Jill Bishop has lived in Cascade, part of District 14, since 1996. Both of her children received their excellent K-12 education in District 14. She has been a public school educator for 25 years as both a classroom and elementary art teacher.
Jill has long loved the Manitou School District and has a deep understanding of how the school board can best serve the Manitou community. If elected, she promises to stand up for our teachers, improve the lives of our students and encourage progress.
Everything starts with great teachers. Through fiscal responsibility, she said, we can offer more competitive packages to attract and retain the best and brightest. Transparency will help our school board build trust and community partnerships.
Most importantly, Manitou schools have long maintained a relationship-focused approach so, by augmenting this strength with data-driven decisions, the board can ensure success for all District 14 students.
Connie Brachtenbach believes in serving the community she loves and says that, as a school board member, listening and learning from staff, teachers, students and parents would allow her to explore opportunities to update District 14 facilities, making them more accessible and sustainable.
If elected, she intends to increase her knowledge of how to effectively recruit and retain teachers and staff, while expanding career opportunities for students through vocational/technical certification programs and partnerships with organizations throughout the Pikes Peak region.
Connie spent most of her career working in a variety of roles at Current/Checks Unlimited and was plant manager at EduKit, a school supply company. She currently works at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Her knowledge of local issues, experience as a D14 parent, professional experience and roots in Manitou Springs make her an excellent choice for this role, she said.
Marianne Rommerdahl is running for a position on the District 14 Board of Education because she feels her background and perspective can be an asset to MSSD14. She is “boots on the ground” each day in our schools as a parent and as a volunteer, and sees the impact that policies can make.
She is a wife, a mother of two, an Air Force veteran and a small business owner with extensive experience in project management. Two areas Marianne hopes to focus on early as a board member are creating a reasonable district infrastructure improvement plan and engaging with the community. She would strive to make herself accessible to all stakeholders —teachers, students, parents, staff, administrators and community members.
Magdalena (Maggie) Santos has lived in Manitou Springs since 1999. She moved here specifically so her children could attend a small school district and have the benefit of a community that revolved around it.
Her father retired from the Army in Colorado Springs, and she has lived here ever since. Maggie graduated from Colorado College with a teaching certificate and became a teacher/coach. She transitioned to law enforcement, then became the director of Campus Safety and Emergency Management for Colorado College.
Previously, she has served on the boards for Children’s Advocacy Center (now Safe Passage), Diversus Health and Rocky Mountain Women in Law Enforcement. After retiring, Maggie has been supporting Manitou School District 14 as a substitute teacher and coach for the past couple of years.
