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Editor’s note: Have you ever wondered what a school board does? Today marks the fourth installment of an eight-part series focused on what the St. Vrain Valley board does and getting to know its members.
Monday: Q&A with Board President Joie Siegrist on how the board operates.
Tuesday: Five questions with Siegrist
Wednesday: Five questions with Paula Peairs, board vice president
Today: Five questions with Karen Ragland, board treasurer and assistant secretary
Friday: Five questions with John Ahrens, board secretary
Saturday: Five questions with member Chico Garcia
Sunday: Five questions with member Jim Berthold
Monday: Five questions with member Richard Martyr
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Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
My family moved from Connecticut to Colorado in 2007 as our three young children were entering schools. I am a community mental health counselor by training and I currently work as an independent consultant in health care quality improvement and clinician education.
Why did you run for the school board?
I saw it as a natural progression of my personal interest in being an active community member and parent. I began volunteering and taking on leadership roles in my children’s schools, which led to engagement and more leadership opportunities in the St. Vrain schools community (Leadership St. Vrain, Grassroots St. Vrain and the Community Bond Task Force). It is a tremendous responsibility to listen to and learn from our community and students about what education can do for us locally and for our society as a whole.
What is your favorite thing about SVVSD?
Simply put, the kids. The school-age years are such a critical time in development and I love knowing that there are thousands of caring people working every day in our schools to provide our students with an opportunity to thrive and succeed. I also love that our community has demonstrated how much they value our children and their education through support and engagement.
What do you feel is the biggest way you contribute as a school board member?
I understand my role within a governance-focused board as serving the community and fulfilling a strategic mission. I have no agenda, I know my personal limitations, and make thoughtful decisions ultimately on what is best for the students. I am true to the strategic leadership approach and try to stay out of operational weeds so that our capable leadership can focus on what they are highly trained to do.
Can you share your favorite memory or story about how you interacted with parents, the community and/or students?
Overall, the graduation ceremonies have been the most meaningful to me. They are a beautiful reflection of the dedication of the staff and school community, hard work and commitment from the students and pride for the high standard we have expected and they have achieved at that culmination. In general, though, I love visiting the schools to meet with the students, teachers, staff and principals and learning about the things they are most excited about. I also have enjoyed touring the building construction and renovation projects that we have been able to complete since passage of the 2016 bond.
