Candidate Questionnaire: Gallatin County Superintendent of Schools

John Nielson

(D) — County Superintendent of Schools

Matthew Henry

(R) — County Superintendent of Schools

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from teaching that would help you as superintendent?

Nielson: Education is about the students. They learn in different ways at different speeds. Trying to make everyone do things in the same way in the same time frame is not only unsuccessful but not much fun for anyone, including the teacher. As the County Superintendent, I would approach students, teachers, and families the same way. They are all different and need different things in different ways. I am there to assist, to listen, to connect them with resources.

Simply put, being an ally or facilitator of those you are working with is much more successful than being in charge or directing every move. My classroom was always student driven. I would keep that practice as the superintendent.

Henry: Early in my career I learned that having clear expectations for students creates an environment where children feel safe and free to flourish. A classroom that is nurturing and orderly creates a sense of security in children and fosters mutual respect and academic success. As a teacher and administrator, it has been my life’s work to create a climate of excellence in the schools that I have served. I have strived throughout my career to model professionalism and to shape the culture of education for the better. As County Superintendent, l believe in doing what is right for children and I bring a philosophy of high standards, integrity, and objectivity to the position.

What would be your single highest priority if elected to be superintendent? Why?

Nielson: Recovery. The last three years of education have been truly difficult for all participants including students, families, teachers, and administrators. We have issues that are still percolating from those years (student needs, teacher needs, family needs, district needs, community needs). There are many creative ideas and great thinkers to be brought together from our county to help the education of kids move forward, to progress, to evolve, to recover.

I firmly believe that there are many lessons to learn from the changes that were attempted during the pandemic. We learned that the education system could change quickly in ways many of us had not previously considered. What positives were a result of this? What should be kept? What should not? How can we prepare new teachers better/differently after this experience? How can we use new teachers' experiences as students during the pandemic to help change our education system for their students? I would love to foster these types of questions amongst the many and diverse players in the system and use their ideas to make education better for our kids moving forward.

Henry: As the county’s chief education officer, my single highest priority is, and has been, to represent the values of Gallatin County residents in K-12 education. It is a tremendous privilege and responsibility to serve the county’s citizens, and if re-elected I will continue to represent them with common sense and clear judgment. I will provide transparency and accountability to the office and uphold the law with utmost integrity. I will not forget that it is their voice that affords me the opportunity to serve them and I will work to ensure that their children receive the best K-12 education possible.

What steps would you take as superintendent to alleviate staffing shortages in Gallatin County schools?

Nielson: To clarify, this office does not have direct authority over the school district’s staffing issues. However, the role I would like to take in this position is one of connecting those who do have the power to alleviate staffing shortages and helping generate innovative dialog.

I believe that getting the schools in the county to meet with each other and work cooperatively and creatively to help each other to attract teachers, work on housing issues, and focus on ways to increase pay and benefits for all employees is valuable. This office would also advocate at the state level for the schools in the county.

In addition, I would also start conversations with students and professionals at MSU to assist with solving this issue. What other ideas can attract more teachers, pay them better, work to bridge the transition between school and teaching to reduce stress? These are important ideas and students wanting to be teachers may have as many ideas to offer those currently within the system.

Henry: The first step to solving education staffing shortages must include a frank discussion on the reasons for the shortages. Low teacher salaries and housing shortages are often cited and in many cases are credible factors. However, a significant and largely underreported cause is the high rate of burnout and staff that are exiting education. The reasons given for this range from a lack of support to politicization of the field. As County Superintendent, my approach is to assist schools in holding high standards for the profession and considering how to recruit and retain staff on the basis of quality rather than relying solely on funding.

Why should MSU students, faculty, and staff vote for you?

Nielson: As a teacher in Bozeman, I created a classroom environment where students could learn in their own way. I worked with families, students, administrators, community members, and professors. I like the idea of continuing that on a bigger scale in this office.

Having been raised by two educators in Montana, I grew up immersed in education. I taught for 23 years in public and private school and I have homeschooled my own kids. I taught elementary, middle school, and high school. I worked as an athletic coach, teacher trainer, instructional coach, mediator, and educational consultant. These varied experiences make me uniquely qualified and able to relate to the diverse populations I will be serving within our county.

I also have first hand experience with the impact of the pandemic on the classroom as a teacher and a parent. I think there are simple and creative solutions to support teachers while enlivening the educational experience of students. For example, many grants here at MSU require community outreach. Yet, there has not been an organized effort to connect this amazing resource with local learners. I would like to create more interconnection between students and our community because it benefits us all.

Henry: What MSU’s students, faculty, and staff and I share in common is an appreciation for the importance of education. All of us have devoted our lives to education and recognize its value for improving our families, communities, and nation. Having completed my graduate-level education coursework in Reid Hall, I know firsthand of MSU’s commitment to provide a high quality education. My office has developed close relationships with the MSU Education Department faculty, and the SUB staff has worked with me to host the Treasure State Spelling Bee. A vote for me is a vote for our continued partnership and our shared commitment to providing high quality education in Gallatin County and Montana.