Des Moines teacher elected to Urbandale school board
URBANDALE, Iowa — Dan Gutmann’s daily life revolves about education, and the Des Moines Community Schools elementary teacher hoped to make an impact in his hometown of Urbandale. Gutmann bought his desire when he was elected to Urbandale’s faculty board this 7 days.
Gutmann defeated Steve Avis 56 % to 44 % in a particular election for Judy Downs’ vacant university board seat on Tuesday.
“Teaching and getting on a school board, which is all section of the exact mission,” Gutmann said. “We want men and women to be smart, we want them to be knowledgeable.”
Gutmann and his family members live in Urbandale although he teaches distinctive education at Mary Jackson Elementary College in Des Moines. He mentioned the tensions between some members of the public and college boards through the pandemic assisted motivate him to run for leadership in Urbandale.
“Teachers and public schooling have been below assault for also very long now,” Gutmann mentioned. “I definitely feel that public education and learning is the basis of our democracy.”
This is Gutmann’s 2nd time on the ballot he came in fourth in the course of past November’s election for a few open Urbandale college board seats.
He’s self-confident his perspective as a teacher will add value to the school board, in particular as some educators reconsider no matter whether they want to keep on their job.
“We have to make certain we have plenty of skilled grown ups in the constructing, we just can’t do nearly anything if we do not have more than enough older people in the constructing,” Gutmann claimed. “As one particular of the folks with boots on the ground, I’m knowledgeable of what’s heading to get the job done and what’s not heading to function, and I can undoubtedly suggest the other university board customers and the superintendent. We have acquired to assist our kiddos. We’ve got to help our lecturers. We’ve acquired to be vocal about it.”
Urbandale’s next school board assembly is scheduled for August 22.
