Linda Pugh
Linda Pugh was a member of the Harrison School District Two school board At-large in Colorado. Pugh assumed office on December 7, 2017. Pugh left office on December 1, 2021.
Pugh ran for re-election to the Harrison School District Two school board At-large in Colorado. Pugh won in the general election on November 7, 2017.
Pugh participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 school board candidate survey. Click here to read her responses.
Pugh previously served on the board from 2005 to 2013. She was term-limited in 2013 and could not seek re-election.
Elections
2017
Three of the five seats on the Harrison School District Two Board of Education in Colorado were up for nonpartisan general election on November 7, 2017. In his bid for re-election, incumbent Steven R. Seibert faced challengers Joshua Hitchcock, Jeannie Orozco, and Linda Pugh. Seibert won re-election, and Orozco and Pugh won new terms on the board.[1][2]
Results
| Harrison School District Two, At-large General Election, 4-year terms, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Linda Pugh |
30.52% | 3,579 |
| Jeannie Orozco |
25.42% | 2,981 |
| Steven R. Seibert Incumbent |
22.69% | 2,661 |
| Joshua Hitchcock | 21.36% | 2,505 |
| Total Votes | 11,726 | |
| Source: El Paso County Elections Office, "Official Results: HARRISON SCHOOL DISTRICT 2 DIRECTOR," accessed November 27, 2017 | ||
Funding
Pugh reported $520.93 in contributions and $358.99 in expenditures to the Colorado Secretary of State, which left her campaign with $161.94 on hand in the election.[3]
Campaign themes
2017
Ballotpedia survey responses
Linda M. Pugh participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 survey of school board candidates.[4] In response to the question "What do you hope to achieve if elected to the school board?" the candidate stated on October 16, 2017:
| “ | A resident for 30 years, former parent and now grandparent of children in the district, I want to keep the district moving in a positive direction. Having served on the board from 2005-2013, I have knowledge of how the district functions at all levels and am familiar with the governance policies that keep the board focused on results and values. I will listen to all sides of an issue and ask the hard questions, making decisions based on what is best for our scholars (students). I am a voice you can count on.[5][6] | ” |
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 Colorado. |
| Education on the ballot |
| Issue importance ranking | |
|---|---|
| Candidate's ranking | Issue |
| Closing the achievement gap | |
| Improving post-secondary readiness | |
| Balancing or maintaining the district's budget | |
| Improving relations with teachers | |
| Improving education for special needs students | |
| Expanding arts education | |
| Expanding school choice options | |
| “ | Each of the above issues are important to provide the best educational opportunity and tools for future success for students. Harrison School District has made significant gains in closing the achievement gap and improving post-secondary readiness. It is known for it's special needs programs.[6] | ” |
| —Linda M. Pugh (October 16, 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.) |
|---|
| No. Charter schools seeking approval should clearly show the need they would address that is not already being provided in the district. |
| 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. |
| Are standardized tests an accurate metric of student achievement? |
| Yes. Standardized tests show mastery of the subject and provide a means of identifying a student's growth. Is the student at grade level? Have they made gains to get closer or surpass the expectation? For a student who is behind, the progress toward achieving grade level expectations is more important than the actual score--closing the gap shows positive growth to where they need to be. |
| 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? |
| Set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district. |
| Should teachers receive merit pay? |
| Yes. Teachers should receive pay that reflects their effectiveness in the classroom and the growth their students achieve. Harrison School District has exceptional teaching staff. |
| Should the state give money to private schools through a voucher system or scholarship program? |
| No. Parents should find the best fit for their child. However, public school may be the only viable option for some families in the district due to a variety of reasons. Harrison School District provides school choice and transportation within the district to help find the best fit. As Colorado already ranks low in the nation for funding provided to schools, keeping funds in the district allows better utilization of resources and an excellent education for children with fewer opportunities. Every child deserves the foundation for a successful future. |
| How should expulsion be used in the district? |
| The district promotes positive behavior to help students learn healthy ways to deal with issues. But, there are situations that require expulsion. Always, there needs to be consideration of how to best help that student's education. It may require an alternative program. |
| What's the most important factor for success in the classroom: student-teacher ratio, the curriculum, teachers, parent involvement or school administration? |
| Teachers. The number one factor is the teacher. But, a low student-teacher ratio and a strong curriculum, as well as support from involved parents and school administration, are also very important for success. |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Abbey Smith, "Phone communication with Harrison School District Two," September 11, 2017
- ↑ El Paso County Elections Office, "Unofficial Results: HARRISON SCHOOL DISTRICT 2 DIRECTOR," accessed November 7, 2017
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "TRACER: Candidate Search," accessed December 15, 2017
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia School Board Candidate Survey, 2017, "Linda M. Pugh's responses," October 16, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Harrison School District Two elections in 2017 | |
| El Paso County, Colorado | |
| Election date: | November 7, 2017 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Incumbent, Steven R. Seibert • Joshua Hitchcock • Jeannie Orozco • Linda Pugh |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
