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Kristina Wheeler for Carmel Clay School Board

Kristina ("Kris") Wheeler
At-Large Candidate
for
Carmel Clay School Board. 

As an At-Large School Board member, Kris will use her experience as an attorney, business owner, teacher, parent, church member, PTO and community volunteer to represent the best interests of the entire City of Carmel.

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Meet Kristina!

For nearly twenty years, Carmel has been our home, a place where our family has grown alongside the community. My daughters started their education journey in Carmel Clay Schools, with Maggie graduating from Carmel High School in 2022 and now thriving as a college junior. Currently, Sadie is making her way at CHS. 

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My father Steven Kern now resides with me and my children, stepping into a supportive role as my cherished mother, a retired Kindergarten teacher, requires dedicated 24-hour care at a dementia facility. Their unwavering support throughout my life has now come full circle, as I embrace the responsibility of caretaker. 

Education runs deep in my family's history as sixth-generation Hoosiers. My mother's career as a Kindergarten teacher and my uncle John's tenure at my high school taught me invaluable lessons about the art of teaching. My cousin Becca's expertise in multilingual education reflects our shared commitment to learning. Going even further back, my great-grandfather's teaching legacy in a southern Indiana one-room schoolhouse informs my understanding of the challenges faced by educators and students alike.

These experiences have shaped my perspective and deepened my dedication to supporting teachers and advocating for every student's success. Looking ahead, I am eager to weave my family's history of educators together with my appreciation for the phenomenal education my daughters received. I am committed to ensuring that Carmel remains a beacon of excellence for all future children, where they can learn, grow, and thrive.

 

My Priorities

Responsible Use of Taxpayer Funds

The Board should utilize a business approach to its funding decisions. Expenditures should be viewed through the lens of:

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  • Is this cost-effective?

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  • Does it align with the district’s goals?

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  • How will this expenditure serve the needs of our students and staff?

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  • Is it consistent with the guiding principles of the board?

School Safety

The School Safety Referendum will expire in 2027. I will work to ensure that this crucial funding for school resource officers, CCS counseling services, Ascension St. Vincent mental health services, and student services staff continues. As a board member, I would aim to investigate additional student services essential for ensuring our students' safety and fostering their development into engaged adults within today’s diverse global community.

Making Parental Involvement Even Easier

It's crucial for parents to easily access and navigate school resources comprehensively and effectively. To facilitate this, I propose establishing a parent liaison office. This office would serve as a central resource hub, assisting parents in identifying optimal solutions tailored to their needs. It will provide support with registration, counseling and tutoring options, specialized services, disability advocacy, and referrals to additional resources from both the ESC and individual schools, and addressing general inquiries.

My Experience

As a Lawyer with a Degree in Education:

  • Attorney with 25+ years of experience representing state and local governments and businesses

  • Certified in public policy mediation, experience solving problems, working across differences of opinion, and helping others do the same. 

  • Honors bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with an Indiana State Teacher's License   

  • Drafted and balanced numerous state, county, and municipal budgets

As a Parent:

  • Carmel Clay Schools' parent for 16 years, with four more to go!

  • Parent of a child with a diagnosed disability 

  • Dedicated to helping others navigate the 504/IEP process, which can be lonely and intimidating for parents

  • Support school-based mental health and emotional support services

As a Volunteer

  • Four years serving on the Carmel Education Foundation Board, two as a Vice President

  • Ten years as an PTO Executive Board Member at Prairie Trace Elementary, Clay Middle, and Carmel High Schools

  • Helped match 200 new families with community members that speak their native tongue for the first multi-language learner night at Clay Middle School.

  • Active member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church

  • Immediate past-president of Indiana State Bar Association - ULS Section

  • Volunteer builder and among top fundraisers for Habitat for Humanity of Central Indiana’s Women Build

Kristina Wheeler for Carmel Clay School Board
Kristina Wheeler for Carmel Clay School Board
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© 2024. Paid for by the Kristina Wheeler for Carmel Clay Schools Committee
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