visit www.think-off.org). While I still teach the occasional class, I have focused my career efforts on working with high school study abroad students. I spent last summer working at MSP for Youth for Understanding, assisting students as they traveled. I also supervise international students as a local coordinator for the organization of CIEE. In February, I will be joining the staff of International Experience, based out of Germany, as the Area Supervisor for Minnesota and Iowa. I love meeting kids from all over the world!
It has been the path of my life experience that has led me to wanting to serve on this school board. It was frustration with suburban school districts that led me to enroll my daughter at the CommArts High School. I truly value the individual attention my child receives, the wonderful relationships she has developed with staff members, and the opportunity she has to take classes in visual arts, one of her strengths. I have had the pleasure of giving presentations in some of my daughter’s classes. I am at the school often and know the staff well. I have also spent time at the Tech Site and the PEASE Academy. I am struck by the patience, enthusiasm, and dedication of the staff I see thru-out the MTS system. As a parent, I have often expressed my gratitude to the people who work with my daughter, but I can do more. I can offer my help and commit to working alongside for this most worthy of causes. During the time I spend with international students, I often ask them about their educational system back home. It is painfully obvious that the US is woefully lacking in its educational standards, as compared to other countries. As a community member, I can contribute by becoming more involved in the process, rather than being an outsider looking in.
I wholly support the mission of the MTS family of schools. As a board member, I have to offer the following: I am thoughtful and articulate; I am trained in finding creative solutions to problems; I have the ability to draw creativity out in others; I embrace diversity and offer a global perspective; and I have a vested interest in the quality of my daughter’s education. Please allow me the privilege of serving on this Board.
David Jacobsen: Parent, MN Connections Academy
Born and raised in North East Minneapolis, I am a life long resident of Minneapolis and the northern suburbs. Out of necessity I worked from a very young age until graduating from Edison High School. I then enlisted in the military to gain entrance into Navy “A” school. I was honorably discharged after four years of active duty and two years of reserve status. Worked for ABC Vending, Augsburg Publishing, Honeywell, and Onan. Employed by Onan for thirty-nine years. Over that period of time there were seven buy-outs and management changes with each transition being less than smooth. During my working career I attended night school. Four years at Dunwoody Institute enabled me to obtain my Class A Master Electrical license. Promoted into management. Then enrolled for one year in Anoka Ramsey College. Transferred to St. Thomas for four years and then transferred to University of Minnesota for five years. During my life I have participated in community boards, programs, and organizations as an active problem-solving contributor. I would like to serve on the board because I believe that my experience would be an asset. I am a product of public education. I have put three children through public school, and now feel that it is time to give back.
Jill Bachman: SpEd Teacher, ComArts High School
I have lived and worked in Minnesota for the past 11 years. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of MN, in Sociology and am currently obtaining my Masters Degree in Education from Augsburg College. I am currently the Special Education Teacher at the Communication Arts High School with a License in Emotional Behavioral Disorder and Learning Disabilities. I also teach part time at Stillwater and Oak Park Heights Prisons as the Special Education Teacher.
I feel strongly that outstanding educational opportunities should be available to everybody, infants to adults. I believe that the arts, choir, film and music programs that are available to MTS students helps spark and maintain their educational interests. I also believe that the MTS school district faces many challenges especially when it comes to allocating scarce resources among competing parties. I am in favor of directing more resources towards getting and maintaining high quality teachers that allows for adequate classroom support for our students. Since the teachers are at the forefront of the battlefield, they need to have the resources necessary for them to perform their jobs and provide each and every student with the education they need and deserve.
Tylor Coley: Math Teacher, MTS Middle School
I am Tylor Coley and I would like to enter my candidacy to be a member of the MTS District School Board. I have over twenty years in the workforce and my vast experiences lend well to my offering fresh perspectives and insights into educating our children and assisting in managing duties that come with being a board member.
I graduated from High School in 1985 from Concord H.S., Elkhart, IN. I attended Grace College & Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, IN where I maintained a 3.0 G.P.A. while majoring in both Business Administration and Communications and playing both Basketball and Baseball on an athletic scholarship. I graduated from Grace in the spring of 1989.
From college I went on to play professional basketball. My travels in basketball took me to Australia, Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium. Upon completing my stint of playing basketball I entered Corporate America for several years and held the following positions:
Sara Lee Hosiery – Sales Associate
Procter & Gamble – Sales Representative
Kraft Foods – Sales Representative for
NBC Sports, New York – Production Associate, Associate Producer, Feature Producer, Production Manager, & Remote Field Engineer
Twin Cities Public Television – Production Manager, Line Producer
Interspersed in my corporate dealings I have always matriculated back to working with young people, always knowing this was going to be my final career trek. I have worked in the following roles on my journey to become a classroom teacher:
Full-Time Substitute & Boys Varsity Assistant Basketball Coach – Concord H.S., Elkhart, IN
Full-Time Substitute & Boys Varsity Assistant Basketball Coach – Heritage Christian H.S., Milwaukee, WI
School Safety Aide/Building Security/JV Boys Basketball Coach – Riverside University H.S.
Youth Mentor/Sports Video Production – Mitchell Green Community Center, Bronx, NY
Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach – St. Paul Arlington H.S.
tc hoops basketball training – Minneapolis, MN
theplayingfield.net sports academy – Minneapolis, MN
As a licensed educator I have taught in the following capacities:
5th grade teacher – LaFollette Elementary, Milwaukee, WI
Business Teacher – St. Paul Arlington H.S., St. Paul, MN
Full- Substitute – St. Paul Public Schools, St. Paul, MN
6th grade teacher – ISD 191, Burnsville, MN
6th grade teacher – Harvest Preparatory School, Minneapolis, MN
Computer Teacher & IT Manager – Harvest Preparatory School, Minneapolis, MN
Title I Math Teacher – Minnesota Transitions School, Minneapolis, MN
I have been extremely fortunate to have experienced a great many things. I have managed large monetary budgets for live television remote productions. I have extensive experience in logistics and personnel management. I have had the opportunity to sale, pitch, and promote ideas to a multitude of audiences – from corporate suits to community advocates. And finally, I have experienced the education of our youth on a great many levels – from the inner cities of the
Bronx, NY to the private schools of affluent Minnesota. I have a huge base of knowledge to draw from in a great number of arenas and would like to use them as a board member for MTS.
Raunn Clarence Finley: SpEd Teacher, MN Virtual High School
Raunn Clarence Finley is the oldest of ten children, and the first to obtain a college degree on his Mother’s side of the family. This is important to know, because he has seen first-hand the strengths and weaknesses of the educational processes. Clarence graduated from Saint Cloud State Universtiy with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education with an emphasis in Learning Disabilities. Clarence graduated with Summa Cum Laude which is the highest honors with respect to Grade Point Average. Clarence decided to complete his student-teaching in both St. Cloud and Shanghai,China.During his time at Saint Cloud State University, Clarene worked in Elementary, Middle School and High School settings. Clarence brings a Multi-Cultural angle to his education philosophy. Clarence’s educational philosophy is that students are more than capable of plotting the course for their future, but they need the assistance of an educator to genuinely take interest in their pursuits and help them find their way among the ever-changing educational system. Clarence is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Educational Administration at the University of Minnesota at Twin Cities. Clarence was recently hired by Minnesota Virtual High School as a Case Manager for students with Special Needs. Clarence is pursuing a position on the Board for the primary reason of serving the needs of the students and their guardians.
Lynne Sherry: ESL Teacher, Banaadir Academy
My name is Lynne Sherry and I am the ESL teacher/coordinator at MTS-Banaadir Academy. I grew up in the Twin Cities area and received my degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead. I graduated with an emphasis and license to teach kindergarten through sixth grade. After graduating I began teaching middle school literature at a private school in Anoka, MN. From that experience I moved on to teaching first grade and working with kindergarten students in a latchkey program. I continued my education with Hamline University receiving my Masters of Arts in Education and my ESL license.
I want to be a part of the school board because I believe that there are always ways to improve things. I am extremely interested in finding out the best way to meet the needs of all of our students here at MTS.
