Chuck Hansen

Please introduce yourself and describe your connection to the Celina ISD community.

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My name is Chuck Hansen and me and my family have been in Celina since 2007. We have loved being part of this community. This was the perfect place to raise our kids through CISD. I love the small town and the presence of prayer and God as a foundation to this community.

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What personal experiences in education or community service have prepared you for a role on the School Board?

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I have served on the board for 16+ years, been active in serving the community through our church's ISERVE program, active in FBC Celina where I have served over 10 years on the Finance Committee, volunteered in Vacation Bible School and taught Sunday School.

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On average, how many Celina School Board meetings have you attended in person in the last 12 months and have you ever addressed the board?

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12 or more as there are routine special meetings each year. I miss one occasionally.

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What is your long-term vision for Celina ISD, and how do you plan to balance the district’s rich heritage with the demands of rapid growth?

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I moved to Celina because I loved the small-town feel (it was only 5000 people in 2007). The people were genuine and warm and it felt like the place God was leading me and my family when we were looking to move from Allen. My long-term vision for CISD is around Faith. The community has such a rich heritage of prayer and seeking God's leadership when directing the community and the schools. My vision is to keep God central in the foundation of this amazing town and school district.

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In what ways do you see the School Board evolving to meet future challenges?

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The school board is an amazing group of folks who seek to honor God in directing the district. We will have tons of challenges associated with growth. Facilities, staffing, funding, etc. will all be major challenges on the horizon. I honestly hope whether I am elected or not, that the board does not change and continues to seek God's guidance in leading the district.

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How will you work to maintain and enhance academic excellence across all Celina ISD schools?

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This may not be a popular answer, but I am not overly concerned about test scores. My definition of academic excellence is simple - did we help each student achieve his or her personal best and prepare them for the future. If that shows up in test grades - great. I care more that it shows up in confident young men and women who graduated with pride in who they are and where they are going.

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What strategies would you propose to ensure that the curriculum remains innovative and relevant for today’s students?

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Our district invests regularly in administrative staff to oversee our curriculum and ensure it meets the needs of our students. I like that if there is a new suggested curriculum, the district will involve teachers to review the curriculum and possibly visit a campus where the curriculum is being taught. While we may have one responsible staff member that oversees this area, it is important that he or she involve our teachers in new curriculum choices.

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What steps will you take to support and retain quality educators within Celina ISD?

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Retaining is a challenge with our current funding structure. Outside of money, we have to be creative in creating a district where teachers WANT to teach. We need to provide an environment where they are respected and appreciated and feel like they are part of something special, not just a work environment. We need to continue to support our educators with solid career paths, training and opportunities for growth.

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How do you plan to promote ongoing professional development to keep our teachers at the forefront of modern education?

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CISD offers training programs for new and innovative teaching programs. Teachers are required to spend time in professional development and the administration does a good job of researching classes and directing teachers and administrators to positive programs.

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With enrollment projected to grow significantly, how would you ensure that the district’s budget is managed efficiently while meeting the needs of expanding facilities?

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I am a finance guy and every year except for a few, I have been involved in the annual budget for the district. The first step is to adopt a budget that is achievable and meets the needs of our students and campuses. Once the foundation is set, the financials are reviewed each month comparing actuals to budget. If spending is exceeding budget, the administration does a good job of restricting as much spend as possible until the numbers come back in line.

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What priorities should guide the allocation of funds between new construction, renovations, and educational programs?

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Funds for new construction and renovations are separated from educational programs. Bond money funds the facility work and Operating funds drive the educational programs. The funds cannot be comingled. Educational programs and improvements are always a high priority during the budget meetings each year.

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Celina ISD is experiencing rapid enrollment growth. What measures would you support to prevent overcrowding in our schools?

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In this area you literally have to do what you have to do. I don't like portables but they are certainly an option and really about the only option when capacity is met. Nobody likes redistricting, but I also support this measure if it is needed to balance our existing facilities.

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How can we optimize existing facilities while planning for necessary future expansions?

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we optimize our facilities by ensuring each campus is properly utilized. If we ever get to the point where our facilities have exceeded our growth, we would look at possibly letting a campus be idle for a year or two until growth caught up in order to minimize operating expenses.

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How will you ensure that parents, teachers, and community members have a meaningful voice in the decision-making process?

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Our district does a great job of forming cross functional teams for major initiatives. The bond process is just one example how the community came together and worked with our admin and contractors to determine our bond package. Have parents, teachers and community members (who may not have kids in the district) voice their vision. One PRIME example is this election. I don't care if you vote for me or not, but I do beg you to get out there and vote. Get to know the candidates and let your voice be heard by voting for the candidate that most aligns with your vision for this district. This is YOUR district, start making a difference in where it is headed.

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What methods would you use to maintain transparency about district policies, budgets, and upcoming projects?

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We have a public forum section of our meetings every month. Anyone can openly speak and ask questions. If we don't have the answers, Tom does a great job of finding the answers and following up with the person after the meeting. It may not always be the answer they want, but it will be an answer that best serves the district.

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How can Celina ISD better integrate new technologies to enhance learning and operational efficiency?

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We have a sharp IT guy - Zach, who does a great job staying on top of the IT needs of the district. We may not be on the cutting edge of new technology, but we are well suited to provide an amazing technical atmosphere for our students to excel.

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What role do you see for technology in preparing students for a rapidly evolving, digital future?

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I love that the district is taking the initiative to enhance these creative students (not my thing - I am a numbers guy). To see the robotics team display the award winning robot was so cool and so amazing that these creative young men and women have a school sponsored outlet to grow this passion. Capitalizing on IT and computers and cyber security, etc. for high schoolers can help prepare them for careers in these growing fields.

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What initiatives do you believe are essential to creating a safe and inclusive learning environment?

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I don't care for this question. We should not have to have "initiatives" to provide a safe and inclusive learning environment. Love the students, support the students and empower the students.

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How would you address issues related to student mental health and overall wellbeing within the district?

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Honestly, I don't know much about this one. As a district, we need to value and care for each student equally and having trained counselors to mentor and advise students struggling in this area is one necessary service we provide.

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Celina ISD has a proud legacy—how will you honor this tradition while implementing necessary changes for modern education?

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I mentioned earlier, I moved here for the foundation of prayer and Christ I clearly saw in this community. It is my greatest passion to keep this KEY foundation for generations to come. This district and community must continue to strive to keep God as the center of our lives. Any changes recommended by the state or society that contradicts God's Word must be addressed and realigned.

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What innovative ideas do you have that could enhance the learning experience while respecting the district’s history?

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Nothing specific. I trust our administration and campus leaders to create new and innovative methods of teaching and learning. Like I mentioned earlier, I am a math guy - not creative.

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How do you plan to work collaboratively with fellow board members, administrators, and community stakeholders to achieve your goals?

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We are so blessed to have a like minded board of leaders who put God first in our decisions. They are a real joy to work with and while we don't always agree on decisions, we agree on what matters most. My goal as I mentioned is to keep God central in our district for years to come.

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What leadership qualities do you bring that will positively impact the district’s future?

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I provide financial insight as I have been in the accounting / finance field my whole career. I am a manager in the work place and enjoy mentoring and leading people. Not sure I am a great leader, but I serve a great Leader.

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What is the key message you want to convey to parents, educators, and community members regarding your candidacy?

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VOTE! Hopefully you can see where I stand and what is important to me. Get to know the other 2 candidates running against me - they are both amazing and passionate ladies who have a burning desire to serve this district on this board. Find out who they are, what thei vision is for the district and vote for your candidate that aligns with your vision - remember this is YOUR district.

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How do you envision your role on the School Board making a lasting difference for Celina’s students and families?

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We have an amazing district, not because the board or the teachers or the administrators are amazing, rather our district is amazing because we seek to serve an amazing God. We keep that central and I believe God continues to bless CISD.