School Board Election Guide

Independent School District 77 (ISD 77) serves the greater Mankato area located in portions of Blue Earth, Nicollet, and LeSueur counties. It is governed by a 7-member school board. School board members are elected at large and serve four-year terms, with three or four seats open in a given election. To be eligible for election to the school board, individuals must be US citizens, eligible to vote, residents of the school district for at least 30 days before the election, and 21 years of age. They cannot be registered sex offenders and must not have any other affidavit on file for any other office in the same general election.

The school board serves as the governing and policymaking body for the school district. The school board manages district facilities and property and is responsible for hiring, supervising, and evaluating the superintendent. The school board has oversight over things like curriculum, personnel, facilities, and school policy. School board members serve on committees established by the board itself.

Standing committees include (among others) the Construction/Facilities Committee, Community Services Advisory Committee, Greater Mankato Growth Committee, Transportation Committee, Meet and Confer, Finance Committee, Citizens Energy Advisory Committee, Legislative Committee, and Policy Committee. The policymaking process generally begins with a proposal brought by the superintendent to the school board. Such proposals are open to the public for comment before the committee considers and votes on the proposal.

Early Learning	Elementary Schools	Middle Schools	High Schools
MAPS Preschool	Elementary Schools Bridges Eagle Lake Franklin Hoover Jefferson Kennedy Monroe Roosevelt Rose Parks Washington	Dakota Meadows Futures Prairie Winds	Central Freedom School Central High School Futures Mankato East Mankato West
Adult Education
Adult Education Adult Basic Education Community Education & Recreation

School Board Candidates - 4 Open Seats

Incumbents
	Christopher Kind Grew up in St. Peter Graduated from Bethany Lutheran College and Minnesota State Mankato. Married for 22 years with a 16-year-old adopted daughter Lot of new and positive priorities and initiative started within the district in the last year would like to help cross the finish line Has a Mankato East Cougar who benefits from specialized help and attended both, public and private schools, brings a unique perspective that prioritizes students, parents, and educators. Can provide a measured and independent perspective on important issues and collaborate as a team player Pleasure to serve with Board colleagues for the last four years, tackled important challenges and continue to lead with positive initiatives advancing the quality and reputation of ISD77
	Liz Ratcliff Two children who have graduated from Mankato East HS Grown stepchild who lives outside of Mankato Lived in Mankato since 1998. Current school board member in first term. Former federal civil servant of 13 years. Currently a digital strategist for an advertising firm and a climate justice activist. Graduated from Northern Michigan University in Biology. Public schools are the cornerstones of communities and our democracy Proud of our current board's accomplishments and excited to continue future-focused work. A positive working relationship and the momentum to really accelerate improvements within the district. Effectively advocate for students, staff. Energy and commitment to see the District continue to grow and be on the leading edge of providing a top-notch education for our community's kids and great jobs for teachers and staff. Dedicated to recruiting staff who reflect our student body and preparing the whole student for success after graduation. Helped develop a career pathway pilot program with a local business.
	Erin Roberts Three children, two in the district, grades 8 and 10, and oldest in college. Graduate of Mankato East HS. Attended Minnesota State University, Mankato with a BS in Corrections and an MPA (Master's in Public Administration). Lifelong member of the Mankato community. Health Equity Director for MN Department of Human Services, Direct Care and Treatment supporting Forensic Services. Responsible for leading statewide efforts to advance health equity within Direct Care and Treatment (OCT) and systemically address social determinants of health. Knows first-hand the benefits and challenges that attending school within ISO 77 brings and is motivated to continue to improve the district through the by continuing the work of the new strategic plan. Has witnessed the growth and change within the area, many of which have affected ISD 77. Strives to foster a culture of inclusion for all children. Hold all accountable for the success of the students' education in our community including Board Members, building staff, community stakeholders, family and friends. Serves as the district's School Board Clerk. Instrumental in the creation of the Equity Committee Advises senior leadership on resources, tools, implications, strategies, and best practices to inform decision-making through an equity lens, including: the strategic planning process, policy development, practice guidelines, and providing expert solution-oriented subject matter consultation for OCT employees as well as individuals served in OCT programs. As a person of mixed race, can bring a perspective that is different from some. Has the experience of knowing when voices are not heard and a group of individuals are disregarded in decision making and has brought that lens to the school board for the last few years.
New Candidates
	Tracy Frederick Corcoran Daughter is in 9th grade at Mankato West; Son is a 2023 graduate from Mankato West 15 years of experience in various roles within education-including elementary teacher, instructional coach, AVID district director, curriculum coordinator, and director of teaching and learning Developed a comprehensive understanding of the systems, structures, beliefs, and values that drive meaningful transformation in education Believe our role is crucial in shaping educational experiences, representing diverse voices, and developing policies that positively impact our students and our community. Committed to listening to all community members and ensuring their perspectives are accurately represented Strong commitment to excellence, which will continue to drive my efforts as a school board member Leverage diverse expertise and advocate for policies that support educators and students Engaging the community and driving innovation are central Ensuring the school district meets current needs and anticipates future challenges and opportunities Long-term vision for the school district includes ambitious goals for academic excellence, student and educator well-being, and strong community partnerships.
	Tim Flynn Father of five children. Owner of Kato Karate. Partnership with Greater Mankato United Way's Anti-Bullying committee Hosts a national podcast, Breaking Bullying Understand the significant impact that mental health has on their academic performance and overall learning experience. Care about implementing policies that help students and parents feel secure and nurtured in the school environment. National Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, CA, recognizes him as one of the Top Advocates to speak against bullying in the country.
	Elizabeth Hanke Business owner Mother of three daughters Family has hosted five exchange students. Daughters have attended high schools in Spain and the Netherlands, providing experience in various educational systems. Mentor at the YMCA and a volunteer teacher for Junior Achievement for over a decade. Understand families' challenges in ensuring quality education. Actively participated in legislative sessions and engaged with state representatives to advocate for educational policies. Suggested increasing the limit of exchange students within the district was adopted to enhance cross-cultural understanding. More transparent about behaviors, performance, and school safety issues. Continuously evaluate our academic interventions, replicate successful initiatives, and phase out those that are not effective.
	Joel Hollerich Four children in the district Grew up in Garden City Attended Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial Attended Mankato State University Moved to Madison Lake seven years ago from the metro Worked primarily in banking and/or non-profits Helped to coach baseball and football, and served at church in various roles for 25 yrs Recent work focused on housing for low and moderate-income families Mankato area needs people ready to work in healthcare, education, agriculture, manufacturing, trades, and services. School district should produce workers Experience in economics, finance, accounting, and banking, can help with budgeting and try to do more with less like the district seems to need to do each year Maintain our AP offerings. Keep band, and choir, and shop, and non-college prep classes Strategic roadmap has too little focus on academic success and too much focus on the school environment. Turning out too many students who cannot read, struggle with math, and can't think critically.

Note: This information has been compiled from the District 77 website at https://www.isd77.org/experience/school-board/elections-clone by volunteers from Indivisible St. Peter/Greater Mankato. These comparisons are not officially endorsed by any candidate. Voters are encouraged to visit candidates’ websites and reach out to campaigns for more information. Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name.