The State Board of Education, District 2 is a 4-year term. Voters are asked to vote for one candidate. The top two vote-getters will advance to November's general election.
Scott Carey
Residence: Sparks
Occupation: Planner
Age: 27
Contact: 775-830-4369; shcarey@sbcglobal.net; www.facebook.com/ScottCarey4Nevada
Education: Bachelor of science degree-geography University of Nevada, Reno.
What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?
1. Improve graduation rates for all students. 2. Develop appropriate and reliable revenue sources for schools. 3. Create meaningful and efficient testing standards for student development. 4. Tie K-12 efforts with the state's renewed economic development efforts. 5. Allow the state and local school districts the ability and flexibility to deal with their own issues to achieve student success.
Why should voters choose you over the other candidates?
I can provide a new perspective for education that will allow our schools to achieve student success and help Nevada's economy grow new jobs.
Donna Clontz
Residence: Reno
Occupation: Community advocate. Former teacher, youth program director, advocate for abused and neglected children, juvenile prosecutor, school safety and juvenile justice expert.
Contact: (775) 747-5452; info@donnaclontz.com; www.donnaclontz.com
Education: UCLA, BA Social Science; San Francisco Law School, JD
What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?
Donna believes that good schools are essential for Nevada's future. We need an educated workforce to attract businesses and to create jobs. Nevada's children must be prepared to succeed in today's world, to compete effectively in the global economy and become capable adults in the workplace, with their families, and as citizens of our democracy.
Why should voters choose you over the other candidates?
She will work to streamline regulations, frequently communicate with school districts and the community about Nevada's educational progress, encourage innovation to offer more creative arts, science, technology, career and trade courses, seek out new ideas to implement best practices, and use appropriate educational standards and data to guide decision-making.
Dave Cook
Incumbent
Residence: Carson City
Occupation: Retired emeritus business/economics professor from Western Nevada College. Also, a Nevada licensed high school math teacher for Beacon Academy Charter School, working with remedial and special-education students.
Age: 62
Contact: 775-636-7193; DaveCook4Kids@hotmail.com; www.DaveCook4Kids.com
Education: Nevada Licensed Math Teacher
Experienced charter high school math teacher
30 years of experience teaching college students
Master's of Business Administration degree (UNLV)
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy degree (UNLV)
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree (UNLV)
What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?
Creating a simple, fair, and understandable measure of the effectiveness of all our teachers, administrators, and schools statewide as mandated by Assembly Bill 222 from the Nevada Legislature.
Why should voters choose you over the other candidates?
I'm seeking re-election because I'm the only experienced educator among the candidates. I consistently use my experience, and new technologies, to successfully reach at-risk math students to help them become successful graduates. Nevada's children are too important to be allowed to fail.
Adriana Guzman Fralick
Residence: Reno
Occupation: Attorney
Age: 43
Contact: adrianafralick@yahoo.com; 775-851-9059; www.adrianafralick.com
Education: University of Nevada, Reno: BA, Speech Communication; University of Nevada Las Vegas Boyd School of Law: Juris Doctorate
What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?
The education budget that will be considered in the 2013 legislative session is paramount. However, a properly funded education budget is only the first step to fixing Nevada's national ranking of last place in education. We need to establish rigorous literacy programs in grades 1 through 3 and establish a fair teacher performance evaluation system. If elected, I will work to ensure that the education reforms that were adopted in 2011 are implemented and that the previously adopted goals of the Board of Education are realized, such as improving student achievement results in core academic subjects; improving the graduation rate including expanding the advanced diploma rate; college and career readiness when students graduate from high school; ensuring students are educated by effective teachers and administrators; and supporting and expanding innovative instructional programs.
Why should voters choose you over the other candidates?
As a mother of school-age children, I am a vested stakeholder in Nevada's education system. I have a true interest in improving our education system. I am a passionate advocate for our children, parents, teachers and administrators. Having been on the State Board, I will require no time to come up to speed and will hit the ground running. I will continue to work hard to ensure that what works in education remains in place and make changes where change is needed because last place is not good enough for our children; last place is not good enough for Nevada.
• Candidate Ray Bacon didn't respond to the Nevada Appeal's requests to participate.
