Three candidates are vying for a pair of open seats for the Holden R-III School Board in the April 8 Municipal Election.
Incumbent Nathan Haun, who entered office in 2022 is running. The race also includes newcomers Sarah Abel and Tucker Fletchall.
Each candidate was asked to fill out a questionnaire. Answers were limited to 150 words and are listed in the order the candidates appear on the ballot. The candidates’ responses have been lightly edited for grammar and a few were edited for length.
Fletchall did not respond.
Abel: I am running for school board because I believe in the power of education to shape the future of our children and our community. Our schools are the foundation of our society, and I want to ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive in a safe, supportive, and challenging environment. I want to work with parents, teachers, and administrators to make decisions that prioritize the needs of students and foster a strong learning environment. By listening to the concerns of the community and advocating for resources that support both academic achievement and emotional well-being, I aim to help create a school system that prepares students for success in the classroom and beyond.
Haun: I desire to run for school board for several reasons. Plainly spoken, I care about the students in the Holden R-III School District. As a school board member, I want to help provide our students with a safe place to learn. Children and young adults occasionally need extra resources for them to be successful, and I would work to make sure those are available. Parents can be a huge part of a successful education. They deserve to have a voice concerning their child’s learning. I desire to make Holden a place where parents and guardians are able to play a very active part in their student’s schooling. In addition to parents, all taxpayers need to have a voice at the decision-making table. I want to be their voice, demonstrating that they also have a say in how district money is spent and saved.
Abel: I bring a unique set of qualifications with 14 years of teaching, experience working for my family business, and a personal connection to our district as a parent. As a former teacher, I understand the challenges and opportunities in our classrooms and I’ve worked directly with students, teachers, and parents. I know what it takes to create a supportive and effective learning environment. My business background has sharpened my skills in problem-solving, budgeting, and resource management, all of which are essential for ensuring our district operates efficiently. As a parent of two Holden graduates and one current middle schooler, I am personally invested in our schools' success. These experiences give me the knowledge and passion to serve on the school board and advocate for every student’s success.
Haun: I have a deep understanding of the school district. I attended Holden from Kindergarten through graduation in 2016. I also bring real world experience. I spent over five years involved in youth ministry. This and other experiences through church, gave me the opportunity to interact with elementary, middle and high school students. Learning about them and some of the struggles they face on a daily basis gives me a much more valuable perspective. In addition to knowledge about the district and its students, I have some college education from UCM. I’ve worked both for employers and owned a small business. For years, I learned how the school board operated through secondhand experience, which allowed me to be a more productive board member in my first term. Serving on the board has taught me a lot. My experiences and knowledge can help solve the problems our district faces.
Abel: My top priorities focus on areas that impact the success and well-being of our students, teachers, and the entire school community. The areas I would prioritize are: 1. Academic Excellence: I will work to maintain high academic standards supported with a quality curriculum that aligns with those expectations. In my opinion student achievement is one of the most important indicators of a school’s success. I will advocate for a rigorous and relevant curriculum that prepares students for academic and real-world success. 2. Effective Leadership: I will work to ensure strong leadership at every level of the district with a clear, strategic direction that supports teachers, administrators, and students while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence. 3. Investing in Teachers: Quality education starts with quality teachers. Teachers are vital to our success, and I will support efforts to offer competitive salaries that reflect the value teachers bring to our schools, while also managing resources efficiently.
Haun: Students well-being is my highest focus. I seek to ensure protection for students from dangerous and inappropriate curriculum. I prioritise advancing the education and scores of our students. This requires providing for our great staff as well as offering incentives for recruiting teachers. In addition to what’s taught, presented and discussed at school, I care deeply about ensuring that Holden continues to be a leader in providing excellent resources to protect and help with the physical and mental health of our students. I strive to maintain personal freedom for parents, students and staff, giving all of them a say in what is best for each student. Finally, I want to help the district achieve more conservative spending and avoiding more debt. This, among other things, would help taxpayers’ view the district in a more positive light.
Abel: Ultimately the school board is responsible for working as a team to make decisions in the best interest of the school. Two central goals I have are increased student achievement and investing in and retaining teachers. To prioritize academic excellence I would like to see the board participate in a curriculum audit. Having a solid curriculum is the cornerstone of a school focused on student achievement and it is the school board’s responsibility to be sure that a quality curriculum is in place. Our teachers work so hard and deserve a solid foundation to build on. Missouri is at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to teacher pay, and while the school board does not have control over the funding the school receives, it is my goal to work within our budget constraints to offer competitive salaries and benefits to attract and retain exceptional educators.
Haun: If elected, my main goal is to use the resources available to provide the safest, most effective, positive, community-supported education possible to the students of the Holden R-III school district. I desire to keep harmful curriculum out of the classroom while helping to better the school’s performance on state tests. Another goal of mine is to help the district to function without a need for additional revenue. However, I know that more funding needs to be shifted from one "fund" to another, in order to address problems and be efficient. I hope to find a way to work as a team with my fellow board members, administrators, staff and community in the overall goal of great education and opportunities. Lastly, as a new assistant superintendent is hired, I hope to work with him or her to make it easier for them to move our district in a positive direction.
Abel: I hope to earn your vote because I bring a unique combination of experience, dedication, and a strong commitment to the success of our students, the well-being of our teachers, and the overall health of our school district. I have a firsthand understanding of the challenges and opportunities within our classrooms. I know how to make thoughtful, effective decisions, manage resources efficiently, and find practical solutions to problems. I have a direct stake in creating an environment where all children—mine included—can thrive. If elected, I will listen to the concerns of the community, collaborate with all stakeholders, and be an advocate for academic excellence. I want to see our schools remain places where students are challenged, supported, and prepared for the future.
Haun: Though I am young, God has blessed me with the education, experience and mental toughness needed for the role. I am willing to prepare well, continue to learn, listen to parents, staff, students and community members. Hard decisions must be made, and I am ready to meet that challenge. I can communicate well, own my mistakes and strive for better education, while keeping what’s best for the students in mind. I am willing to stand firm on my Christian values, even when facing peer pressure. I strive to maintain a focus on the priorities of voters. Having served on the board the last three years, with this current year as president, I have more confidence in my ability to continue working towards and bringing positive change to the school district.
Compiled by Joe Andrews.
