Michael Brannaman
Mount Vernon School Board
Biography (where did you go to school, hobbies, job/profession, experience, family):
I am a second-generational Mount Vernon Alumni (Class of 2006) and a multi-generational farmer in the community. My wife, Sara, is a 2007 MV alumni. We have three daughters, two of which are enrolled in the school district and one at home. I hold my BS in Agriculture Business and Economics from Iowa State University. In addition to farming full time, I previously held an adjunct instructor position in the Department of Agriculture at Kirkwood Community College for five years. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling with my family, playing a sub-par game of golf and cheering on the Cyclones.
Give us your assessment of the district. What is going well; what would you like to see changed?
I have many wonderful memories spending my entire K-12 school career in MVCSD. It has always provided many wonderful teachers and administrators to help guide students from many walks of life. I want MVCSD to return and continue on the path of being a top-notch school district, one in which there is a good level of transparency and trust between the school district and the Mount Vernon community.
A major division in portions of the elementary school curriculum has come to my attention in which I would love to help create and ensure a level-headed solution. Also, I would love to see more rural outreach and to ensure our students who do not a take a “traditional” path to secondary education are provided the skill set they need to pursue a career straight out of high school. In order to do this, we would need the opportunity for more industry applied curriculum.
Why are you running? Is there a specific issue you plan to champion?
Obviously, the retirement of Dr. Batenhorst and the selection of his replacement is incredibly important for the up incoming school board. I would love to make sure the district will choose the proper replacement to help guide MVCSD back to the top at all levels.
As a long-time resident, alumni and now parent with two daughters currently in the school system, I became interested in how the district prioritizes public funds and ensures quality education.
If you are elected, what would you like to see happen during your term of office?
I would like to see the selection of an excellent replacement for Dr. Batenhorst who will continue to push for excellence in education throughout the school system and for better transparency and trust amongst the MVCSD and the entire community.
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
It is my goal to continue to make Mount Vernon a school district that everyone can be proud to send their children to, no matter where you come from, what you believe, or how you identify. Our children deserve the best no matter what.
Tim Keegan
Mount Vernon School Board
Biography (where did you go to school, bobbies, job/profession, experience, family)
My wife Abby and I live just south of Mount Vernon with our two boys, Caleb (15 in 10th grade) and Beau (12 in 6th grade). We moved to Mount Vernon in 2006 when I worked for Cargill as a Nutritionist consulting across the Midwest. Since 2009 I’ve been farming and running a small business full time. I am originally from Cedar Rapids and a graduate of Kennedy High School. After high school, I completed my B.S. at Iowa State and was awarded an assistantship to complete my M.S. at Kansas State. I have been a volunteer Firefighter and First Responder for over 20 years. I currently on the Mount Vernon Fire Department where I serve as a Captain and Treasurer/Secretary of our Association. I serve on the Finance Council of our local church and enjoy spending time as a 4H Volunteer. I’ve had the opportunity to travel in South America via the Global Farmer Network sharing best practices in Sustainable Agriculture.
Give us your assessment of the district. What is going well; what would like to see changed?
I think one of our biggest strengths within the district is community engagement. I saw the opposite growing up in a much larger district. Our community is very involved with our kids and does a lot to support them. With the growing size of our district, we need to keep focus here. It will also be imperative to ensure we have an attractive program to retain and recruit the best teachers. We need to be conscious that educators can go to a larger district and make more money with better benefits. The current board has started the conversations on opportunities to help support our staff through better benefits and I believe it will be important the new board continues. Educators work in a challenging environment, and to do their best, they need our support – not just compensation, but with expectations and boundaries. I hope these can be resolved through communication between the district and parents. I believe parents should have the right to know what is being taught to their children and have options. At the same time, parents should not have the right to limit or exclude options for children not their own. I believe it is the districts job to help educate the parent on the requirements needed to be met at the state level and it is the parent’s job to be invested in their child’s education and work with teachers for other options if they don’t agree. Propose a solution with every complaint.
Why are you running? Is there any issues you plan to champion?
I will be the first to tell you, I am not an expert in education, but that is where I believe I’ll add value by adding an unbiased outside view. Through my experiences, I know what it takes to work both for a large cooperation and own a small business. I have one item that I want to champion, and I have been very open about it. My goal is to ensure we are preparing our kids for all options post high school. It does not matter if they are going to a trade school, four-year university, community college, or straight into the work force. As a board, I want to evaluate our non-core classes to look for opportunities to expand or improve.
If you are elected, what would you like to see happen during your term of office?
Very simple- my goal is the district, our kids, and the community communicate better than today. I would like to see short and long-term goals set and communicated for the district. We need to get our teachers, staff, parents, and students involved with these goals. As a board, our job will be to communicate these goals with timelines and accountability.
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
We are starting to see a lot of division on the role of our teachers and schools within this country. Schools board elections shouldn’t be political. We all have differing opinions and ideas and one thing is for sure- we won’t always agree. For the sake of our youth, we must set an example with better communication, respect, and compromise. No individual or group has asked me to run for school board. I have not sought nor accepted any endorsement, nor endorsed any other candidate. If my responses seem vague, that is because I don’t have all the answers. I would be cautious of anyone or their agenda that says they do. I believe all the candidates come from different perspectives and can offer value to our district. It is ok to disagree. Disagreement can lead to change and if we do not have change then we can not be better tomorrow.
Suzette Kragenbrink
Mount Vernon School Board
Biography (where did you go to school, hobbies, job/profession, experience, family):
I graduated from Northwood-Kensett and then attended college at Iowa State. My husband’s job brought us to Mount Vernon in 1991. While teaching at Springville, I also finished my Masters in Library Science at the University of Iowa in 1994. I started working at Mount Vernon as the High School Teacher Librarian in the fall of 1995 and added the middle school to my duties in 2009. I earned my National Boards in 2008 and renewed them in 2018. While working at Mount Vernon Community Schools I was also the president of the Mount Vernon Education Association for over 20 years. In May of 2022 I retired from Mount Vernon. Currently I am working half-time as a teacher librarian at Kenwood Leadership Academy in the Cedar Rapids Community School District..
My husband Mike, has worked at Cornell in the business office since 1993. Our three sons graduated from Mount Vernon in 2013, 2016 and 2020.
When not working or walking my dog around Mount Vernon, I enjoy gardening, biking and playing cards with friends and READING.
Give us your assessment of the district. What is going well; what would you like to see changed?
The district has done a great job of short term and long term planning. When a bond issue failed in the fall of 2016 the district had to prioritize needs. Seven years later, the district has achieved building both an auditorium and outdoor activity center with one bond issue and much fundraising. Continuing to see the needs of the district and what facilities are required to support these needs is a huge accomplishment.
The district has also done a great job to see the needs of our students by increasing staffing. Adding ELP teachers back to both the elementary and middle school, increasing the number of counselors at the high school to help meet the social emotional needs of students as well as academic guidance and continuing to offer reading classes at the middle school are just a few positions that directly affect student instruction.
What could we do better? “Good is the enemy of greatness” as quoted by Jim Collins. Mount Vernon Schools should celebrate all of their successes! This success should then be followed by the next set of goals — constantly pushing the bar higher, wanting all students to be successful, giving all students opportunities, and continuing to make Mount Vernon the school of choice.
Why are you running? Is there a specific issue you plan to champion?
My primary reason for running for school board is the selection of the district’s superintendent.
Our next superintendent should be a strong instructional leader; supporting our principals and teachers as well as motivating them to achieve. Our next superintendent should also be a strong communicator to all stakeholders; making them aware of the district’s vision but also listening and working toward consensus. The leader of the district also needs to be committed to equity and inclusion of all students. They need to be part of creating a school environment where students feel safe, valued and supported. Finally, the superintendent needs to be a strong manager of resources and employees; setting priorities and making sound decisions.
As a lifelong educator, I want to advocate to our state legislators and lobbyists about the needs of public education in Iowa. State funding has not kept up with the cost of inflation for most expenses of a district. Education Legislation passed over the last two years has been exclusionary in nature.
If you are elected, what would you like to see happen during your term of office?
MVCSD has done a good job of long and short term planning. This type of planning helps to create a vision for the district vs listening to the loudest voices in the room. Mount Vernon’s next school board and superintendent need to continue improving the district for students, families and teachers.
I would appreciate your vote.
Doug Plotz
Mount Vernon School Board
Biography (where did you go to school, hobbies, job/profession, experience, family):
I grew up in Cedar Rapids. My wife grew up in the Mount Vernon School District and graduated from Mount Vernon in 1968. We have been married for 53 years and have three children who also graduated from Mount Vernon school. We have nine grandchildren, with one having graduated from Mount Vernon in2022 and one is a senior who will graduate in 2024, and another who is in 10th grade. We have a son, daughter and daughter in law who are teachers. My hobbies are gardening and carpentry. I have worked in factories for most of my life learning to operate different types of equipment. I have learned to work together as a team to achieve the goal needed. I have served in a leadership position at my church with four others where we had many financial decisions knowing we are accountable to spend the congregation’s money wisely.
Give us your assessment of the district. What is going well what would you like to see changed?
As a father and grandfather, I care about our school kids achieving the highest quality education we can provide for them. Mount Vernon Schools are, in my opinion, doing a great job of this. I want to see that continue and will, if elected, work with the other board members to continue or even exceed these levels of achievements.
Why are you running? Is there a specific issue you plan to champion?
Between our three children and our three grandchildren we have been on the receiving end of all that Mount Vernon school has done for them. I would like to recruit, reward and retain great teachers. I have three teachers in my family and see many of their needs. I would work to see that our property tax dollars are spent wisely. I would provide curriculum that prepares students to be great at whatever may come next in their lives, whether joining the workforce or continuing their education through college or vocational training.
If you are elected, what would you like to see happen during your time in office?
I would like to try helping the teachers more. I would ask them what would help you most? What do other school districts offer that you would like to see happen here? I am also concerned with rising property taxes. I would try to see that every dollar spent would be for what I believe is the purpose of schools and that for our children to get the very best education possible.
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
It would be an honor to be on the Mount Vernon School Board, but also a tremendous responsibility. It would mean the people of this community have trusted us with the care of their children’s education. This is a responsibility I would take very seriously.
Nathan Wolter
Mount Vernon School Board
Biography:
I grew up not far from Mount Vernon in Dubuque, and attended Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. Upon graduation from Kirkwood, I attended and graduated from the University of Iowa. I am the Vice President of Business Development for a technology solutions company based out of Davenport.
The unique and supportive Mount Vernon community and school district is what led my wife, Megan, and I to choose Mount Vernon as our home in 2018. Our hope is for our three young children to all graduate from Mount Vernon and experience the excellence and opportunities the school district has to offer. My family and I love being a part of the Mount Vernon community and taking part in the wonderful events and organizations it has to offer.
Assessment of the district:
MVCSD has a strong community of support and acceptance. The district is also highly ranked regionally, statewide, and nationally with strong academic standards. In addition, MVCSD nurtures impressive athletic and performing arts programs throughout all levels. Though we have many strengths, we need to consider what we can do to continue to attract and retain great teachers and staff. This becomes difficult being located so close to larger, more financially attractive markets.
Why I am running:
What first drew me to run for the board is the important decision of selecting the next Superintendent to lead our district. This decision will lay the groundwork for the years to come. My mission, if elected, would be to ensure all students receive a high-quality education in an environment that fosters learning and support. I’m approaching this with a “listen first” mindset, so I can first understand what the students, teachers, parents, and community need from MVCSD. This will then give direction for the future decisions and actions that will allow MVCSD to excel for its students and community.
What I would like to see happen:
In addition to selecting a new superintendent, it is also important that a strong strategic plan be put in place to give the district clear direction on what the future can look like. This will also give a benchmark to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation. I support open and constructive discussions and it’s essential that everyone be involved in creating the strategic plan, so it can truly represent what we as a district need.
Other items to share:
I do not associate with any group and have no hidden agenda. I welcome diversity and differences in opinions because both offer unique points of views and create great dialog and discussion, which brings the best solutions. My experiences in hiring, performance review processes, budgeting and forecasting, and being an executive leader in an organization, lay a strong foundation to drive our district forward in the coming years. Go Mustangs!

Gallery • 4 Photos

SYSTEM

Tim Keegan