MILWAUKEE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS

There are there are five Milwaukee school board positions up in the April 4 2023 elections.

Three of the five positions have incumbents running for a second term. All but one of the four positions have contested elections. The two members of the board who are not seeking reelection are Board President Bob Peterson and Board Vice President Sequanna Taylor.

DISTRICT 1: MARVA HERNDON

The Shepherd Express endorses Marva Herndon for reelection to the Milwaukee School Board. Herndon was first elected in April 2019. She is a graduate of West Division High School (now Milwaukee High School of the Arts). During her four years on the board Herndon has been a strong leader insisting that MPS students have access to full time music teachers, art teachers, physical education teachers and librarians. She has worked closely with teachers and the MPS administration across the district to increase these important components of education for all students.

Herndon has been a strong promoter of schools encouraging children’s appreciation for the natural world, including the need for students to learn about climate justice, agricultural practices (think Vincent High School, River Trail Elementary) and how they can help build a sustainable world.

Herndon’s four daughters are MPS graduates and her grand children who live in Milwaukee are MPS graduates or enrolled in MPS. As a 40-year resident of District 1, she is well known as a strong advocate for the community and one who is not afraid to speak up about what needs to be improved.

All five of our endorsees are strong supporters of public schools and believe that public education is essential to strengthening our democracy. Yes, our public schools need improvements, but that is difficult to do with years of underfunding by the Republican dominated legislature, and the ongoing vilification of public schools and the teachers who work daily with our Milwaukee’s students.

DISTRICT 2: ERIKA SIEMSEN

The Shepherd Express supports Erika Siemsen for reelection to the Milwaukee School Board. Erika was an MPS elementary school teacher for more than 30 years and she brings that expertise to the school board. She is well versed in teaching reading, restorative practices, and need for schools to be welcoming places for all students, parents and families.

Siemsen graduated from UW-Milwaukee with a B.A. in elementary education and later received her Master of Arts degree from Cardinal Stritch University in the area of literacy reform. Siemsen is an expert in early childhood education, which is a key factor in improving students literacy and math skills. She is from a family of three generations of MPS graduates. Her granddaughter currently attends Milwaukee Public Schools.

DISTRICT 8: MEGAN O'HALLORAN

Megan O'Halloran does not have an opponent in her reelection and that probably says all we need to say; however, if she did have an opponent, the Shepherd would almost definitely be endorsing her. Megan is a strong supporter of public schools and works closely with the schools in her Bayview/ Southside district. A few years ago she led a walk to the state legislature in Madison highlighting the need for adequate funding for all public schools. She is a strong advocate of parent involvement in MPS. Her two children attend Cooper Public School.

DISTRICT 3: GABI HART

The Shepherd Express strongly endorses Gabi Hart for election to the Milwaukee School Board District 3. Hart is a community activist who has focused on youth organizing work. She believes strongly that programs must serve all children. Hart will be a hardworking bridge builder, working collaboratively within the community to get things done for the children of Milwaukee. Among her many accomplishments, she co-led the Program in the Parks in Sherman Park after the conflict there a few years ago.

CITYWIDE DISTRICT: MISSY ZOMBOR

The Shepherd Express enthusiastically endorses Missy Zombor for the Citywide District. Zombor is an education, community and labor activist who is passionately committed to public schools. Her son attends a Milwaukee middle school, and she is marketing director for Rethinking Schools which promotes the importance of public schools and racial and social justice in schools. Zombor has previously worked communications director for the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association, the largest educators local in the state of Wisconsin. There she helped fight back a Republican-backed state takeover of Milwaukee Public Schools and supported resolutions for more nutritious food, longer recess, and smaller class sizes for students in early grades.

She is running for the position from which Bob Peterson is stepping down. Peterson has also endorsed her saying, “Missy is a smart hard-working and experience MPS parents and public education champion committed to defending and improving our schools.”