Iowa Bystander Endorses Shane Schulte

A panel of three former school board members and the editor of the publication have endorsed Shane Schulte for School board.

Due to a family emergency, the publication has been delayed until this evening and will be available at 7pm at iowabystander.com

Shane has fire in him and a desire to serve our children. He also brings outstanding skills to the table and a history of being a difference maker. Rob and Heather are good candidates and we hope to see them run again someday. Three of the panelists have been Des Moines School Board Directors and all lost before they won. But like so many new candidates there were basic areas they lacked knowledge that would have been easy to attain prior to our interviews.

Shane on the other hand really knew his stuff. He was not only prepared for our panel but he is prepared day one to have an impact as a Des Moines School Board Director.

Recommendation from Dr. Vince Lewis

Greetings;

My name is Dr. Vincent Lewis. I have been an educator for over 40 years. Over thirty of those years were with The Des Moines Public School System, and several years doing university / college education. Upon my retirement from D.M.P.S I accepted a position with Children and Family Urban Ministries (CFUM) currently I am the director of the Gender Specific after school programs.

This is how I came to know and work with Mr. Shane Schulte. For the past several years he has given of his time to serve on our Backyard Boys Advisory (BYBz) Committee. The BYBz program is a gender specific, after school program that focuses on the needs and development of middle and high school youth in the Moulton neighborhood area. Because of Mr. Schulte’s service to this advisory board, along with three to four other gentlemen, we are able to provide a quality program that strives to meets the academic, social and developmental needs of the middle school and high school age youth in the Moulton Neighborhood.

It is my sincere opinion that Des Moines and The Des Moines Public School and the many students and families in this area would be greatly served to have a person of the character, morality and motivation of Mr. Schulte.

It is without reservation that I highly recommend and support Mr. Schulte for a seat on the Des Moines School Board of DMPS.

Respectfully

Vincent E. Lewis

Recommendation from Bridget Evans Porto

I met Shane Schulte a few years ago through Education Leadership Initiative, or ELI, within United Way of Central Iowa. This is a group of United Way of Central Iowa supporters who direct their leadership contributions to focus the funds on education – specifically on programs and strategies that help to support middle school and high school students – during those vulnerable years.

I was the director of ELI during the first few years of Shane’s involvement in the group. Membership for this program is based on directing the contributions but there are also many opportunities for members to become involved beyond the financial support including a calendar of related events, volunteer opportunities and chances to advocate for education. Shane is one of those members who jumped in feet first and wanted to know as much about the program as he could, wanted to know how and where he could truly help advance our work and had the genuine passion to improve the conditions of education in our community.

Shane’s experience as a parent and advocate within Des Moines Public Schools and his drive to improve education within the district would be advantageous to the Des Moines School Board.

Recommendation from Susan Judkins Josten

I am pleased to recommend a vote for Shane Schulte for the Des Moines School Board. During the years I have known Shane, he has demonstrated a passion for educational excellence for K-12 students and lifelong learners. His business experience will give him great insight into the skills and knowledge base needed from our public schools. And, I believe his strategic planning and facilitation expertise will add an important ingredient to the collaborative process needed among board members, staff, students and members of the community.

I first met Shane when he was invited to support a strategic planning effort on behalf of the Iowa International Center while I was serving as its board president. I was quickly struck by Shane’s ability to encourage input from all participants while helping to move a variety of opinions in a positive direction and ultimately a final plan. And Shane would not only encourage us to consider the input from those at the table, but to think about others who might not be directly represented but whose lives would be impacted by final decisions. As a former member of the Indianola School Board, I understand how important it is to consider all stakeholders when making decisions. It doesn’t mean all will be pleased with the outcome, but the knowledge that their ideas have been considered makes a tremendous difference in eventual buy-in to needed changes.

Shane has the contacts and the context to make good decisions on behalf of the district. He has actively engaged in supporting the Des Moines Schools by participation on committees and supporting the educational progress of his own family and friends. His firsthand knowledge of many school activities and classes, and the people who direct or participate in them, will prove invaluable to him as a school board member.

I urge district residents to vote for Shane Schulte on September 10th.

Sincerely,

Susan Judkins Josten

Recommendation from Shirley Brunk

Being a 40 year veteran teacher in Des Moines Public Schools I really appreciate the hard work, energy, and caring attitude that Shane Schulte has given to the children of the Des Moines Public Schools. Shane’s commitment and support through PTA and volunteering with activities around school helped to make learning meaningful and exciting in his daughter’s classroom and the entire school. His commitment to the students, teachers, and the neighborhood community was always evident. His involvement in our school PTA, as president for 2 years and as a member of many PTA committees helped to create a caring and productive learning environment for all the students at Hubbell IB World School. I know that Shane will use this same energy as a new School Board Member to continue improving the Des Moines Public Schools for all of the students of Des Moines.

Shirley Brunk

Recommendation from Todd Jacobus

Over the last 2 ½ years, I have come to know Shane as a very committed, professional, detail oriented communicator, who understands school finance and the issues facing our district. He is inquisitive, analytical, and I am very impressed with his ability to quickly grasp concepts, and ask thought-provoking questions. Shane is pleasant, positive, and focused. Without question, Shane has the best interests of students, the future of DMPS and our community in mind, as he pursues this opportunity. I am grateful to all who have offered to serve on the DMPS Board. I believe Mr. Shane Schulte has the skill sets to make an immediate, and very positive, impact on the Board.

Please read the entire endorsement below.

013-08 Aug 07 13 Endorsement of SHANE SCHULTE for Des Moines School Board – JACOBUS

Recommendation from Barb Bremner

I heard of Shane Schulte and his commitment to public education and children before I met him this January. I quickly learned Shane was just as described: energetic, enthusiastic and committed to education and its importance for society and the individual. He is eager to learn all he can about education and has boundless energy that comes from his deep commitment to doing what is best for children.

As the with the vast majority of parents, Shane wants what is best for his own child. Standing apart from the crowd of concerned parents, Shane is acting on his values and goals. He has spent time as a volunteer learning about our diverse community and its diverse needs. He has spent energy meeting with educators and with children enrolled in our school district. He has sought people and experiences that could build his understanding of the strengths and needs of our schools and of our students.

I have two sons who attend Merrill Middle School, where Shane’s daughter will enroll in the fall. I am certain that Merrill Middle will benefit from Shane’s involvement, just as I am certain that all children enrolled in Des Moines Public Schools would benefit with Shane as a member of the Des Moines School Board.

Barb Bremner, mom of two DMPS students