Meet the Big Sandy School Board Candidates

1. Please introduce yourself to the community. Example do you have kids in school, What is your profession?

Jessica Sheehy: I grew up in Eastern Montana, an agricultural community very much the same to Big Sandy. In 2010 I graduated from Carroll College and received a master's degree in physician assistant studies from the University of St. Francis and Albuquerque, NM. I moved to big sandy in 2013 after marrying my husband Jon. For the past 10 years I have been employed as a physicians assistant with Northern Montana Hospital in Havre. I have been honored to take care of many patients and always enjoy watching families grow. I am also a mother of two busy boys, Connor and Carson, and I cannot think of a better place than Big Sandy to raise them. Whenever possible you will find us outdoors, doing yard work, and helping on the family ranch.

Joe Jurenka: My name is Joe Jurenka, my wife, Ella and I together, have 5 children, 4 of which attend the Big Sandy School. We Farm and Ranch in Big Sandy and have deep roots in this community as both my parents, Joe and Judy Jurenka, grew up and graduated from here as well as Ella's mother Patty Hammond. Our decision to raise our family here has been a great one, giving our children the opportunity to experience the small school environment that we both were blessed to live in. We are very involved in the school and community, this year Ella coached Jr. High Girls Basketball, and for the past 2 years has been the Assistant Coach for High School Girls Basketball. She coaches Jr. High and High School Track and Field and also substitute teaches at both the High School and Elementary School. This past year I was a volunteer Coach for the High School Boys basketball program and started driving the activity bus. Our oldest son, Rhett was also a Co-Head Coach for the Boys Basketball team this year and coached Jr. High Boys Basketball as well. As a family, we take great pride in the school and hope to continue to do our part as we strive for excellence in all that we are a part of.

Matt Myers: I graduated from Big Sandy High School in 2003. Subsequently, I attended the College of Agriculture at the University of Idaho. My beautiful wife Julie and I were married in 2013. Together, we have three children, all of whom will soon be school-age. Together, my family and I steward the farm that my great-grandparents homesteaded 112 years ago.

Glenn Terry: I am Glenn Terry, a current school board member. I am a retired rancher/farmer. My wife, Alma, and I have three adult children who graduated from Big Sandy Schools. We have three grandchildren attending school in Big Sandy.

2. Why do you want to run for the Big Sandy School Board of Trustees?

Jessica Sheehy: Many people say it takes a village to raise a child. I absolutely believe this to be true and in small towns it takes a community to educate our youth. My goal as a school board member is to be part of this community and listen to the needs of parents and students. My mother has taught school for over 30 years, and I understand the commitment educators make to their students especially under increased demands placed on our school systems. I don't have a particular agenda except that I want to be part of ensuring quality education that

has been offered by Big Sandy schools for many years.

Joe Jurenka: My passion and my "why" is without a doubt the kids. I want them to become the best version of themselves that they can be. I will not only be the voice for you as their parents, but for your children as well. Education is everything to our children's future and as parents we worry so much about what they will become in the future, oftentimes forgetting about what and who they are today. I have been blessed to have been able to spend a lot of time around the kids in our school over the past couple of years. In that time, I have witnessed a lot of amazing growth in these kids with encouragement, consistency and support.

If elected, I will encourage public participation, this is your board and you deserve to be heard. I will support our school's extra curricular activities as that is a major part of the growth of these kids and what helps mold them into who they will become. I will be proactive toward upkeep and renovation when dealing with infrastructure and innovation. I am grateful for our teachers and administrators, they are the X-factor, without them, none of this is possible. I will work to ensure they are working in a healthy environment with a competitive compensation package.

Matt Myers: I am running for the school board because I care about the future of this community. Families shape communities, and communities shape nations. I would like to do my part to ensure that the Big Sandy school system is a safe, constructive, and efficient springboard for the children of our families to reach their full potential as they grow to take their place as our future leaders.

Glenn Terry: My first priority is the students, making sure every student's social, emotional, and educational needs are met. I have a true passion for all of our students and want to see them succeed to the best of their ability. To accomplish this, we must have solid administration and staff, safe, well maintained school buildings, and financial stability.

3. What strength do you bring to help the trustees help our students?

Jessica Sheehy: Growing up in agriculture I have a passion for rural small-town living. I learned early the value of hard work, commitment to a task at hand, and discovered it often takes friends and neighbors with different talents and perspectives to get a task accomplished. I am a detail-oriented person, and the grass usually does not grow long underneath my feat. Professionally I am required to be a critical thinker, to multitask, and to collaborate with others daily. I have also served on the Blaine and Hill County health boards and have supervised medical and PA students. I believe my experience has taught me how to be a good listener and to develop the facts before forming opinions and making decisions. I also think I will bring a fresh perspective to our school system.

Joe Jurenka: If elected, I will strive to bring healthy and positive communication to our board of trustees while promoting school unity. Oftentimes, the boardroom can get political or polarized, as elected trustees it is our job to raise above those differences to make positive choices for not only the students but for the facility and district as well. One of my strongest qualities is my ability to motivate and bring positive leadership. I am innovative and have a fresh perspective. I will always prioritize the students' best interest first and foremost. I will be a steady voice, working towards a positive future for our children and our school.

Matt Myers: In order to build and maintain a successful and healthy community, it is necessary for all of us to serve one another where we can. The pragmatic and logical approach I take to overcoming obstacles in my business has served me well on previous boards and committees.

Glenn Terry: As a board member for 3 ½ years and chairman of the board for 2 years I have gained a lot of experience, knowledge of policies, procedures, and school laws. As a board, we have many responsibilities, but if I were to describe myself on the board it would be a student advocate.

4. Anything else you would like to add?

Jessica Sheehy: I believe strongly in the importance of a good fundamental education for children in their formative years. My own experience has taught me that having a strong education before entering college plays a significant role in later educational success. I was fortunate enough to have that strong background as a child and want to be a part of ensuring quality education for my children and the other children in the community. I thank everyone for their consideration. GO PIONEERS!!!

Joe Jurenka: I believe that great school systems are built on great community members, Teachers and Administrators that are willing to work together to do what is best for our children. In life we are either learning and growing, or we are regressing and dwelling on problems, not solutions. I want to be a part of the growth. We have an amazing group of students with endless potential, we have great teachers and faculty that are excited to refine the growth of these students and prepare them for the next stage in life. If there is one thing I have learned, it's that positive breeds positive and negativity squandered potential and confidence. I want to lead the way in realizing the maximum potential of both our students and our leaders within the school. A school that we are all proud to be a part of, a school where everyone is working toward the same goal of success. Big Sandy is a great school that Ella and I are proud to raise our kids in, as a trustee I will be a voice for both students and parents and together we can make a great school even better.

Matt Myers: I am a proponent of accountability, fiscal responsibility, limited bureaucracy, as well as excellence both in and out of the classroom. I also place importance on teaching accurate history and rewarding students based on merit.

Glenn Terry: Being married to a "very special" Special Ed Paraprofessional and having a daughter who's a Special Ed teacher,I have great admiration for teachers. Big Sandy School is very blessed with people willing to step forward to help at the school, such as the substitutes.

I would appreciate your vote.