Parents feel like they’re not heard

My name is Jodi Treharne and I am a current candidate for the Linn-Mar Community School Board. Our family has lived in Marion for the last 15 years. My husband Tom and I have three amazing kids, one that graduated from Linn-Mar last year and now attends Iowa State, and two who are still attending.

You may have seen us out and about at multiple uptown functions as we are very active members of our community; or possibly run into my husband Tom, who was your local Community Development Director for the last 22 years planning, building, and developing this amazing community we call home.

I am a working professional, having spent most of my career in health care IT sales at various companies. In addition to my career, I have served on different boards, mainly a local nonprofit that helps women and families where I have served in executive leadership for the last decade. I have also received formal leadership education and training through Notre Dame’s Mendonza College of Business.

I am running first and foremost for our kids! I am excited to use my business and leadership skills to help Linn-Mar become the best district in the state of Iowa and see this district thrive. I also want to see us have better parent/ BOD relations and work on common sense policies. This has been an issue for us not only with our parents feeling like they are not heard but with our district being called out in the national spotlight unfavorably. I think my formal leadership training and skills can help here. Lastly, I love our teachers! It is killing me to see some of our favorite, incredibly awesome teachers burn out very early in their career. I want to help improve our culture at Linn-Mar by giving our teachers more of a voice in decisions that impact them. I believe my mix of both corporate and nonprofit experience here will be of benefit to Linn-Mar in solving some of these very complex issues.

I am excited to tackle these challenges and better our district. We can do this Linn-Mar! I would be honored to serve you.

Jodi Treharne is one of eight candidates running for four at-large seats on the Linn-Mar school board.