Keith Vogt

I’m seeking re-election to the Moorhead School Board to continue to serve the community and be a bridge between the citizens and the schools. I’m running again because I feel there’s more work left to do on the school board. I do not have an agenda, a platform, or any specific topics to push onto the school board, I just want what’s best for the kids. The last couple years have been difficult for all of us. I’d like to continue to build on my years of experience on the board as a life-long learner.

Before serving on the school board, I was active within Ellen Hopkins PTAC and eventually served as President. I was a member of the High School 21st Century Academic Task Force, which helped establish the portrait of a Moorhead graduate. I also served on the Citizen Finance committee. I have helped within the community as a former volunteer coach at Moorhead Parks & Rec, former Moorhead Community Education teacher, and Habit for Humanity volunteer. I’m very active within my church, including teaching Sunday school, helping with confirmation, hospitality team member, a variety of other roles and committees.

As a life-long learner and someone who is looking at ways to improve, I feel we offer a great education at Moorhead, but there’s still work left to do. Our teachers are fantastic, and we have great students, but we need to ensure we support both our teachers and students as best we can. Student experience shouldn’t suffer because we don’t have enough help within the classroom. Mental health issues need to be understood and supported. In addition to ensuring that all students have equal opportunities to succeed, we need to retain our awesome staff and hire excellent people!

In addition to the continuous education improvement and retaining our staff, mental health is still a very prevalent issue. It’s worsened since the pandemic. I’m concerned about both staff and students, as it can affect teaching and learning. We need to better understand the effects and investigate ways we can provide additional support for our staff and students. Time off helps, but do we have enough teachers? What about subs? Regarding students, are they feeling connected to someone within the school, and do we have enough counselors on staff? Can they turn to someone they trust for help?

I’d like to continue to see Moorhead Area Public Schools as a shining beacon of opportunity, putting forth educated, well-prepared graduates into the world. As a young community, we will likely continue to have strong numbers within our school system, so let’s ensure that every student has the best opportunity for a quality education. Make the students feel welcomed and connected to the school and the community. When we identify a challenge or an issue, let’s look at it objectively and understand the impact and respect each other’s opinion. Thank you. Once a Spud… Always a Spud!