EDITOR’S NOTE: The May 18th ballot features dozens of opportunities to serve your community on local boards for our schools, ports, transportation district, recreation districts, water districts, fire districts and more. There is not a voters pamphlet for a primary/special election, therefore the Pioneer provides this opportunity for candidates to tell voters about themselves and the position they are seeking, even if running unopposed.
Tillamook County Pioneer CANDIDATE’S STATEMENT – 5 minute “why we should vote for you” pitch; include information about why you are running for the position and your TOP 3 most-important-issues facing the board/organization you wish to serve on.
MEET THE CANDIDATE: Becky Hogan-Heimerl, Tillamook School District #9 Director Position #2
I am a product of the Tillamook School District #9 system, graduating from THS in 1999 and Oregon State University with Bachelor of Science degrees in Animal Sciences and Agriculture Education in 2005. Growing up here and being involved in our school and community activities played a large part in helping me find my interests and passions in life. Once starting our own family, my husband Joe and I, realized how important it is to provide our children with the same experiences I had as a child. We knew this was where we wanted to raise our children, JD (3rd grade,) Arlee (2nd grade,) Nellie (kindergarten,) and Madelynn (age 2.) We love being a part of this community and the opportunities it provides for every member of our family.
Our schools are the foundation for the future. Investing in our youth, our schools and employees, and our community is essential. I care about the quality of education we are offering the youngest members of our community and understand how these early childhood experiences help shape future adults and community members. I want to help make sure our system is inclusive to all our students, we have options that work for our families and we help each student find success and prepare them for real world living. Well thought out, fiscally responsible and objective decisions that help make a difference in all our lives are important to me.
As school faculty, parents, students, and communities work together to bring our children back to the schools, evaluating the individual needs of our students and addressing them is of high concern. We will need to collaborate to understand the academic, emotional, and physical ability level of each student. Coursework and instruction for all levels will need to be tailored to each child. Additional support for students may be required as we work towards returning to a more normal resemblance of education. Whether families and students choose to return to in-person school or be a part of our virtual academy, making sure we are continuing to address the needs of the students and are serving each student to the best of our capacity is priority.
To help achieve a quality education for our students, developing a sense of connection, belonging and moral value in our faculty family is important. Providing support and guidance to our school employees is the foundation for student and school success. Our employees need to be appreciated and valued as part of the team. Their daily interactions with our students are life changing and helping our kids grow. Recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty that value our community and the traditions we hold here, is important to help our children receive a well-rounded educational experience.
I want to ensure each of our students are educationally equipped to lead a successful life. I believe in hands on, real world learning opportunities, educational choices, enrichment through organized experiences and activities, and sound curriculum. There is a path for each of our students and our schools need to be equipped with the knowledge, resources, and tools to help each student find the right fit for them. Inspiring, mentoring and assisting our kids to apply themselves and move into a better future is in my opinion the end goal. I want to be a part of this mission and be one of the local folks overseeing the work of educating our children, our future.