Two seats on the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education are on the April 7 ballot. The seats each carry a three-year term. Eastside News invited the candidates to state in about 300 words why you should vote for them. Nicki Vander Meulen, school board member seeking reelection for Seat 7, did not respond.

Daniella Molle

Madison school board candidate for Seat 6

Hello everyone! My name is Daniella Molle and I am running for Seat 6 on the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education.

If elected, I will bring two unique perspectives to the board: expertise in education research and advocacy for multilingual learners. I have spent:

15 years as an education researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
10 years as a supervisor of MMSD teachers working toward an English as a Second Language or Bilingual license.
Four years as a classroom volunteer in MMSD.
12 years as an MMSD parent.

Why is my research experience relevant? The board has to balance the district budget, create policy, evaluate the superintendent and strengthen the connection between the district and the community. Research expertise is essential in all these areas. The board makes financial, policy and accountability decisions based on data about the learning and well-being of students and staff.

As a researcher, I will ask critical questions of the evidence so we have a better understanding of what it does — and does not — tell us. I will strive to understand not only if initiatives are working, but how they are working, for which students or staff, and under what conditions.

Why do we need an advocate for multilingual students? (Over 20% of MMSD students are multilingual.) Centering the needs of multilingual learners helps make schools and districts stronger. When teachers change their practice to meet the needs of multilingual children, all learners benefit — fluent English speakers and students with special needs.

If elected to the school board, my main goal will be to help provide students and staff with the support they need to thrive. My weekly volunteering experience keeps me grounded in the lived experiences of students and staff.

Please vote April 7! In the meantime, visit my website: molle4mmsd.org.

Blair Mosner Feltham

Madison school board member and candidate for Seat 6

After a successful first term on the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education, I’m running for reelection because I’m just getting started. I am the best candidate for Seat 6 because I am a classroom teacher running on a record of success, and because stability and continuity matter for making change that sticks.

I am the first person to run for reelection to Seat 6 in more than 10 years and have been laying groundwork for needed change around professional development, sustainability, digital devices, budget transparency and transportation in my second term.

I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in my first term. I helped hire a strong, permanent superintendent with a long-term vision for MMSD. I secured cost-of-living adjustments in every budget, addressed salary compression in the Department of Student Services, fought to keep health care affordable, won incentive pay for substitute teachers and supported the passage of a $507 million facilities referendum to build modern, functional schools across the district.

For the past 15 years, I’ve worked as a classroom teacher and instructional coach. I’ve always been a union member and was a shop steward at Madison West High School. I’m still teaching today, and staying connected to classrooms shapes how I approach board work. It keeps my focus on what students and educators actually need to succeed.

My priorities for a second term are clear: continuously improving working and learning conditions for staff and students, supporting full collective bargaining and continuing to build the political leadership of MMSD so that we can win the state funding that our students need.

Public schools are one of our strongest democratic institutions, and the learning experiences we provide today will determine what kind of city and state we become tomorrow.

Dana Colussi-Lynde

Madison school board candidate for Seat 7

I am running for Seat 7 on the Madison Metropolitan Board of Education because I want every student in our district to receive a strong public education that prepares them for the future. Schools are facing many new and growing challenges, and students will need solid skills to succeed when they graduate. One of the most important skills is literacy.

Reading and writing are key to success in school and in life. My goal is to close the long-standing literacy gap for students of color and students with disabilities. I will work to do this by investing in science-based curriculum that meets different learning needs. I also support recruiting and keeping more teachers of color, adding staff to help with behavioral challenges and restorative justice, and reviewing the employee handbook with Madison Teachers Inc. to remove possible bias. To keep great teachers in our schools, we must also make sure teacher pay is fair and competitive.

I also believe we need to use technology more responsibly. I support creating a clear AI policy, reducing the overuse of tablets and having a bell-to-bell cellphone ban. These steps will help students stay focused, safe and engaged in learning while building strong critical thinking skills.

Finally, the board of education must be clear and open about how it spends money, especially after recent referendums. I would hold community listening sessions so families understand board priorities and how funds are used. As a Madison West graduate and the child of two teachers, I believe our whole community must work together to support strong public schools so all students can succeed.

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