Meet the Candidates: Derek Mullin

Why are you running for the School Board?

As a lifelong member of our community, I was raised with values of communication, service and integrity. In order to provide for our community, and as a former educator - I have always wanted to help our students, our staff and our community. My family and I realized after COVID how important local decisions and representation is, and I sought to represent and bring my experiences to our district. The school board is the oversight of the district. Through sound financial decisions, implementing policy and providing safe adequate facilities that support student learning, I can make a difference as a board member and reinforce these priorities with our current and next generation.

Why do you think you would be a good member of the Board?

As a former Industrial Technology teacher I understand what it means to be in the classroom. I can support our staff and students because I have that experience in both education, business, and leadership. I have learned and continue to learn through various roles through operating my own farming business, Farm Bureau Ag Leader’s Institute, Henry County Farm Bureau, church council, youth league coaching, and personal volunteer experiences in various schools of our district. I have always valued the importance of listening to many ideas from community members, prioritizing the needs of students, and balancing this with legal and financial facts to ensure the right choices.

What are your main accomplishments in life?

My family and I prioritize education. Driven by a passion to give back, I helped bring FFA to our community schools. This initiative, stemming from my background in education, agriculture, and community relations, has transformed opportunities for students, including my own son, empowering them to pursue agricultural education and achieve national and state recognition.

My brother and I run our family's farm—a partnership of compromise, resilience, and proactive planning essential for navigating the unpredictable realities of modern agriculture. We instill in the next generation an appreciation for these values, hoping they will continue the legacy of family, faith, and farming.

What about the District needs the most improvement, and how could you, in your position, help with this?

My number one priority is to have a unified community that values our students and the future of our district. We can prioritize these with policy, finance, and facilities.

*Policy - ensure that state and national policy is enforced and appropriate for our students and staff to ensure that they have the safest environment, rigorous learning, and emotional stability.

*Facilities & Finance - We currently have 4 elementary attendance centers. With declining enrollment the district needs to right size our elementary programming, provide 21st century learning spaces for our students and create financial efficiencies for the long term viability of the district.

*Finance - Due to declining enrollment, recent values of state funding, and anticipated increasing costs - hard choices will have to be made. I will prioritize teachers and direction instruction of students, as this is proven to provide the best improvement in students and communities.

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