Politics & Government

Parkway School Board Candidate Q&A: Helen Casteel

Find out what's important to the candidates ahead of next week's election.

With municipal elections approaching next week, Patch presents another look at our three Parkway School District Board of Election candidates. The district school board has two open seats for three active candidates, who have discussed cost-saving measures for the district and issues about public education access to date.

Kim Appelbaum of Ballwin is the sole newcomer up for election, while incumbent Helen Casteel of St. Louis County will be completing her second 3-year term next month following her first election in 2006. Fellow board member Beth Feldman of Chesterfield was elected in 2009.

Today we're continuing a three-part Q&A series to help you learn more about the candidates. Municipal elections take place Tuesday, April 3.

Editor's Note: The candidates are ordered alphabetically and placement does not reflect ballot order nor endorsement.

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Helen Casteel, St. Louis

Please briefly describe your bio (occupation and name of your employer/s, family, etc.

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Helen is a retired teacher who has been involved in Education for over 40 years. In addition to her Masterʼs Degree in Counseling, she also holds a real estate brokerʼs license as well as an insurance license. Helen has also spent sixteen years in the banking industry.

Helen has been married to Walter, a Union carpenter, for twenty-seven years, and they have two sons. Matthew, 25, is employed as a production assistant in New Yorkʼs theatre district. Adam, 21, is an actor in Los Angeles. Both are  graduates.

During the twenty-six years Helen has lived in the Parkway School District, she and her family have been active volunteers in the community. From chaperoning field trips to building sets for plays and musicals, everyone has participated in some way to help build a strong community.

Helen has enjoyed traveling to forty-four states with a goal of visiting all 50 as part of her bucket list. Other interests include camping, photography, free-lance writing, bowling and attending St. Louis Cardinals games.

One of Helenʼs long-term goals include continuing to share her valuable experience and knowledge towards the education of Parkwayʼs students, thereby ensuring a community of capable, curious, and confident contributors to an ever challenging world.

How long have you been a resident of the Parkway School District?

I have been a resident of Parkway for 26 years.

Why are you running for the Parkway board?

As a retired teacher, I truly enjoy the privilege of being able to continue in the education field with the ultimate goal of helping students reach their full potential. I personally feel that when someone is running for an elected office, one is doing so because of their passion and commitment to that office. I hope to continue my passion and commitment not only to the students of Parkway, but to the community as well. 

What do you hope to accomplish? Please be as specific as possible.

My priorities for Parkway include the following: reducing operating expenditures through restructuring in several areas for improving efficiency, maintaining low class sizes, providing a healthy and safe learning environment for our students, retaining a highly qualified and diverse staff, improving the achievement gap, and providing consistency in the curriculum. We also need to construct a strong anti-bullying policy which contains consequences for violations of that policy.

What is the biggest issue the Parkway School District faces in the year ahead? Again, please be as specific as possible.

Currently, the biggest issue facing not only our school board, but many others across the state of Missouri, is the Turner v. Clayton case. To require an unaccredited school district to pay to send its students to other school districts is neither cost effective nor healthy for the students involved. There should be resolutions to fixing the problems, not tear down a school district and the community surrounding it. Providing resources and guidelines to improve the whole district is a better solution. Another issue facing our district, as well as others, is our own Missouri Legislature. To enact a law which bundles the school funding formula, vouchers (under the guise of "scholarships"), charter schools, virtual schools, and teacher tenure under one package deal says, "My way or the highway" to the citizens of Missouri. Our children should not be used as political pawns. 

What was the last book you read?

"The Element" by Ken Robinson, Ph.D.

Wednesday:

Friday: Beth Feldman


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