Priorities & Progress
School Board service is a team effort. During Carrie’s first term, she has worked collaboratively with her fellow Board members, the superintendent, and administration to set direction, ask thoughtful questions, evaluate results, and continually look for ways to strengthen Hastings Public Schools.
The progress made over the past several years belongs to the entire team—including administrators, staff, students, families, and community partners who turn goals and decisions into results every day.
Carrie is proud of what that team has accomplished and believes there is always room to improve. These priorities reflect both the progress already made and the work she believes should continue.
1. Academic Excellence & Opportunities for Every Student
A high-quality education must remain at the center of the district’s work, but success after high school doesn’t look the same for every student. Carrie supports using data to evaluate student outcomes, investing in effective curriculum and instruction, and continually expanding opportunities for students to discover their interests and reach their potential.
The goal is to provide strong academics and exceptional opportunities that prepare every student for whatever comes next—whether that is a four-year college, technical or trade education, military service, the workforce, or entrepreneurship.
Progress
During Carrie’s first term, the district has placed a renewed focus on academic achievement. The Board has reviewed and approved several new curricula that have been implemented throughout the district, while data is increasingly being used to evaluate student outcomes and identify areas for improvement.
Opportunities have also expanded at every level. STEM classes were added in the elementary schools, while new Pathways programming, career-focused courses, business partnerships, and college-credit opportunities give older students more ways to explore their interests, gain real-world experience, and prepare for life after graduation.
While attending the Minnesota School Boards Association conference, Carrie and two fellow Board members saw a demonstration of the Anatomage Table and recognized its potential for Hastings students. They encouraged the superintendent to take a closer look. She championed the opportunity, ultimately securing an Anatomage Table for the district through a generous private donation. The table now supports expanded learning opportunities, including the district’s new health and science courses. (Please see this video to learn about this exciting tool: Hastings High School Unveils Their New Anatomage Table.)
The district has also added new career interest assessments, helping students better understand their individual strengths and interests and explore educational and career pathways that may be a good fit for them.
In addition, the district has shifted toward greater use of College in the Schools (CIS) courses, providing students additional opportunities to earn college credit based on their performance throughout a course rather than relying solely on a single high-stakes AP exam.
Looking ahead: Continue raising academic achievement while expanding exceptional opportunities that meet the needs of all students, prepare them for their individual paths after graduation, and help make Hastings a district families choose.
2. Safe Schools
Students and staff deserve to feel safe at school. Carrie supports a proactive approach to school safety that emphasizes prevention, preparedness, clear expectations, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Progress
The district has implemented the I Love U Guys Standard Response Protocol to provide consistent procedures and language for responding to emergencies.
A second School Resource Officer has been added, increasing law-enforcement presence and partnership within the schools.
The Board has also increased its visibility into school climate and safety through regular principal reports, which include information such as physical altercations and other building-level data.
Looking ahead: Safety requires ongoing attention. The district should continually review its practices and data, identify areas for improvement, and adjust when needed.
3. Strengthening Enrollment & Protecting Our Financial Future
Enrollment and long-term financial stability go hand in hand. Hastings has maintained a solid financial position through responsible, conservative budgeting, and Carrie believes protecting that foundation must remain a priority.
But long-term financial stability isn’t only about controlling costs. Hastings needs to be a district families choose.
Progress
Hastings Public Schools remains in a solid financial position, supported by a historically conservative approach to budgeting and thoughtful financial planning.
At the same time, investments in academics, STEM, Pathways, college-credit opportunities, extracurricular activities, and other student experiences are helping build the kind of district that attracts and retains families.
Looking ahead: Reverse declining enrollment by continuing to differentiate Hastings through excellent academics, exceptional opportunities, safe schools, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
4. Accountability & Transparency
The community deserves clear information about how its schools are performing, how taxpayer dollars are being used, and how decisions are made.
Carrie believes Board members have a responsibility to ask thoughtful questions, examine the data, listen to different perspectives, and hold the district accountable for results.
Progress
The district introduced the new Vision Card and Data Dashboard, providing greater visibility into district performance and helping identify both successes and areas requiring additional attention.
Public comment was reinstated at regular School Board meetings, which are televised and livestreamed to increase community access.
The district also launched an Annual Perceptions Survey to gather feedback from students, staff, and families and use that feedback to identify opportunities for improvement.
Four student School Board representatives were added, bringing student perspectives directly into Board discussions and decision-making.
Looking ahead: Continue expanding transparency, using data to measure progress, listening to the community, and holding the district accountable for results.
Leadership Through Collaboration
Carrie is currently serving her third year as Chair of the Hastings School Board. She believes effective Board leadership starts with creating an environment where every member has an opportunity to ask questions, express an opinion, and be heard.
Board members will not always agree—and they shouldn’t. Different perspectives, thoughtful questions, and respectful debate can lead to better decisions.
That approach was evident during development of the district’s strategic plan. The Board and administration invested significant time in the process, working through different perspectives and debating priorities before ultimately coming together around a strategic plan that was adopted by a 7–0 vote.
Carrie believes the Board and superintendent must operate as a strong governance team while respecting their different roles. The Board provides direction and oversight; the superintendent and administration lead the day-to-day work of the district; and staff throughout Hastings Public Schools bring that work to life for students.
Strong districts aren’t built by one person. They are built by people willing to work together, ask difficult questions, listen to one another, and remain focused on what is best for students.
Continuous Improvement
One philosophy connects all of Carrie’s priorities: there is always room to improve.
Her professional career has been centered on continuous improvement, and she brings that same mindset to School Board service—recognizing what is working, using data to understand what isn’t, asking questions, challenging assumptions when appropriate, and working collaboratively toward better outcomes.
Strong Schools Today. A Stronger Future for Tomorrow.