Fox, Young, Green, Goetz elected to school board
Published 4:40 am Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Incumbents Angie Goetz, Don Fox and Kathy Green will continue on the Austin Public Schools Board, and they’ll be joined by newcomer Peggy Young
Fox received the most votes in Tuesday night’s election with 4,736, Goetz followed with 4,234, Green was a close third at 4,231, and Young received 3,979. The four beat out Lisa Haase, who received 2,937 votes, and Rolando Benitez Ocampo, who received 1,831.
“I feel like I’m a young kid who just scored a touchdown,” Fox said. “I’m just pleased that the community would have that much faith in me to do the job that’s supposed to be done.”
Fox, who is currently retired, taught in Michigan for five years and served as a guidance counselor, a football coach and a physical education teacher. He was the principal at Southgate Elementary School and the assistant principal at Austin High School. He’s taken a few interim positions as principal.
Fox hopes to focus on growing elementary programs during the next term, solidifying the current programs and expanding technology after that. He said the teachers and administrators are doing well, and he hopes to continue that.
“We’re on the right track and that’s what counts,” Fox said. “Students are learning.”
Green was also excited about her win and was thankful for the slate of candidates who sought election. She is excited to welcome Peggy Young to the board.
“I look forward to working with the new board as it’s comprised,” Green said. “I look forward to working hard for the district, continuing to keep on top of the needs the kids have in the district.”
Green has a bachelor’s degree for dental hygiene. She’s served on the school board for about 15 years and has been a director for Minnesota Schools Boards Association. She is also a trustee and vice president for the Minnesota Public Employee Retirement Association. With her dental hygiene degree, she also helps her husband with his dental practice.
Green hopes to look at curriculum in the coming term, making sure it fits Austin Public Schools and that it will work well for the students.
“[It’s about] how can we support the classroom,” she said.
Goetz was excited to start the new term and was happy that voters voted in her favor.
“I’m just so excited and honored; it’s a privilege to get to serve on the Austin Public Schools Board and I’m just really excited to start my next term,” she said.
Goetz has worked as a substitute teacher, as a dance coach, and she has worked as a college admissions counselor. She also worked as a volunteer mentor and a youth group leadership member. She currently works as the property manager for an apartment complex.
Goetz hopes to focus on the student achievement gap and make sure students are set up to be the best they can and get the most out of their education.
“Whatever it takes,” she said.
Although Young won’t start her first term until January, she is already chomping at the bit to get started.
“It was nerve-racking waiting, but now that the numbers are in I just want to get to work,” she said.
She plans to spend some time learning the ropes of her new position, but she hopes to jump in quickly and focus on bringing career and technical programs back into the schools.
“Forming those partnerships with industries to bring technical instruction into the high school,” she said.
Young was on the parent teacher council at Southgate Elementary School and was involved at Ellis Middle School and in the I.J. Holton Intermediate School project. She has worked full time for 23 years at Riverland Community College in training and development, working closely with industry partners in the workforce. She has also been an agent for Sterling Real Estate for about 13 years.
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