Andrea Touhey

Andrea Touhey

Education

Bachelor's

University of Puget Sound

Graduate

Harvard University

Personal

Profession

Educator

Contact

Personal website

Andrea Touhey was a candidate for at-large representative on the Saint Paul Public Schools school board in Minnesota. Touhey was defeated in the at-large general election on November 7, 2017.

Touhey participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 school board candidate survey. Click here to read her responses.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Touhey's work experience includes serving as a teacher, curriculum designer, and program evaluator for K-12 education. She earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Puget Sound and an Ed.M. from Harvard University's Graduate School of Education. The 2017 school board election was her first time running for office.

Elections

2017

See also: Saint Paul Public Schools elections (2017)

Three of the seven seats on the Saint Paul Public Schools school board in Minnesota were up for nonpartisan general election on November 7, 2017. Incumbents John Brodrick and Jeanelle Foster won election, along with newcomer Marny Xiong. The challengers who lost were Luke Bellville, Greg Copeland, Andrea Touhey.

Results

Saint Paul Public Schools, At-large General Election, 4-year terms, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Marny Xiong	30.44%	36,480
Jeanelle Foster Incumbent	24.93%	29,883
John Brodrick Incumbent	21.84%	26,172
Andrea Touhey	11.09%	13,288
Greg Copeland	7.03%	8,425
Luke Bellville	3.64%	4,358
Write-in votes	1.04%	1,244
Total Votes		119,850
Source: Saint Paul Public Schools, "Minutes Of The Regular Meeting Of The Board Of Education," November 14, 2017

Funding

See also: Campaign finance in the Saint Paul Public Schools election

Touhey reported no contributions but $2.00 in expenditures to the Ramsey County Elections & Voting Office, which left her campaign with $2.00 in debt in the election.

Campaign themes

2017

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's school board candidate survey

Andrea Touhey participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 survey of school board candidates. In response to the question "What do you hope to achieve if elected to the school board?" the candidate stated on October 11, 2017:

“

1. Integrating excellence throughout the District's efforts 2. Ensuring rigor and relevance are key priorities in the new strategic plan 3. Aligning the budget with the District's priorities 4. Better supports for students' physical and mental health

”

Ranking the issues

The candidate was asked to rank the following issues based on how they should be prioritized by the school board, with 1 being the most important and 7 being the least important. Each ranking could only be used once.

Education policy
Click here to learn more about education policy in Minnesota.
Education on the ballot

Issue importance ranking
Candidate's ranking	Issue
1	Improving post-secondary readiness
2	Balancing or maintaining the district's budget
3	Closing the achievement gap
4	Improving education for special needs students
5	Expanding arts education
6	Improving relations with teachers
7	Expanding school choice options

“	SPPS must guide itself by the overarching goal of providing a rigorous and relevant education that prepares every student for post-secondary success.	”
—Andrea Touhey (October 11, 2017)

Positions on the issues

The candidate was asked to answer eight questions from Ballotpedia regarding significant issues in education and the school district. The questions are highlighted in blue and followed by the candidate's responses. Some questions provided multiple choices, which are noted after those questions. The candidate was also provided space to elaborate on their answers to the multiple choice questions.

Should new charter schools be approved in your district? (Not all school boards are empowered to approve charter schools. In those cases, the candidate was directed to answer the question as if the school board were able to do so.)
Yes. Parents should be able to choose the best school for their child. SPPS should be less focused on competition from other schools and more concerned with serving its students well.
Which statement best describes the ideal relationship between the state government and the school board? The state should always defer to school board decisions, defer to school board decisions in most cases, be involved in the district routinely or only intervene in severe cases of misconduct or mismanagement.
The state should only intervene in severe cases of misconduct or mismanagement. The State sets the guidelines for learning (the State standards) and some funding. It is up to the District to work within these parameters to serve the students well. When a District is persistently failing to serve students well, the state has an obligation to intervene.
Are standardized tests an accurate metric of student achievement?
No. Standardized tests provide useful information of individual student performance and collective trends, however they are only one data point. Multiple pieces of information together provide richer evidence of student achievement.
How should the district handle underperforming teachers? Terminate their contract before any damage is done to students, offer additional training options, put them on a probationary period while they seek to improve or set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district?
Offer additional training options. Offer additional training options. Put them on a probationary period while they seek to improve. Set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district.
Should teachers receive merit pay?
Yes. SPPS should take advantage of the State's merit-based program: QCOMP. The District has the opportunity to access an additional revenue stream that rewards faculty for doing their job well.
Should the state give money to private schools through a voucher system or scholarship program?
No. Public money should be retained for the public school system.
How should expulsion be used in the district?
SPPS should proactively seek to mitigate the need for expulsion by: supporting students' physical and mental health, cultivating inclusive school communities that embrace restorative justice, and invest students in their education. Only after every possible recourse has been explored should explusion be considered. If deemed absolutely necessary, the district should work with the student and family to ensure the student is immediately enrolled in a district where s/he is likely to thrive.
What's the most important factor for success in the classroom: student-teacher ratio, the curriculum, teachers, parent involvement or school administration?
Teachers. The teacher is the connector that links students, curriculum, parents, and the administration. A compelling body of research has concluded that teachers are the most important school-level factor for success.

Candidate website

Touhey highlighted the following issues on her campaign website:

“	Curriculum and Instruction As a teacher, Andrea is dedicated to the principle that a strong, student-centered academic core that is driven by excellent teaching should be at the heart of SPPS's endeavors. She will continue to work towards building a district in which every school has an accomplished teaching team and offers a relevant learning curriculum. Andrea will support Board decisions and management of the Superintendent that encourage: Professional Development More teachers at every school becoming National Board certified (ideally 50% at every school) Curriculum AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) for any student that wishes to enroll Increased access to, encouragement and preparation for rigorous coursework, including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and concurrent enrollment in college courses. A culturally diverse curriculum More career and college exploration opportunities for students Expanding partnerships with local businesses to broaden learning experiences outside of the classroom Strategically using technology to amplify and transform learning Every student undertaking customized learning pathways Strong arts and athletics programs Grading and Assessments Standards-based grading Embracing all assessments as opportunities for students, teachers, and families to understand what a student knows, any misconceptions, and next steps Guiding Philosophy Integrating Carol Dweck's Growth mindset throughout SPPS's organizational fabric Community Engagement Andrea supports families choosing the learning experiences that are best for their children. She will continue to advocate for systems and structures that enable all families, students, and staff members to share feedback on their experiences with SPPS and to create opportunities for any member of the community to participate in shaping the direction of the district. Andrea will support Board decisions and management of the Superintendent that encourage: Regular surveys of students, families, and staff regarding their experiences with SPPS More student, family, and teacher-led decision making and initiatives Communicating with families in their first language Expanded, strategic partnerships with local businesses, non-profits, and educational institutions Using technology to engage with families that are not interacting through traditional avenues - parent organizations, routine written/phone communication, etc. Physical and Mental Health Having worked in urban schools for more than a decade, Andrea has observed first-hand the impact of poor physical and mental health on students' academic and social-emotional development. Andrea supports SPPS coordinating with local providers to offer social services and basic healthcare within schools in order to ensure that every student's body and mind is prepared to learn. Andrea will support Board decisions and management of the Superintendent that encourage: Providing a physical space for local agencies to offer health, social, and mental services in schools Coordinating operations to ensure students can access on-site services during the day Expanded athletics and physical wellness programs Diversity Every person should feel valued and respected. Andrea believes in recognizing the multiple facets of each individual's identity and celebrating the rich diversity of our community. She will work towards an inclusive community that values diversity in its many forms - racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, life/work/educational experiences, professional and avocational interests, etc. Andrea will support Board decisions and management of the Superintendent that encourage: Professional Development Training that focuses on the strengths every member brings to the community Human Capital More Educational Assistants to become teachers Continued funding of the 'Grow Your Own' program Recruitment of a diverse applicant pool for positions and analyzing patterns of attrition throughout the hiring process Advocacy Clear, transparent, timely systems for individuals/communities of any group to propose new policies Budget Having managed budgets for educational programs and studied educational finance in graduate school, Andrea believes sound financial planning aligns spending with strategic priorities. Andrea will support Board decisions and management of the Superintendent that encourage: Programs to demonstrate effectiveness/impact Levies only when the money sought clearly aligns with strategic priorities Resources to be funneled to the classroom A holistic education that includes arts and athletics School Climate Andrea has taught in thriving schools and one under-performing school. She knows that a safe, harmonious, productive learning environment is nurtured through many decisions, both large and small, that each are intended to enhance the quality of relationships between every member of the community. Andrea will support Board decisions and management of the Superintendent that encourage: All community members to be passionate and champion excellence Integration of Restorative Justice into schools School Resource Officers (SROs) at any school that requests them Redesigning the role of SROs so that they are members of the school faculty and adopt a community policing model Active feedback from student, families, and faculties about their experiences More opportunities for all staff to develop better relationships with students (community service days, etc.) Framing SPPS's messaging towards one that values and respects every person and celebrates strengths Decision making to be in the hands of students, families, teachers, and schools as much as possible	”
—Andrea Touhey (2017)

Political philosophy

Touhey submitted the following political philosophy to Ballotpedia:

“	Over 30,000 students choose SPPS. We have an obligation to serve each one well. By embracing excellence, focusing on a relevant and rigorous educational experience, supporting students' physical and mental health, and aligning the budget with priorities, SPPS can ensure every student has the opportunity to attain an excellent education. The District must become more flexible and responsive to families'. Decision making must be more centralized, and there needs to be more structures for meaningfully engaging every family.	”
—Andrea Touhey (2017)

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Andrea Touhey Saint Paul Public Schools school board. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Andrea Touhey - Google News

See also

• Saint Paul Public Schools, Minnesota
• Saint Paul Public Schools elections (2017)

External links

Suggest a link

• Saint Paul Public Schools
• Campaign website
• Campaign Facebook page
• LinkedIn profile