Candidate: Joshua Hellyer

There are few greater responsibilities than the education of the next generation. Those with the single greatest interest in this process are parents who trust the school district to prepare their children for the challenges of adult life. The goal most parents have for their children is to provide them with skills and knowledge to allow them to succeed. This should also be the goal of anyone serving as a member of the school board. Our goal should be to engage with parents and provide policies and recommendations that enable our children to achieve incredible things.

I have spent the last 20 years in various leadership roles in the Intelligence, Business, and Ecclesiastical communities. In every one of these industries, I have constantly been involved in training, instructional system design, and educational policy decisions. As an intelligence analyst, one of the first things we learn is how to avoid confirmation bias and employ multiple factors into our analysis. The key is always knowing how the key stakeholder operates to ensure the information you provide is useful. It is not about what the analyst thinks is the best idea, but what that commander is trying to accomplish. This is the same way I will approach your concerns with the education of your children. My job will be to make decisions that support your goals regarding the education of your children.

Additionally, I understand the challenges that parents currently face. I have two children currently enrolled in Santa Rosa County Schools a 12-year-old daughter in the ESE program, and a 9-year-old son at East Bay K-8. Our parents spend the hours helping with homework, driving children to extra curriculum activities, purchasing supplies, and desire most success for their children. If elected my primary job will be to listen to parents, weigh information and craft policy that allows our children to be successful.