Four community members are running for two at-large seats on the school board.

Board member Steve Springer passed away in May. Matt Moritz was appointed to assume Springer’s seat on the school board.

In June, former board member Matt Wagner resigned from his position. Dan Altman was appointed to fill that vacancy.

Because of the school district referendum, state law requires that the two seats filled by appointment be included in the election.

Chrisstine Crooks-Rocha

According to Webster County Auditor Doreen Pliner, the last time there was a contested school board race was in 2013, when seven candidates ran for two seats on the board.

The Messenger asked each of the candidates about their reasons for running and the priorities that they would pursue if elected. Their answers are below:

Dan Altman

Dan Altman is the family pastor at New Covenant Christian Church. He has worked with youth since 2008. Altman has a Bachelor of Science in religion, with a minor in counseling, and holds a Master of Arts in executive leadership.

Why are you running for a position on the school board?

Matt Moritz

I am running for a position on the school board primarily because I am passionate about the success of our Fort Dodge community. I believe that positive changes within communities are created with proper family structure and excellent education. I am committed to the success of our teachers, students and their families. I desire to see our school district have the highest quality of educational resources obtainable.

What are your goals if you are elected?

My goals as a board member are:

To follow the vision, mission statement, and the core beliefs of our school district.

To ensure that every child has a safe place to learn and develop in an atmosphere that provides a superior education.

Diane Pratt

To be attentive to the needs of our faculty so that they can prepare our students to be effective in their vocation and personal development.

To support the quality compensation of our teachers and faculty. We need the highest quality of teachers to ensure that our students are pointed towards a lifetime of success. Our teachers are doing an excellent job; in order to continue on in quality education, I will continually support a quality compensation that includes career development, a balanced work-life, and great benefits.

To meet the personal needs of our families by working alongside parents to fulfill positive outcomes for their children.

What will be your No. 1 priority if you are elected?

To serve our parents, teachers, and students with integrity and humility. I believe these two moral principles should be at the forefront of every leader that is serious about cultivating positive change within their organization and community. Integrity within any organization starts with the leadership. Our culture of united community and quality education will prosper as our leadership continues to model integrity and humility.

Why do you think you will be a good addition to the school board?

I strongly believe that I possess a combination of skills, education, and work ethic that are only obtained from over a decade of working alongside students. As a father of five, I understand the importance of commitment and dedication to the future of our students and our community. Our future strongly depends on what we are willing to invest in our children. In my strong opinion, the fallout that we often see in society is largely found where a low quality of educational and family structures are present. Simply put, the outcome of student success and student behavior is modeled within these two structures.

Chrisstine Crooks-Rocha

Chriss Crooks-Rocha was born and raised in Fort Dodge, attending K-12 in the FDCSD, graduating with the Class of 1993. She is married to Carlos Rocha Sr., and has two children, Carlos Rocha Jr. and Santana Rocha. She is a registered nurse at Fort Dodge Oral Surgery and Implant Center. In her free time, she enjoys watching her favorite teams in football — Go Dodgers! Go Green Bay!

Why are you running for a position on the school board?

I am running for a position on the Fort Dodge Community School Board because I want to be a part of the team that will be deciding and making changes in our schools that will benefit all our children, and give them the best opportunity to succeed. When our schools succeed, our community succeeds.

What are your goals if you are elected?

My goals if elected are to try and figure out how do we improve the lines of communication between families and the school system. How do we bridge the division between our teachers and our families, how to have effective communication where the child/children’s success is the main outcome.

What will be your No. 1 priority if you are elected?

My No. 1 priority if elected is support for our teachers. It is crucial that our teachers have a strong support system in and out of the classroom, so that they may have the best opportunities at helping our children succeed in learning.

Why do you think you will be a good addition to the school board?

I believe that I would be a good addition to the school board because I have served on numerous boards and committees within our school district and the Fort Dodge community. I am ready to commit to helping making sure our schools and community succeeds at giving our children the best education.

Matt Moritz

Matt Moritz has been a Fort Dodge resident for more than 20 years. His wife, Alecia, is a member of the Fort Dodge Senior High Class of 1997. They are the proud parents of recent FDSH graduate Addison Moritz, and junior Ella Moritz and freshman Drew Moritz.

Why are you running for a position on the school board?

I have volunteered for the district in many capacities over the last 20 years. I was actually appointed to the board following the passing of Steve Springer. I cannot express how honored and humbled I am to sit where he once did. Steve’s commitment to his family, faith, friends and community is what actually inspired me to serve. I can think of no better way to serve than the Board of Education. Being a part of policy that shapes future generations is an enormous opportunity as well as a responsibility. I certainly understand and appreciate that.

What are your goals if you are elected?

I think the goal of any board member is to help provide our educators and staff with the tools and policies they need to be successful. That success translates into young people who truly have what it takes to find their own success as a result of their educational experience.

What will be your No. 1 priority if you are elected?

Simply put, I just want to be a voice for absolutely every member of our district. As our motto states: together we rise.

Why do you think you will be a good addition on the school board?

Our district is in a strong position thanks to our staff and administrators. Now more than ever it is critical that we as a community support that momentum. A community is only as strong as our schools. I would absolutely love to see more constructive community involvement in every aspect of our district. Especially the school board. After all, we sit on the board as representatives of our community. I appreciate your consideration.

Diane Pratt

Before retiring in 2019, Diane Pratt taught Dodger learners in preschool through high school for over 29 years. During that time she served in many supporting roles: cheer coach and STEM coach; new teacher mentor and district Teacher Quality committee; Building Leadership Team and lunch room supervisor; TAG Department Facilitator and district Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Advisory Council. She enjoyed her tenure as a 5-12 teacher for talented and gifted learners. Pratt is a past president of the Iowa Talented and Gifted Association and currently serves on its Governance Committee. She continues to serve on the state Council on Educator Leadership and Compensation and the National Association for Gifted Children Professional Standards Committee. Her most rewarding role has been that of mom to Eric and Libby. She now has seven grandchildren who are current or future Dodgers. She and her husband Steve have lived in Fort Dodge for over 30 years.

Why are you running for a position on the school board?

A community is only as strong as its local economy and the reputation of its public school operation. Serving as a school board member will be an extension of my service and allow me to continue my passion for providing excellent public education opportunities.

What are your goals if you are elected?

While there will be much to learn initially, I am a good listener, collaborator, and hard worker. I hope to contribute experiences and perspectives that might initiate questions and discussion for consideration with challenges that lay ahead. A critical eye is always needed. Public school systems can offer opportunities that private districts cannot expand to offer. We need to continue to embrace children of richly different backgrounds and experiences, providing opportunities for them to grow while supporting our knowledgeable, talented, and dedicated teachers and staff.

What will be your No. 1 priority if you are elected?

Certainly there are still immediate challenges created by the pandemic that must continue to be addressed thoughtfully. There will also be concerns arising from the reconfiguration of our elementary schools and Early Learning Center. Creating and maintaining a collaborative, active vision for our district that will ensure success for students, teachers, and support staff must remain at the center of all we do.

Why do you think you will be a good addition to the school board?

I will add experienced leadership skills to both broad and local perspectives I bring. I can anticipate how decisions made at board meetings will play out in the halls and classrooms of our schools. I am approachable, an intent listener, and problem-solver. I believe in the quality of employees who keep our schools running every day. And I will be looking out for everyone’s grandkids.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

• Daily Newsletter
• Breaking News
• Obituaries

Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

• Yes
• No