Elections

Name: Adam Bjorklund

City of residence: Buffalo

How many years have you lived in the district?
I can proudly say that I have lived in Buffalo my whole life. A BHS graduate of 1998, I have called Buffalo “home” for 44 years.

Family (will you, do you, or did you have children who attended BHM Schools): 
My wife, Abby, is an elementary teacher in Monticello. We have two children who are in BHM Schools. Our daughter, Avery (16) is a junior at BHS, and our son, Asher (12) is in 
sixth grade at BCMS.

Occupation:  I’m a Financial Advisor and Wealth Manager at Berger Financial Group, serving many local families.  

Why do you want to serve on the BHM School Board? 
I have deep roots in the Buffalo community. My parents and grandparents were born and raised in this community. Having my own family carry on that tradition is important to my wife (also a BHS graduate) and me. I also married into a family of educators, which has given me an even greater sense of appreciation for school staff. My commitment to and history with this wonderful town is what drives me to want to do more by continuing to be member of the school board.

If elected, what qualities will you bring to the school board?  
I’ve always been very driven to serve others. Prior to becoming a financial advisor, I owned other small businesses in the Twin Cities area. During that time, my leadership skills allowed me to manage a large staff, while still maintaining a “family feel.” By blending my passion to serve with my financial background, I feel that I am a strong candidate to continue being on the school board.

What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today? 
I think some of the most important issues facing the school district are educational inequity and fiscal responsibility. Students deserve equitable access to technology, educational resources, and support from our district. They shouldn’t be granted nor denied access to opportunities solely based on the school they attend. I will work with district staff and teachers to create equitable access to educational resources, ensuring all students receive the same opportunities within BHM Schools. I will use my professional experience as a financial advisor to ensure the district is fiscally responsible with the taxpayers’ money.

Why do you believe BHM Schools is the place to dream, believe and achieve?  
I believe our schools have the best staff around who genuinely care about the education and well-being of every student. 
 

Name: Candy Burns

City of residence: Corcoran

How many years have you lived in the district? 27 years

Family (will you, do you, or did you have children who attended BHM Schools): 
I have raised my family in our house in Corcoran. My daughter Allie attended Hanover Elementary, Buffalo Middle School and Buffalo High School. My granddaughter McKenna attended Hanover Elementary through second grade.

Occupation: I recently retired from Boston Scientific, as VP of Regulatory Affairs. I am currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of St. Thomas.

Why do you want to serve on the BHM School Board? 
I have always been interested in education. I have a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota. When I graduated, there were not many teaching jobs available, and I went into the business world. Now that I am retired, I am interested in helping to make the BHM Schools a successful place for the students and staff. Teaching at St. Thomas has definitely given me an appreciation for the work and challenges that goes into the education process. 

If elected, what qualities will you bring to the board?
I think I have unique qualities to bring to the board. I have an educational foundation, and teaching experience. I also have worked in the corporate world for 20+ years managing programs, supporting and hiring people, and managing a large budget. I am detailed orientated, and not reluctant to make difficult decisions.

What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today?
Education should always provide an encouraging, safe environment for students to learn. It is important to engage the students, parents, and school staff to form a successful learning environment for all students.  

Why do you believe BHM Schools is the place to dream, believe and achieve? My daughter and granddaughter had wonderful experiences in the BHM Schools. I believe that their teachers and school staff made a real difference in their lives and have set a strong foundation for their lives. I have been impressed with both the quality and the compassion of the BHM School teachers and staff, and if elected, look forward to working with them.
 

Name: Angie Greig

City of residence: Buffalo

How many years have you lived in the district? 20 years

Family (will you, do you, or did you have children who attended BHM Schools):
My daughter is a junior at the high school. She attended Hanover Elementary, Buffalo Middle School and Buffalo Senior High.

Occupation: Physical Therapist Assistant

Why do you want to serve on the BHM School Board? 
I want an opportunity to give back to a school district that has given my daughter so much support.

If elected, what qualities will you bring to the board? 
I am a parent. I also have worked with parents in the district and other districts regarding concerns they may have about their child’s learning program.

What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today? 
The most important issue today is our drop in proficiency across the board. If our community cannot read and understand they cannot flourish.

Why do you believe BHM Schools is the place to dream, believe and achieve? 
I think they have the child’s well being at the heart of their decisions.

Name: Michael Holmstrom Jr

City of residence: Buffalo

How many years have you lived in the district? 15

Family (will you, do you, or did you have children who attended BHM Schools): 
My wife (Nicole) and I have five beautiful children, (Michael, Matthew, Olivia, Emily, and Cecilia). I graduated from BHM Schools and I look forward to watching each of my children do the same. 

Occupation: I am a Realtor with North Star Pro Realty, and a small business owner.

Why do you want to serve on the BHM School Board?  
 I am passionate about my children’s education and want every child and parent in our community to experience the highest quality education we can provide. We have a responsibility to ensure our students receive the educational opportunities necessary to forge a better future for themselves, their future families, and our community.     

If elected, what qualities will you bring to the board?
I have a robust background in business management and communication. I intend to be a voice for the community on the board. We need board members who are willing and able to honestly and critically review the current systems, processes and goals with the aim to drive the district toward innovation and excellence.

What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today? 
In the last three years Minnesota has gone from being ranked seventh nationally in education to 19th, and across the country test scores are nearing all-time lows. Schools are struggling to properly engage students. Our board needs to examine how we are reaching our students and work with our educators to determine the necessary tools, resources and best practices needed to monopolize on the time we have with them. 

Why do you believe BHM Schools is the place to dream, believe and achieve? 
I graduated from BHM Schools, and chose to raise my family here in large part because of the values and opportunities offered to me in this community. I have always been proud to have come from our schools and I intend to work diligently to ensure that my children and yours have the same experience. 

Name: Mike Honsey

City of residence: Buffalo

How many years have you lived in the district? 14 years

Family (will you, do you, or did you have children who attended BHM Schools): 
My family consists of my wife Krista and my three daughters, Marley (sophomore), Harper and Hayden (8th grade).   

Occupation: Owner of Uppercut Outdoor Services

Why do you want to serve on the BHM School Board?  
I have had the opportunity to be involved in the PTA at Northwinds, the mentoring program at BCMS and an Avid Tutor at BCMS. I believe we have strong schools and I want to do my part to keep it that way. 

If elected, what qualities will you bring to the board? 
I have a finance degree from Winona State University and have a financial background, including 13 years in banking, and I understand how bonding and referendums work. I am serving my sixth and final year on the Buffalo Youth Hockey Board of Directors, the last two years as treasurer. I am confident that I can work with other board members and administrators to tackle challenges as they happen. I care about our kids and believe in doing what is best for them, not what is easiest for the board or administration.

What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today? 
I think there is a mistrust of our education system that is perpetuated by the media. Oftentimes we see issues at another school and believe the same is happening at our schools.  

Why do you believe BHM Schools is the place to dream, believe and achieve? 
It comes down to our people. We have great teachers and excellent leaders at each of our schools that care about each individual student. I have seen this day in and day out with my time at BCMS in the AVID program.  

Name: Amanda Lawrence

City of residence: Buffalo

How many years have you lived in the district? 21

Family (will you, do you, or did you have children who attended BHM Schools): 
My husband of 27 years, Dale, is a family practice physician at Stellis Health. Our three children all attended BHM Schools K-12. Elizabeth graduated in 2019, Rachel graduated in 2022 and Lucas will graduate this spring with the class of 2025.

Occupation: I have been serving our district, staff and community on the BHM School Board since 2020. My professional background is in customer service and corporate training.  

Why do you want to serve on the BHM School Board?
I decided to run for the board in 2020 because I love our schools and have a passion for public education. I knew my leadership abilities, steady temperament, and strong communication skills could serve the district well. After four years on the school board, my dedication to this work has only grown. I come to every meeting prepared, ready to listen and ask questions. I am a team player who knows that a school board is only effective when all members respect each other and are willing to work together. I want to ensure that BHM continues to be a place where our outstanding staff wants to work. I want every student in our district to believe in themselves and that their unique talents and abilities are an asset to the world.

If elected, what qualities will you bring to the board?
In my four years on the school board I have learned so much about all things related to public education. I have spent countless hours reviewing documents, attending meetings, and completing school board training sessions. I have gained a solid understanding of school policy and finance. I have established positive relationships with district leaders and staff, resulting in productive discussion and collaboration. In my second term I would provide stability, continuity, and wisdom as a seasoned member of the board.

What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today?
Like every public school district, the top issue facing our district is a critical shortfall in funding. Every year, the gap between the cost of running the district and the amount of state funding we receive gets larger. We are forced to ask the residents of our district to make up this difference in order to maintain the staffing levels, programs and overall excellent education that our students deserve. Minnesota did make a large investment to public education in 2023, but the investment nowhere near erased the cumulative effect of over 20 years of shortfalls. Unfortunately, there is no easy solution. Communicating with lawmakers and advocating for public education is vital.

Why do you believe BHM Schools is the place to dream, believe and achieve?
BHM Schools recognize that every student has unique dreams. Our students have a huge variety of classes, programs, and activities to choose from, encompassing a myriad of different interests. We need to maintain these great options so every student can believe in themselves and their abilities, achieve excellence in something they feel passionate about, and learn important skills to help them reach their future goals.

Name: Tim Zbaracki

City of residence: Hanover

How many years have you lived in the district? 
I’ve lived in the district for three years. We moved back into the district after living in the district in the mid 2010s.

Family (will you, do you, or did you have children who attended BHM Schools): 
We currently homeschool our oldest. I believe it’s the parents’ rights to choose where 
their children go to school.

Occupation: Claims processor

Why do you want to serve on the BHM School Board? 
I want to serve on the BHM School Board because I believe in a strong educational foundation for our students. My vision is to prepare students with a solid foundation involving critical thinking skills, and ensuring they have the tools to succeed in their academic and educational pursuits.  

If elected, what qualities will you bring to the board?  
I will ask the critical questions to get to the truth of things that are going on. I will also empower staff with effective tools to maintain a safe learning environment.  

What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today? 
I believe the most important issue facing education today is the declining proficiency in math, reading and science. This can be fixed by hiring more teachers and decreasing the administrative bureaucracy so students have more individual attention in subjects they’re behind in.  

Why do you believe BHM Schools is the place to dream, believe and achieve?
Kids have their futures ahead of them. A strong, solid educational foundation is paramount to achieving their dreams. With great teachers and learning opportunities in the district, kids can believe their dreams will come true!