Weston County School Board #7 Election: Toni Watt

NLJ: Please tell us why you want to hold this office, and what you intend to accomplish if elected. Please be specific about your goals and objectives, so our readers can measure your progress over the course of the term. Also tell us what qualifications and characteristics you possess that will help ensure that your stated goals can be achieved. (The same question was posed to all candidates for the General Election.)
 
Toni Watt
It would be an honor to serve on the Weston County School Board #7 and represent my school, the students and the Upton community. As a graduate of Upton High School and lifelong citizen of the community, I take great pride in this district. 
The Upton School District continues to improve and progress with our progressive 21st Century focus, economic changes and ever-changing community members. It is my intention to promote and assist in fostering this progressive framework.
My main focus is and will remain the children in our community. Ultimately, we want our young people to become productive citizens with a good moral compass. Our district has and will continue to grow to meet students’ needs. A current goal the school appropriated is to prepare all students to be college and career ready. It is my opinion that their focus and determination to meet this education goal will require support from all stakeholders, but especially school board members who understand how to implement this cultural shift, and that is what I plan on doing. 
I intend to preserve continued success for all levels of learners in order to meet the needs of each student. Another Weston #7 school district goal is to strengthen a positive culture. I will strongly support this, but this can only be accomplished if our teachers are supported. I can guarantee you that if I am elected all staff will be heard and they will be at the decision-making table, as they are the experts in how to best educate our students. 
I am, most importantly, a mother and wife, and I love to spend time with my family. I am sensible, realistic and composed, even when faced with difficult circumstances. My educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Business Education from the University of Wyoming, a Master’s of Science in curriculum and technology from Black Hills State University, and I continue to pursue advanced graduate work and courses in curriculum. Education has been my career for 20 years, and I have loved every minute of it. I would appreciate the opportunity to represent our community on the Weston #7 School Board and promise to keep our children at the forefront of every decision I make as a servant leader of the community of Upton.