Meet the candidates

BROOKINGS — Two candidates are running for one open spot on the Brookings School Board.

Marcie Dierks and Kelsey Bowman are both standing for the seat, with early voting ongoing and election day on June 2.

A change at the state legislature moved the school board election to during the Republican primary, even though it’s a non-partisan race.

Both candidates agreed to provide Beacon readers with a short biographical sketch and then answer our questions.

Their answers are printed here edited only for style.

Kelsey Bowman
My name is Kelsey Bowman, and I moved to Brookings in 2005 to attend South Dakota State University.

After graduating in 2008 with a degree in economics, I chose to build my life and career here in Brookings.

My husband, Matt, and I are proud to call this community home as we raise our son, Breck, and prepare to welcome another baby this October.

Until 2019, I served as the Assistant Business Manager for the Brookings School District, where I gained valuable experience in school finance and operations. Following the birth of my son, I made the decision to step away from my position to focus on my family. As Breck got older, I founded KB Consulting, providing bookkeeping and accounting services to businesses across South Dakota. This role has allowed me to continue pursuing meaningful professional work while maintaining the flexibility to be a mom first.

I have always believed in giving back to the community and supporting the organizations that help Brookings thrive. While our school district faces challenges, it is also filled with dedicated educators, engaged families, and tremendous opportunities for success. I believe strong schools are built through collaboration, transparency and community involvement, and that a parent’s perspective is a vital part of that process.

With my background in finance, experience working within the school district, and commitment to our community, I believe I would bring a thoughtful and balanced perspective to the board. I would be honored to serve and help ensure our schools continue to provide the best possible opportunities for all students.

Marcie Dierks
Brookings is an incredible community that I am proud to call home. I am originally from the Chicago area but moved to Brookings in 2008 for graduate school and have formed deep relationships within our community.

I have dedicated my professional life to service and community. I currently work for Northern State University’s Center for Statewide E-learning, supporting districts across the state that can’t hire certified science teachers. Previously, I taught science at Brookings High School for nine years. I also have experience working with families and elementary age students through the Boys and Girls Club, adults with developmental disabilities from my time at Advance, was an adjunct instructor for undergraduate students at SDSU, and I currently work part-time serving our aging population through Interim HealthCare. I have a servant heart and enjoy funneling my energy and expertise into lifting people up and ensuring all people feel valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.

While teaching at Brookings High School, I served on several district- and school- level leadership committees. This allowed me to understand the complexities around making decisions within our building and district and understand the importance of input and representation from all stakeholders served by our district. Public school districts are the heart of any community, and the residents of Brookings know that better than anyone.

I also was elected and served as the Brookings Education Association co-president for one term. This experience deepened my understanding of the master agreement process, the important roles of the superintendent and district leadership, and the collaboration required to support both staff and students. It also strengthened my commitment to protecting public education and ensuring that all students have access to highly qualified, certified teachers.

Q: What was the tipping point that made you decide to take out a petition and run for school board?

Dierks: I am a champion for public education and deeply believe in the importance of a strong public school district for our community. Public schools serve all students and work to meet the needs of all students. To do this, we need to ensure that our students continue to have access to high quality certified teachers. When community members and former co-workers approached me to run to serve on the board, I felt that it was the right time for me to be actively engaged in our district.

Bowman: What motivated me to run is simple — the kids. I have always stayed actively engaged with our local school district, but once my son started kindergarten, I realized I wanted to become even more involved. Many people are surprised to learn that our current board does not include any parents of school-aged children. Parents bring an important and valuable perspective, and with so many significant decisions being made, I believe it is essential that families have a voice at the table.

In addition to being a parent, I bring extensive financial and operational experience within the school district.

As we look ahead, thoughtful decisions will be necessary to ensure the quality of our children’s education remains strong and continues to grow. From the very beginning, my guiding principle has been simple: “Our kids deserve the best.” I believe that wholeheartedly, and I am committed to helping ensure every child in our district has the opportunities and support they deserve.

Q: What life experience of yours best prepares you to hold this office?

Bowman: First and foremost, I bring the perspective of a parent. I understand the everyday challenges our students face, and I see firsthand the incredible value our educators and support staff provide each day.

Whether it’s school drop-off and pickup, book fairs, classroom events, or bingo nights, I’m actively involved and engaged in our school community. I believe a parent’s voice is essential in helping guide decisions that directly impact students and families.

In addition, my financial and operational background would be a strong asset to the board. It is no secret that budget constraints continue to present significant challenges for our district. While state support remains important, we must also focus on identifying inefficiencies locally and finding sustainable ways to attract and retain high-quality educators and support staff. Strong schools require both fiscal responsibility and a continued investment in the people who make a difference in our students’ lives every day.

Dierks: My professional work and educational experience have best prepared me. I have degrees in science and currently teach high school level science courses. Drawing conclusions and making decisions based on evidence and data is second nature to me.

My career path of serving a wide range of Brookings community members has afforded me the opportunity to learn from and work with our diverse population. I have worked with learners from first grade through undergraduate as well as adults from late teens through the late stages of life. As an educator at Brookings High School, I communicated with parents, supported fellow educators, and championed all students to learn and grow. I can see issues from many perspectives and am able to notice whose voices are missing when analyzing stakeholder feedback and data.

Q; What will your biggest challenge be should you win this race? Your top priority?

Dierks: A top priority of mine is to retain and attract quality staff in our district. Public schools must meet the diverse needs of all students. My current role is to fill certified science positions in districts across the state that can’t hire teachers. In addition, there are over 600 H-1 Visa educators filling certified teaching positions in public schools across our state. Teachers are the heart of the school, they work with students, they communicate with parents, they identify needs and concerns and direct those to the correct resources.

The students in our community deserve to be educated by teachers who are supported, respected, and valued for the incredible work they do in our classrooms.

A challenge I will face is the current state of public school funding. Our district operates on a tight budget, and the board has recently made tough decisions regarding how to best serve our students with its limited funds and resources. Issues around public school funding are complex, and I see budgetary constraints continuing to be an issue in the foreseeable future.

Bowman: Admittedly, I do not come from a background in education.

However, I was fortunate to grow up watching my mother dedicate her heart and career to teaching, which gave me a deep appreciation for the time, commitment, and passion educators invest in helping students succeed. I have tremendous respect for the work our teachers and school staff do every day.

One of the most important parts of serving on a board is being willing to listen, learn, and collaborate. I recognize that there are fellow board members, administrators, and educational professionals who bring extensive experience and expertise in academic operations, and I look forward to learning from them while contributing my own perspective and strengths.

My top priorities would be continuing to improve academic proficiency, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and promoting transparency within the district.

Through conversations with parents, educators, and community members, these consistently emerge as key concerns and priorities. While I believe our district is moving in a positive direction, there is still important work ahead to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed and every taxpayer feels confident in the stewardship of our schools.

Q: How has the role of public schools changed during your lifetime and career, and how do you view it moving forward? What do we need to change? What do we need to get back to?

Bowman: One of the biggest challenges facing public schools today is the increase in disruptive and challenging behaviors, which can negatively impact the learning environment for all students. At the same time, we are asking more and more of our educators and support staff, and burnout has become a very real concern. Supporting and retaining quality teachers and staff must remain a priority.

I also believe parents play a critical role in a child’s education, and stronger partnership and accountability between schools and families is essential. While there is no single solution, these are conversations we need to continue having as a community if we want to create the best possible environment for student success.

In addition, I believe we need to maintain a strong focus on core academics. Technology has created many valuable opportunities in education, but it can also present distractions when not used thoughtfully and intentionally. Recent national reporting has highlighted declining test scores across the country, with trends beginning even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

While standardized test scores do not tell the entire story of a student’s growth or potential, they do provide parents and educators with important benchmarks to help measure academic progress and identify areas where additional support may be needed.

Dierks: As a teacher, I have seen the changes in student needs over my 15 years of classroom experience.

Students today are navigating an increasingly complex world, including increased mental health needs, the impact of technology and social media and greater academic and social-emotional challenges coming out of the pandemic years. It’s important to remember that the role of a public school is to serve all students, and our district staff need the training and resources to meet the diverse needs of our kids.

When I graduated with my teaching credentials, there were no certified science positions open within a 40-mile radius of Brookings. Today, open positions in our region frequently receive one to two qualified applicants, if any. We all want the most qualified and capable educators working in our classrooms, but in the short time I have been a public educator, the views around the importance of public schools and the respect for the teaching profession have changed. The conditions under which teachers work are increasingly stressful and under-supported. Many dedicated and passionate educators have left our district in recent years to find work in education or public service elsewhere.

We all know that student success is directly tied to teacher efficacy, so as a member of our school board, I would support initiatives and budgetary decisions that directly improve the working conditions and resources of educators. If we want our kids to learn from the best, we need to retain and attract the best.

Q: Public education faces headwinds at the state and national levels. What can be done on the local level to mitigate some of those challenges? And what should be done locally that isn’t dependent on larger trends?

Dierks: School boards work to address the issues facing our local student population. That is the beauty of a locally controlled, nonpartisan board. Regardless of national party politics and the politicizing of what is best for students, our board can use feedback and data from our own students and stakeholders to create board policies and strategic plans that meet the needs of our own students and community.

Locally, let’s work to improve communication between the district and our community. There are already many amazing partnerships within Brookings that work directly with our district or serve the families of the children in our district. As a board member, I would encourage civic engagement. Complete the surveys, read or listen to communication coming from our teachers, schools, and district, put our resources into these community partnerships, and vote in the local school board election.

Bowman: I believe education is best guided at the local level. No one understands the needs of the Brookings School District better than our administrators, staff, parents, and broader community. While we will always be impacted by state and national policy, our primary focus should remain on the fundamentals that we can directly influence: academic achievement, safe and supportive learning environments, and strong support for our teachers and staff.

We must ensure that our resources are directed in ways that have the greatest impact on student learning and well-being. Just as importantly, fostering a positive culture where teachers, support staff, parents, and administrators feel valued and heard can make a meaningful difference regardless of broader external pressures.

Improving communication and transparency at the local level is also essential. Families and community members want to feel informed, engaged, and confident in the direction of the district. Open dialogue and collaboration build trust and lead to stronger, more sustainable outcomes.

By staying focused on students, encouraging meaningful parental involvement, maintaining fiscal responsibility, and supporting our educators, we can continue working together to ensure our district provides the best possible opportunities for every child.

Q: As a member of the school board, you would be a public official subject to South Dakota’s laws on public information, but also entrusted with safeguarding the public’s right to know. What are your views on the push for increased transparency from local boards in South Dakota?

Bowman: Transparency is one of the topics I hear about most often from community members. I do not believe people expect or are entitled to confidential personnel information; rather, what many are asking for is more open discussion and communication around important decisions.

Healthy debate and thoughtful discussion are essential to strong leadership and good governance.

While it is important for a board to work collaboratively, it is also valuable to have members who bring different perspectives, experiences, and ideas to the table. Diversity of thought helps ensure decisions are thoroughly considered and ultimately leads to stronger outcomes for students, staff, and the community.

At the end of the day, board members do not need to agree on every issue to work effectively together. What matters most is that everyone remains focused on the same shared goal: doing what is best for our students and supporting the long-term success of our school district.

Dierks: I wholeheartedly believe in stakeholders having access to all legally available information. Our board works to follow the state laws, but it’s important to remember that student privacy, personnel matters, and negotiations must be kept confidential by law. This is the function of an executive session.

Building level administrators are responsible for evaluating and managing building level staff, our superintendent is responsible for evaluating and managing building administrators, and the board is responsible for the superintendent.

Students and staff members have a legal right to appeal decisions made by their direct supervisors. In those situations, the board serves as the judge and jury and must remain objective. Details on these sensitive situations are legally not shared with the board before the appeals process. Rumors always spread faster than facts, and we all need to be critical of what we are hearing and from whom we are hearing it. If we have questions, we should go to the source. Public comment is available and encouraged at all school board meetings.

Since becoming a school board candidate, I have been approached by community members regarding their concerns with our district, and transparency is a common concern.

To me it’s more of a communication issue, not a transparency issue. Is the communication coming from the superintendent detailed enough? Are community members seeking out information? Do community members know how to find district information? As a board member, I will work to bridge that information gap between communication from the district and the reception of the information by our stakeholders.

Linehan is the Beacon’s managing editor and welcomes story tips and comments at BrookingsBeacon@@gmail.com