Red Willow Republicans host state board of education candidate

Elizabeth Tegtmeier

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Red Willow County GOP hosted State Board of Education candidate Elizabeth Tegtmeier at their monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 24. Tegtmeier shared her background as well as issues in education that need to be addressed.

As the District 7 Representative, Tegtmeier will be a voice for western Nebraska values and promises to protect Nebraska’s children from harmful ideologies that promote racially divisive ideas and inappropriate sexual content. “The proposed state health standards have revealed that our current board is trying to include information in school curriculum that falls under the jurisdiction of the parents. This board needs to stay in its lane.”

Another focus for Tegtmeier is the improvement of student proficiency as academics and student achievement are a top priority for local schools in her district. “According to the Nebraska Department of Education’s own website, the most current assessment of Nebraska eleventh graders shows 58% tested below proficient in English and 63% below proficient in math. My concern is that the state school board should keep its focus on academics and assist local districts to better prepare students for the job force and college.”

Tegtmeier brings to the table a variety of life experiences that will add a unique perspective to the board. She holds a Master of Arts in Education with a focus on curriculum and instruction. Having been a classroom teacher, she understands the challenges that teachers face each day.

Tegtmeier and her husband have chosen to homeschool their children through middle school. Their oldest two children are recent graduates of NPHS. Tegtmeier believes that each child’s educational needs are unique and may be addressed in a variety of ways through public, private, or homeschool environments. “The NDE oversees the education of all students in our state, so I see my voice as a needed perspective that has been lacking at the state level. With three school-age children still at home, I have the same concerns about education as other parents in our district and am directly impacted by the decisions the state board makes.”

Tegtmeier, a North Platte native, and her husband, Brian, moved to North Platte after graduating from UNL to accept jobs in the North Platte Public School District. Tegtmeier taught English at NPHS for several years before quitting to raise their five children. Her husband has worked for the school district for twenty-three years in the technology department where he is the IT Director.

More information can be found at her {Elizabeth4stateschoolboard.com website.}