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:
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 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.
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.
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. |
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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
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.
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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