Meet Kaia
Proud District 196 Graduate
My name is Kaia Zeigler (she/her/hers) and I am running for the Rosemount, Eagan, Apple Valley District 196 School Board. I’m a 2018 Rosemount High School graduate who attended district schools starting in first grade. These firsthand experiences as a student, alongside knowledge of the educational system gained along the way, will serve me well as a potential school board member. I am proud to be a product of District 196 and look forward to this opportunity to serve and give back to my community.
Recent Experiences
In my college career at Hamline University in Saint Paul, I quickly discovered how important a strong K-12 education is for success beyond graduation. Red Pine Elementary School, Rosemount Middle School, and Rosemount High School provided me with invaluable experiences that, unfortunately, many of my university peers had not received. This realization sparked a growing curiosity around equitable education for all – and a passion for its pursuit. The disparities across our district and state are complex. As a school board member, I would work to promote programmatic and policy decisions that help ensure every student receives a strong foundation – one that’s responsive to our changing world yet rooted in District 196’s tradition of excellence.
As we continue to work toward a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, I believe that it’s vital to work together and find common ground to create steps and policies that best support our students. I appreciate the unity between the school board, superintendent, and Dakota County Teachers United President in their responses to the inequities that are apparent in our systems. As Student Body President at Hamline University – during a time that has included a pandemic, racial uprisings, and the Capitol riots – I’ve learned the importance of effective communication, timely response, ability to handle conflict, and need for adaptability. In this past year, I have grown into a more understanding and compassionate leader who appreciates the opportunity to listen to every person – something I would strive to do as a school board member.
Excited for What’s Next!
In December of 2021, I will graduate from Hamline University with a major in Psychology and minors in Mandarin Chinese and Business Practice. Additionally, I will graduate with a passion for and commitment to civic engagement. This has been influenced, in part, by courses in childhood development, educational psychology, and cross-cultural psychology. I can think of no better way for me to combine my learning and passions than to engage meaningfully as a community representative on the 196 school board. In this role, I would promise to seek out and respond to the perspectives and needs of all stakeholders-- students, families, community partners, and educators-- in ways that support equitable and high-quality teaching and learning for every 196 student.