Fort Zumwalt School District R-II

Parents should always have a role in their children’s education – make your voice heard!

Fort Zumwalt School District R-II will hold an At-Large School Board election for three seats on April 4, 2023. Voters will choose between Marc Pratte, Matt Graham, Erica Powers (Incumbent), Kathryn Byrd, Gregg Steven Sartorius, Michael A. Smith, and Arnie Dienoff. Voters can choose three candidates on the ballot.
Click each candidate’s name to learn more about their priorities and positions.

CANDIDATES

Pratte wants to prioritize transparency between the school board, the administration, and parents.

Pratte supports challenging curriculum to develop students.

Pratte criticized CRT and teachers’ unions.

Pratte called for personal choice on COVID protocols and masking mandates.

 

Visit Marc Pratte’s website and Facebook to learn more.

Marc Pratte is a father of two.

Graham wants transparency in classrooms and open communication that allows families to be heard.

 

Graham supports allowing parents to “have a choice” in their children’s education.

 

Graham opposes mandates in schools.

 

Visit Matt Graham’s Facebook to learn more.

Matt Graham works in residential estimating at Professional Irrigation Systems.

Powers voted in favor of mask mandates.

 

Powers shared a post about a district diversity and awareness survey.

 

Powers opposed charter school expansion.

 

Erica Powers has no campaign website or Facebook

Erica Powers is a mother and the owner of POD Photography.

Byrd wants to create a more diverse and inclusive environment for students.

 

Byrd stated that schools need to teach “full American history” to stop racism.

 

Byrd shared a post on social media stating: “when you opt-out of anti-racist education, you are opting into racism.”

 

Byrd suggested American history is written by privileged people who perpetuate racism.

 

Visit Kathryn Byrd’s Facebook to learn more.

Kathryn Byrd is a mother of three.

Sartorius believes that schools are for academics, not a place to indoctrinate children on personal beliefs and extreme social issues.

 

Sartorius says that schools are for educating children and empowering them to think critically about issues.

 

Visit Gregg Steven Sartorius’ Facebook to learn more.

Gregg Steven Sartorius worked in education for 28 years.

Smith wants “to be a representative of the parents”.

Smith intends to maintain the districts quality of education, “making improvements when needed.”

Michael A. Smith does not have a campaign website or Facebook.

Michael A. Smith is a father of two.

Dienoff said he supported transparency in schools when he ran for school board in 2015.

 

Dienoff said he believed the district needs to reduce classroom student to teacher ratios when he ran for school board in 2015.

 

Visit Arnie Dienoff’s Facebook to learn more.

Arnie Dienoff studied business administration.

Need to find your polling place? Visit the Missouri Elections Division website for more information.

To confirm you live within the Fort Zumwalt School District, visit the schools’ boundary map.

To learn more about the Fort Zumwalt School District, visit the schools’ website.

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