Nov 18, 2019

>Journal of the K-12 Revolution: Essays and Research from Minneapolis, Minnesota<, Vol. VI, No. 4, October 2019 >>>>> Article #3


Article #3

 

Self-Descriptions Written by Members of the

Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education

 

The following descriptions were written by the MPS Board of Education members themselves and entered on the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) Board of Education portal of the MPS website:

 

Nelson.Inz@mpls.k12.mn.us
Board of Education, Chair
612.206.5284
Term: 2019-2023 | 
District 5


In his second term, Director Inz is a 6th-grade teacher at Parkway Montessori and Community Middle School in St Paul. His twin boys, Gus and George, attend Whittier International Elementary. His family has a long history in MPS. His Grandmother was a Kindergarten teacher at Clara Barton, and his mother is a graduate of West High School. He was also a substitute teacher and coach in MPS before earning his teaching license over ten years ago.




Kimberly.Caprini@mpls.k12.mn.us  | 612.876.1838
Board of Education, Vice-Chair
Term: 2019-2023 | 
At-Large

Kimberly grew up in North Minneapolis and remembers what it was like to have a true sense of community with schools and your neighborhood. After her children started to attend schools on the Northside, she became active on the Jenny Lind Elementary, Olson Middle School, Northeast Middle School, Loring Community School, Harrison High School, Family Community Involvement Committee, and Northside Schools Collective as well several MPS district site councils and committees.

Director Caprini’s mission is to rebuild parent trust in Minneapolis Public Schools. She will work to provide parents and community members with opportunities to be heard and encourages parents to become involved in their schools through parent groups and by attending events to cultivate the relationships with those who come into contact with our kids. As an At-Large School Board representative, this will be a large part of her work; to build those important relationships while growing trust in the district.




Kim.Ellison@mpls.k12.mn.us
Board of Education, Clerk
612.418.3657
Term: 2017-2021 |  
At-Large


Kim Ellison brings a wealth of experience to the school board working for organizations that serve students and families and a background informed by 12 years of teaching. She has served on the LearningWorks at Blake advisory board and the Parents United for Public Schools Board for nine years.

Kim is passionate about addressing the achievement gap and is a firm believer that building relationships with students is key to their success. She asserts that it is necessary to take a well-rounded approach to educating students. Nutrition, health care, after-school programs, and enrichment opportunities all support academic achievement. 


She was first appointed to the Minneapolis Board of Education in January 2012 to fill a vacancy after Lydia Lee resigned and began her first elected term in January 2013, representing the northwest side of Minneapolis in District 2. Kim was re-elected in 2016 to serve as a citywide board member.

In her free time, Kim enjoys spending time with her four children, reading, swimming and bike riding. 




Jenny.Arneson@mpls.k12.mn.us
Board of Education, Treasurer
612.382.0734
Term: 2019-2023 |  
District 1


Jenny represents district 1, comprised of northeast and southeast Minneapolis. Jenny earned her bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf and master’s degree from the University of Minnesota, both degreesin social work. Jenny is a third generation Edison graduate. She lives in Northeast with her husband and three sons who have followed their community school pathway and now attend Northeast Middle School and Edison High School.


Jenny’s professional experience, primarily in North Minneapolis, includes working with pregnant and parenting teens, leading social skill groups in Minneapolis Public Schools and providing emergency services for families. Her passion lies in fighting for strong urban schools.




Siad.Ali@mpls.k12.mn.us
Board of Education, Director
612.206.5204
Term: 2019-2023 | 
District 3


A passionate advocate for all children maximizing their potential whether native-born or immigrant, Director Siad Ali began his work with the Minneapolis School Board in 2014. Re-elected in 2018, he remains committed to helping bridge academic and economic inequities while increasing the proficiencies of all students.


Concurrent with his school board role, Director Ali serves as Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s Outreach Director —and has for eleven years — focusing on immigration and community outreach.

His educational background includes teaching at Riverland Community College in Owatonna, working as a career counselor at the city’s Workforce Center, and serving on the Human Rights Commission. He also served on Allina Hospital’s Board of Trustees in Owatonna.

He has a master’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota and is currently a doctoral candidate in educational leadership.  Before immigrating to the United States, he lived in India for eight years, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Commerce & Computers from Osmania University (Hyderabad, India); a master’s degree of Commerce from Bundelkhand University (Jhansi, India); and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Pune, India.

Originally, from Somalia, Ali is the proud parent of five children and lives in Minneapolis.


KerryJo.Felder@mpls.k12.mn.us
Board of Education, Director
612.757.6470
Term: 2017-2021|  
District 2

KerryJo Felder is a graduate of North High’s Summatech Program. She believes in giving our students an education that will prepare them for the future. Coming from poverty, she is insistent to make sure that there are adequate steps available for our children to succeed.

She has been an education activist for the Northside since 2010, beginning with being a part of stopping the closure of North High School. She has been a part of many education groups focusing from budget to programs and believes in having the parents and community included to help make key decisions.

She is a bonus-mom to four beautiful children, of which two are MPS students.

Her hobbies are reading, sci-fi books and movies, talking to parents and fighting for justice across many issues.
Ira.Jourdain@mpls.k12.mn.us
Board of Education, Director
612.757.6469
Term: 2017-2021 |  
District 6



Ira Jourdain was born in Red Lake, Minnesota and is an enrolled member of the Red Lake Band of Ojibue. Jourdain has four children; two of them are currently enrolled at Bancroft Elementary School. He’s been involved in his children’s schools through volunteer work and serving on various site councils.
It’s his work in human services as a Minnesota Family Investment Program Manager— helping families overcome challenges like domestic abuse, substance abuse and affordable housing — along with his experience as a Native American parent that compelled Jourdain to run for the school board. He has a keen understanding of what many families face.

Jourdain is a resident of the Kingfield neighborhood in Southwest Minneapolis
Board of Education, Director



Josh.Pauly@mpls.k12.mn.us | 612.978.4936
Term: 2019-2023  
| At-Large



Josh Pauly has spent time in schools all across MPS. As an undergrad student, he volunteered for 2 years at Edison High School. As a graduate student, he was a student teacher at Southwest High School and a substitute teacher at Lucy Laney and Bethune. As a licensed teacher, Josh taught social studies and AVID for three years at Sanford Middle School.
Josh is focused on equitable decision-making, good governance, and academic achievement. Josh has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s of education from the University of Minnesota. He rents in south Minneapolis with his wife, Megan.

Bob.Walser@mpls.k12.mn.us
Board of Education, Director
612.757.6427
Term: 2017-2021 | 
District 4


Educator, scholar and musician Bob Walser’s career spans decades and continents. In the early 1980s he worked in the education department at Mystic Seaport, one of the largest maritime museums in the USA. Since then he has presented Folklore In Action folk music and dance programs as an artist-in-residence in schools across the USA, and performed as a singer, dance leader and dance musician from Maine to California and overseas. As a scholar, Bob earned his Ph.D. in ethnomusicology at the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies, with research exploring music teaching and learning across cultural difference. His music and education research has been published in the Folk Song Journal (UK), Folk Life (UK) and publications by Mel Bay and World Music Press (USA).          
                                                                                     
Student Representative Janaan Ahmed               
Board of Education, Student Representative
StudentRepresentative@mpls.k12.mn.us
Term: Jan. 2019- Dec. 2019  |  
At Large


Janaan is a leader both inside and outside of her school community. She hopes to empower students to create the change they want to see in their schools. Ahmed serves as Vice President of Citywide Student Council for Minneapolis Public Schools, has been a member of the Minneapolis Youth Congress, sat on the Beacons Leadership Team, participated in panel discussions and seminars on diverse topics throughout the city and across the country, and participated for more than eight years in Girls Inc.

Henry staff describe Ahmed as a powerful voice for change in their school community. Principal Yusuf Abdullah spoke highly of her efforts to make a difference at Henry.
The Student Representative provides an important perspective and gives voice to those at the heart of the district’s work: MPS students. The Board of Education has appointed a student representative since 2015.
 

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