General Elections: Big Horn county Dist. 1 School Board

Hiedi Christensen

Dist 1 school board, at large

Bio: My family and I have lived in the area for a little more than 18 years and have fallen in love with the community and all it has to offer. We feel very blessed to have been able to raise our four children in Big Horn County. Our family has grown quite a bit the last few years, and we have added three sons-in-law, a daughter-in-law and two grandbabies. 

I started out as a cosmetologist and worked for several years before marrying my sweetheart, Tony. Once we started having children, I became a full-time homemaker until my youngest was in preschool. At that time, I decided to go back to college for nursing. Best decision ever! I have been a nurse at North Big Horn Hospital for 13.5 years, and I absolutely love it. Education is very important to me, and I am so grateful we live in a nation that allows us the freedom to learn and grow.

What prompted you to seek re-election? 

I am seeking re-election because I am passionate about our schools, education and finding ways to make our district successful. I believe in doing everything we can to make our schools and communities the best they can be. My motto is if you see something that needs to be changed or improved, take action and bring ideas to the table and be part of the solution. I also love to serve my community.

What are your qualifications for office – strengths, experiences, leadership style, etc.?

I have served on the BHCSD#1 school board for eight years and have been committed to doing all I can to fulfill that trusted role. I attend regular board meetings, work meetings and trainings and participate on the policy committee. Communication is one of my greatest strengths, and I put high value on honesty and integrity. My leadership style is participative, and I have an inclusive mindset and believe in leading by example, being open to all perspectives before making a decision and value the input, opinions and expertise of others.

What issues do you believe your district needs to address in its academic program and offerings or in overall management?

Four years ago, vocational and career readiness was one of the issues that I felt we really needed to focus on in our district. I’m happy to say we have made leaps and bounds in this effort, and the students are experiencing the benefits of that hard work. That being said, we still have room to improve, and each year we are making adjustments to continue to build a stronger program. 

We have a wonderful opportunity to guide our students to have not only a great academic education but to excel in other areas, as well. We can make such a difference by empowering them with emotional resilience, problem solving skills and knowledge of how to advocate for themselves.

With the future of school funding always an issue, what are your priorities for school district budgeting in regard to spending cuts, staffing and ways to enhance revenue?

This is a tough question as I believe we are always looking for ways to wisely invest in our staff, students and facilities as well as balance our spending. My priorities for funding would be maintaining our staff to meet the students’ needs and continue to grow our district in a positive way to benefit our students, staff and community.

Thomas Bridges

Dist. 1 school board, Area D Cowley

Bio: My name is Thomas Bridges. I grew up in Cowley and am now raising my own family here. I went to school at BHCSD#1 and Rocky Mountain High School. Since graduating, I have attended some college, which is where I met my wife, Dani Bridges. I have been back around Cowley and working for Pryor Mountain Engineering for the last 11 years. I have worked to serve the community in Big Horn County both through my employment and through donating my time serving in various roles, such as the fair board and the Junior Livestock Sale committee. I was able to take over the Cowley area seat on the school board when Dave Banks resigned this last term and have been serving in that capacity the last two years.

What prompted you to seek office or re-election? I am seeking re-election this term because of my desire to serve the community of this district. We have a great district with great staff, and I would like to continue being a part of this work.

What are your qualifications for office – strengths, experience, leadership style, etc.?

I think that some of the qualifications I have for this office is my ability to listen and balance opposing viewpoints when situations arise. I try to view things from all angles and find things that have gone unnoticed or unsaid. I work hard to make sure that students and employees are treated fairly and given opportunities to learn, grow and be taken care of within our district. 

What are the biggest issues the district must address in the near future? 

From my experience so far on the school board, I know that we face challenges unique to today’s issues. Some of these we are actively working on solutions, like our potential four-day calendar, and some we are adjusting to address as best we can. There are many problems we face that unfortunately can only be addressed at the state or federal level. I strive to do what I am able to in order to produce the best results for the community.

With the future of school funding uncertain, what are your priorities for school district budgeting regarding spending cuts, staffing and ways to enhance revenue? With an ever-increasing cost of living and operating, our biggest challenge is how to work within our budget to give as many positive experiences as we can to our children. My priority in this area is to continue to retain/hire the correct personnel that will help us think outside the box to find new innovative ways to achieve that. This is something that everyone has on their mind, and I am grateful we have the staff that confronts this head on and assists us in making this work for everyone.

Hunter Allen 

Dist 1 school board, at large

Bio: I went to school in Meeteetse for 10 years before transferring to Burlington High School for the final three years of high school. After graduating, I attended Northwest College and Chadron State College, majoring in physical education and coaching. I have been a coach for 10 years and recently moved back to Wyoming after three years in Montana.

What prompted you to seek office or re-election? 

After years coaching in multiple schools and being able to see different administrations, I decided that I am ready to bring my ideas to the table and make a difference for the current staff and students, as well as those to come.

What are your qualifications for office - strengths, experience, leadership style, etc.? 

I pride myself on being a great leader. During my years as a coach, I have learned that my calm demeanor helps me thrive under pressure. I believe this will be a great asset on the board.

What issues do you believe your district needs to address in its academic program and offerings or in overall management? Would you recommend any changes? 

As of now, there are a couple issues that I would like to discuss and put time into. 1. I think we need to have a clear and concise talk on bullying and if we are doing everything we can to ensure it doesn’t happen. 2. I believe there are many great coaches that do not get a fair opportunity to interview or become a part of an athletic staff. I would love to be able to take a deep dive into these issues and see what we can discover.

With the future of school funding always an issue, what are your priorities for school district budgeting in regard to spending cuts, staffing and ways to enhance revenue? 

I believe we need to sit down and have a long look at all options and see what is best suited for our students first, for our staff and for our district. These hard conversations need to be had.

Emily Leonhardt

Dist 1 school board, Area D Cowley

Bio: My name is Emily, and I am originally from a small town in Colorado. I graduated from the University of Wyoming (go Pokes!), where I met my husband, Austin Leonhardt. We have two ornery little boys, Calvin and Marcus. Calvin just started preschool at RMES, and Marcus is a year old. We have been officially living in Cowley for a year, settling our roots down in my husband’s hometown. We always knew we wanted to end up in Cowley and wanted our boys to attend Rocky Mountain, where Austin graduated. I am a physical therapist assistant in the therapy department at North Big Horn Hospital. I am hoping for your vote this November for the Cowley seat on the Big Horn County School District 1 School Board.

What prompted you to seek office or re-election?

I have a passion for education; I love learning, I love school and I find it important. My dad was in education in Colorado, and I saw from a young age the impact that our educators can make on youth. I had planned on getting involved in the local community once we came to Cowley, and an opportunity to run for a local seat presented itself. My boys will be in the Rocky schools, giving me a personal interest in how the Big Horn School District 1 runs. I want to help make school a fulfilling experience for all students and ensure they feel prepared for what lies ahead post graduation. When I started to consider running, I had several of my former teachers and admin reach out with the belief that I could do a great job on our local board.

What are your qualifications for office – strengths, experience, leadership style, etc.?

While I don’t have specific school board experience, I feel I can contribute other strengths and qualities to this seat. I am incredibly organized with a keen eye for detail. I’m very Type A and love a good list. I work with a variety of people every day, including other therapists, hospital personnel and patients. This provides me with excellent communication skills, empathy and the ability to parse information for specific situations. As a school board member, you must work as a team to resolve issues and discuss policies which is something I am extremely familiar and comfortable with. I have taken charge of many tasks/functions within our clinic such as representing therapy in community events, assisting in hospital orientation and updating policies for our department. My therapy job has honed my ability to listen and learn from others. I plan on bringing competency and will adapt quickly to this new position if granted the opportunity.

What issues do you believe your district needs to address in its academic program and offerings or in overall management? Would you recommend any changes?

I believe a big priority for school districts is maintaining student enrollment through graduation. The recent implementation of the CAPS program is an excellent example on how to keep learning relevant and keep students interested in school. In a rural area, it is important to support the public schools and their programs while simultaneously preparing them for life after school. With more people looking at homeschooling, it is just as important to keep kids involved in activities or extracurriculars provided through the district. Keeping a well-rounded curriculum that includes improving state test scores while maintaining student interest in learning is valuable. 

With the future of school funding always an issue, what are your priorities for school district budgeting in regard to spending cuts, staffing and ways to enhance revenue?

I love budgeting. While schools could always use more money, unfortunately, the reality is funding gets cut yearly. It’s important to prioritize staff retention while maintaining quality, as research shows funding for staff helps improve overall instruction, student engagement and support. There’s been talk of a four-day school week that the board and public will discuss this fall, and implementing this could potentially help staff retention and student involvement in extracurriculars. I would be very interested in looking at federal or state funded grants that could boost revenue for the district, as well. 

Thank you for your consideration for the BHCSD #1 Cowley seat. I promise to dedicate my energy to make the most of my time if elected onto the school board.

Holly Michaels 

Dist. 1 school board, at large

Bio: My name is Holly, and I live in Burlington. My husband, Landon, and I have three sons attending the Burlington Schools. My education includes a BS degree from Southern Utah University and an MS degree from the University of Utah. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. My employment includes a private practice working with weight management, diabetes, student athletes and geriatrics, providing nutrition services.

What prompted you to seek office or re-election?

I served one full term on the school board from 2020-2024. In January, I was honored to be appointed to a seat opening due to the unexpected death of Chairman Bassett. My experience on the school board has been positive, and I look forward to putting in another term serving our district. Some areas I’ve worked on are updating polices; advocating for higher wages; celebrating a variety of successes from academics, athletics and more; having a voice in curriculum selection; evaluating the test score data in the district and creating a plan for improvement; and more. My hope is to continue working with the other board members to make our local educational system the best it can be for our children. With three sons, I am invested in the school system for the long haul and want to provide great quality educational experiences for all the children to help them succeed in school and in life.

What are your qualifications for office – strengths, experience, leadership style, etc.?

As an undergraduate at Southern Utah University, I was a student senator for the College of Education. As senators, we wrote bills and resolutions to improve the quality of education and experience for the students. We allocated funds for specific events or educational experiences.

As a graduate student at the University of Utah, I served on the Student Advisory Committee for the College of Health Division of Nutrition. I worked with the dean and department chair to host fundraisers, service projects, student activities and award ceremonies.

After moving to Burlington, I served on the Burlington Recreation Board. During my tenure on the board we coordinated youth sports, hosted many events including a trunk-or-treat, movie and ice-skating day and free swimming night and accomplished the design and installation of a safe and more inclusive playground in Burlington. I served as the treasurer for the Burlington Rec board and had an active role in responsibly allocating the annual funds to benefit the communities of Burlington and Otto.

Lastly, I have served one full term on the board and desire to continue serving in this capacity.

What are the biggest issues the district must address in the near future?

Our district has a lot of great things in place. The board continues to look at ways to expand opportunities for students and educators, refine policies and make the schools an ideal environment for students to learn and staff/educators to work.

I would like to see more opportunities for extending students on the higher end of achievement. The district is already focused on academic growth, and I look forward to seeing a continued progression of this.

Another issue on the table is modifying the school calendar. Research is being reviewed by the board, there was a community forum in October in the north end of the district and another community forum will be held in November to get feedback and review ideas of how the calendar might look in the future.

With the future of school funding uncertain, what are your priorities for school district budgeting regarding spending cuts, staffing and ways to enhance revenue?

Our district is very fiscally-minded and is careful about spending. Each month, the business manager presents the budget report, and we go over the expenditures and income while comparing the current financial state to the previous year.

As funding may be uncertain, I know that the district administrators continue to search and apply for grants that help finance the district. I also believe there are ways to consider bringing in funds for certain programs while trying to reduce cuts.