Views from the Linn County Auditor

Jennifer Pandich - Candidate for Director at Large - Mount Vernon Community School District

Hello, my name is Jennifer Pandich. I am running for school board in the city of Mount Vernon, and I appreciate the opportunity to tell you a little about myself.

My husband is Perry Gruver. He currently works in Marion at Woodcrafters, Inc.; he is also the zoning administrator for Mount Vernon. My daughter Claire, 11, is a sixth grader at Mount Vernon Middle School. My son Max, 7, is a first grader at Washington Elementary. We have lived in Mount Vernon since May, 1997. I have lived in five states and have relatives in three others; I chose to live in Iowa and raise my children here, in part due to the educational system here.

My education has been varied: I have a BA in English from Lock Haven University, Pennsylvania, an MA in linguistics from the California State University at Fresno, an MA and a PhD ABD in speech pathology from the University of Iowa.

I have spent a good deal of time in the elementary school over the past six years. I read to my daughter’s class weekly from kindergarten to fifth grade. I have read to my son’s AK and kindergarten classes weekly and will be reading to his first grade class. I will be having an after school book club at the middle school for any sixth grader. I also hope to find a time when I can read to the sixth graders during the school day.

I know many of the students and teachers; I feel that I have a good idea of the issues facing that building in particular.

Please feel free to call me on my cell phone at (319) 210-0433 to discuss any of the issues.



Educational tenets I believe in:

All children should be challenged and given an education that maximizes their potential.

All children have a right to be educated in an environment that is safe, nurturing, and flexible to fit their needs.

There are no “magic bullets” in educating children; each child needs to be evaluated and taught in a way that will best fit his needs and learning style.

Good teachers are hard to find; we should do everything we can to hold onto the ones we have.



I believe you should vote for me because:

I am knowledgeable in child development and understand what practices will serve most children.

I am dedicated to ensuring that children receive the very best education that we can give them.

I can hold my ground when needed, but I am willing to change my mind when I am wrong. I am very difficult to offend and rarely take things personally.

I am a good listener.

I am familiar with the “culture of education” and understand much of the jargon.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about the candidates in this election.

Please remember to vote on September 11.

Deb Vaughn - Candidate for Director at Large - Springville Community School District

My name is Deb Vaughn and I am a candidate for Springville School Board.

Springville has been my home for more than 40 years. I am a graduate of Springville and my four siblings followed suit.

My daughter Jeanette was a 1995 graduate and my son Paul a 2003 graduate of Springville High School. Currently, I have four children attending Springville High School. Melanie and Harriett are both 17 and seniors. Dana is 16 and he is a sophomore. Sydney is 15 and she is a freshman.

My roots in, and ties to the community and the school are deep and strong. All of my children have been and are very active in all the things that this district has to offer, from speech to sports to music.

Fiscal responsibility is an important aspect of the Directors responsibility. I am grounded, and realistic, and my several years on the City Council have taught me much about budgets vs reality.

Kids are the promise of tomorrow and we have the responsibility of shaping that promise. I believe in the youth, and in the wealth of good things that come from being part of a small town school and community.

I would work hard to promote a sense of pride and accomplishment, to cultivate the old fashioned idea of "School spirit" and to be an advocate for the children, but also for their parents.

I sincerely believe that the benefits of a small school education are unmatched and I hope that one day the legislature realizes the backward thinking that forced so much consolidation to take place over the last 30 years.

As a Director for the Springville District, I would make every effort to be a voice for the taxpayers, and the students.

Deb Vaughn
Springville