Leyton School Board Candidate - Susan Ernst

What made you decide to run for Leyton School Board this year?

I was approached by numerous people in the community.

What do you think the Leyton School District does well?

Students in the district were always supported equally no matter what area they participated. Drama, Speech, One Acts, Scholastics and Sports were always supported well by not only the school but also people of the district. Attendance was always very good at all events. The Leyton District has always had the safety of the students at heart, especially with so many students living in the country or driving in from other towns.

What about Leyton School District would you like to see change?

In addition to maintaining a high level of acedemic performance for our students, I would like to see an emphasis begin on the trades. It is widely known there are areas in our workforce desperate need of people in the trades and that it can be a very good way of life. We shouldn't expect all students to make the 4 year college decision. Studying a trade is a noble job and can be as lucrative as many college degrees. We need to provide our students with options for many different pathways as they make decisions that will affect their entire life.

What characteristics or qualifications do you have that will enable you to implement suggested changes in question 3? I have a B.S. in Special Education with a minor in Vocational Special Needs. I taught Special Education/Chapter 1 in Lodgepole and have been in numerous long term substitute positions. As a farm wife I can drive most equipment on our farm and I operated and later owned my families radio station, KSID in Sidney, for 20 years. During that time I was a member of Leadership Cheyenne County, member of the Nebraska Broadcasters Board of Directors, served on the National Association of Broadcasters Small Market Radio committee, was a participant in a yearlong group with the National Broadcasters Association "Broadcast Leadership Training Program", I was a member and now an emeritas member of the International Broadcasters Idea Bank since 2006 and I am a former member of the Leyton Board of Education from 2000-2010 where I served as secretary for most of those years.

Participating in these groups have given me a broader insight into what kind of preparation and education we need in our younger generations. It's not always some kind of secondary education that makes a person successful. I do believe that maintaining a high level of acedemic achievement for all students, no matter what they want to do in life, should be emphasized.

What is the most important thing for voters to know about you as they consider your candidacy? All 3 of our children attended k-12 at Leyton and all 3 were very happy with their education and experiences here. I did not run again back in 2010 as the duties I had with KSID were always changing. Because of my different roles at KSID, I have not paid attention or been too involved with things going on at the school. While my kids were in school I tried to participate as much as I could. I regret losing track of things going on at the school and I believe I have the skills to once again be an effective board member. I want to be able to help ensure Leyton continues to provide a quality education to all students currently and into the future.