Letters
- Details
- Written by: Hank Lescher
Let me speak to what I feel qualifies me to take charge of this business.
My wife Karen, and I moved to Middletown in 1978, and raised our three children here. We built Store 24 in 1985, operated it for 20 years, developed Coyote Valley Plaza, and built Gypsy Juice and the oil change facility in Middletown. We also built, owned and operated the gas station at Hopland Farms in Hopland and remodeled, owned and operated Mt. Konocti Gas & Mart in Kelseyville.
We owned and operated several other businesses as well, and oversaw as many as 60 employees at a time. Additionally, I built numerous houses in Hidden Valley and most recently I have been project manager for developments at Middletown Rancheria.
Our school board immediately requires leadership and competence in this arena. I will bring to the board the experience necessary to turn this situation around and give to our children the finest possible campuses.
I have been a counselor and associate pastor for over 25 years. I received my bachelor’s degree from Loyola University in Chicago, then pursued clinical psychology in graduate school.
I vow to work with my fellow board members to become educated concerning what is lacking in the classrooms.
Also, I must add, so many of our staff give their all, and we must find a way to validate, and more appropriately financially compensate them. This will also help us attract the best new teachers. I am very committed to this goal.
If you believe in family values and getting back to the basics in education, then i am your candidate.
The California School Board Association states that, “The role of the school board is to assure that the school district is responsive to the values, beliefs and priorities of the community.”
Those who know me will tell you that listening to and doing something about parents’ concerns is top priority. And that includes hitting head-on the issue of bullying and medical freedom.
I have 20-plus years experience being chairman of the board of our local church.
Please set partisan politics aside and vote for the most qualified person for this job. The California School Board Association 2022-2023 Policy Platform states, “Local Governing Boards are most effective when the community they serve actively participates in selecting non-partisan school Board Members.”
To learn more, please visit my website at HankLescherforSchoolboard.com
Thank you for your consideration.
Hank Lescher lives in Middletown, California.
- Details
- Written by: Peggy Robertson
I realized that this effort actually brought out more memories for me, and in the current political climate I was so happy to hear so many positive things about our little school, Cobb Mountain Elementary, and especially touched by the memories of teachers past shared by so many of the students!
As I was thinking this, I realized that possibly I could be of some assistance to those trying to decide who to vote for in the upcoming Middletown Unified School Board election.
Larry Allen, retired teacher, was lauded over and over again by so many of his past students. I taught with him for many years, and was able to witness firsthand his devotion and enthusiasm for teaching, and for the well-being of his students.
I am not a Middletown resident, and therefore not able to vote in this election, but I strongly encourage those who are to vote for Larry. He is not afraid of speaking the truth, will listen to concerns and act to the best of his ability to provide the best paths forward.
Middletown Unified will greatly benefit from his expertise and enthusiasm.
Peggy Robertson lives in Kelseyville, California.
- Details
- Written by: Allison Panella
While I myself am also running for Kelseyville Unified School District Board I want to extend my full support and unwavering endorsement to Rick Winer for Kelseyville Unified School Board.
There are several reasons why I endorse Rick. First, however I must share as a colleague who currently serves with him on the Kelseyville Unified School Board, we don’t always agree, heck we don’t always get-along! Yet I know he is the most qualified and fittest person to serve on the board. He is a man I respect and his experience and wisdom in the field of public education is invaluable!
Rick has vast experience that is essential to our schools success through his 30-plus years working first hand in education to his 20-plus years serving on the board. His wisdom in this space, among our other board members who have served four years or less, is extremely important to continuity and ability to navigate through the work necessary to run a school district.
Unlike the candidate also running for the Kelseyville School Board, Rick is present in our school system. Rick is INVOLVED, he is on-site at every school. Rick is at every school function, whether it is serving breakfast to staff on their first day back at school to KLA graduations that only he and I attend, Rick is there. In the last 20-plus years as a board member he has missed less than a handful of meetings, this is incredible!
Rick is unbiased, his dedication to the future of our youth is evident by his actions, and he is an asset to our district.
I hope you join me Tuesday, Nov. 8 (or sooner) in placing your vote for Rick and myself for Kelseyville Unified School District.
Allison Panella lives in Kelseyville, California.
- Details
- Written by: Craig Wetherbee
I am not proud to admit that I was a terrible student with a lousy attitude toward school. My teachers, up to that point, were often frustrated with me, and were quick to label me “retarded.” Their word, not mine. Simply put, I hated school.
I provide this little bit of backstory to highlight the influence that Larry Allen had on me at a time in my life which was tumultuous and difficult for me.
In Mr. Allen’s class, I would undergo a transformation that would change how I felt about school. Mr. Allen’s classroom was unlike anything I had seen up to that point. It was filled with animals, books and art. More importantly, Mr. Allen treated me differently than any teacher had up to that point.
Mr. Allen did not approach me as a subordinate student who was expected to do exactly what he was told, when he was told to do it. Instead, he treated me like I was an interesting human being who needed a little help understanding the world around me.
He had conversations with my mother in Hardester’s about how I was doing in school and listened to her when she explained some of the challenges she had with me. On days that I was unruly or aggressive, he would take the time to find me something constructive to work on. On days that I was quiet and detached, he would recommend a good book for me.
For the first time in my life, I had an educator who was more interested in finding ways to engage me than ways to ensure that I stood in line and stayed quiet. Mr. Allen was the right teacher at the right time.
I am proud to say that my year with Mr. Allen was the very first time in my life that I got an “A” on my report card. It was the first, and only, time that I had perfect attendance for the school year. More importantly, it was the first time in my life that I actually wanted to go to school.
I went on to graduate from Cobb Elementary, Middletown Middle School and Middletown High School. I served in the United States Navy, earned my college benefits and used them to attend, and graduate from college.
Today, my son is a student at Cobb Elementary. Nothing would make me happier than my son having an opportunity to experience Mr. Allen as a teacher. Of course, that isn’t possible as Mr. Allen retired from teaching.
However, I can think of no better representative for the Middletown Unified School District Board than a retired teacher who actually cares about kids. You know, someone who truly dedicated themselves to the education of children.
Craig Wetherbee lives in Cobb, California.
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