Les Green
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
I have been a full time resident of St. Cloud for 40 years. I have been involved in St. Cloud public education as a student, a teacher, an administrator, a father, and as the spouse of a District 742 teacher. My wife Sally and I have two children that both graduated from Apollo High School.
I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Psychology from St. Cloud State University in 1972, a Master of Arts degree in Human Relations from St. Cloud State University in 1993, and a Doctorate in Educational Administration and Leadership form the University of Minnesota in October of 2006.
I have been a member of the St. Cloud School Board since January of 2006 and am seeking second term.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
1993-Prnt: Director: Office of Cultural Diversity, College of Education St. Cloud State University
1991-1993: Instructor, Human Relations Department, St. Cloud State University
1990-1991: Counselor, Emotionally Disturbed Teenagers, St. Cloud Children's Home
1979-1987: Adjunct Professor, Criminal Justice Department, St. Cloud State University
1982-1986: Executive Officer, Office of Adult Release, Minnesota Department of Corrections
1979-1982: Chair, Minnesota Parole Board, St. Paul, MN
1974-1979: Vice Chairman: Minnesota Parole Board, St. Paul, MN
1972-1974: Instructor, College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN
1971-1972: Instructor, Human Relations, St. Cloud State University
1969-1972: Counselor St. Cloud Children's Home, St. Cloud, MN
Current Board Memberships
2000 - Prsnt: Central Minnesota Community Foundation Board of Trustees
1998 - Prsnt: Center for Ecumenical and Inter-Cultural Research
1993 - Prsnt: Wells Fargo Bank Community Board of Directors
2006 - Prsnt: District 742 School Board
What experience do you have that prepares you for public office?
I have a broad range of experiences, perspectives and integrating style that facilitates discussion and helps the decision-making process. I have served on several boards and commissions and understand the importance of and difference between policy-making and operational boards.
For the past 35 years I have worked with teachers to help them enhance their teaching skills related to the diversity and demographics of their students. I believe that fundamentally people desire the same things from life: the ability to feel safe in their community, the ability to earn a living and to pursue happiness, with a concern that others may do the same. I see our task as helping people to manage their personal circumstances in a way that allows them to maintain their individualism as they participate fully in American society. I also understand that school board members must be accountable to the public and make decisions that will result in long-range as well as short-term benefits to the community.
I listen to the opinions of our constituents and consider how these varied, legitimate points of view can be converted into policy that represents not only a positive and effective compromise, but a fair representation of the will of the taxpayers. I believe that education is the foundation of the American dream. It is critical that each citizen understands our economic, political, and social system and be provided with the knowledge, skills, and desire to succeed in our nation. The quality of our educational system determines how prepared our people will be to take their place as responsible citizens in a democratic society. I believe we all share the common goal of working together to create and sustain the best educational system possible for all our students.
I have served on many boards and commissions, both policy making and operational. I understand the important role of policymaking and operational boards and the difference between them. I believe that board members should have qualities that make them useful to the administration, understanding of employee concerns, and accountable to the public good. Other human qualities school board members should possess include: a) the ability to read and understand executive summaries of policy to the degree that they can project intended and unintended outcomes to insure a broad range of possibilities have been considered; b) good listening skills that allow them to understand how policy changes may cause different district staff and residents to have different and legitimate viewpoints; and, c) capability to help each other refine information from different viewpoints and convert it into policy that represents a synthesis of the desire of all positive people. Synthesis is different than compromise or negotiated truce in that it uses the best of all points of view and creates a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts.
Why you decided to run for office.
I am running for re-election to the District 742 School Board because I have found the perfect place for me to influence the future of our community is by participating in the policy making related to educating the future leaders of our community. I believe that education is the foundation of American Democracy. An educated citizenry that views participation in local, state, and national governance insures the spirit of the American Constitution remains a vibrant and integral component of American and global life. Doing our best at educating all of the children is in our best interest. Regardless of our viewpoint we will all share in the outcome of our educational system. We are all in this together now and we will all be in this together in the future.
Top three issue you would tackle if elected
All of the issues involved in the preparation of young people to become active participants in a democratic society are important. The diversity of membership on a school board provides each member with the ability to bring to the table their personal passion. Three years ago I indicated that none of the issues should be considered most important, rather they should all be considered as essential components of an effective educational system. I will assist in the management of all issues relevant to education because I think it is important that the School Board work as a team to insure that all relevant educational policy is properly discussed and approved at the Board level. I think the question of priorities may be better put as what issue or issues would I want to insure is one of he policy issues the Board addresses. I have one major issue that I would spend considerable energy bringing to the table for discussion. That issue is: how to best utilize educational resources to enhance academic achievement and emotional belief in their ability to succeed in America of all students. I am not a one-issue candidate, but I have significant experience in the area of the factors involved in educating students of color to succeed in education, and the strategies that have been most effective. I think the “team” could use my expertise in this area.
Test scores while important are second to the emotional belief that education is intrinsically valuable and relevant to the future of the individual and the community. Failure to develop the skills and attitude necessary to succeed in our highly competitive economic and political system in each student will eventually be a drain on all of us. It serves all of our best interests to improve the educational performance of all students.
Student achievement is bolstered by time spent on task, use of relevant curriculum, a positive school environment, and participation in school sponsored activities. The students that are not achieving at the level of their peer group will need a clear articulation to them about why they need to learn both by the school staff and by their parents. It is critical that we place a major part of the responsibility for the quality of education on the learner. The consequence of educational failure falls first on the student, and ultimately we all pay for it.
The exceptional opportunities provided by the State University System Access and Opportunity Grant and the Desegregation Integration funds from the legislature create significant opportunity. These two grants total in excess of two million dollars per year, my priority is to see that we use it to improve our educational delivery system so that all students benefit from the long-term impact of these dollars.
With these dollars and passage of the three levy questions I believe we can achieve educational excellence. I define educational excellence as meaning that St. Cloud District 742 will have one of the highest graduation rates, highest post high school education participation rates, and the least difference in these rates based upon race, culture, economic status, or any other difference issues people want to measure. It will be this achievement that will make our district a national model. It will be said that St. Cloud School District 742 understands the definition of the word “All” in our patriotic utterances.
Regardless of our viewpoint we will all share in the outcome of our educational system. We are all in this together now and we will all be in this together in the future.