Principled Governance • Improved Student Outcomes • Measurable Results •
Vice Chair • Policy Committee Chair • Student School Board Representative Committee Member• MSBA Delegate Assembly Delegate
Good governance may not always be the most visible work of a school board, but it is some of the most important. The ISD 200 school board provides structure, accountability, and clear direction by establishing the policies, expectations, and oversight that allow ISD 200 to remain focused on improving student outcomes and providing every student with an excellent education.
As Chair of the Policy Committee, she has worked to strengthen district policies and board procedures by establishing clear systems that support effective governance and preserve institutional knowledge. Jessica led:
The Development of ISD 200’s Board Member Handbook: A 45-page governance resource formalizing and documenting the board’s operating procedures, responsibilities, and norms. Adopted in February 2024, the handbook later served as the framework used by the Minnesota School Boards Association to develop its Model School Board Member Handbook for districts statewide.
The Development & Implementation of a Three-Year Policy Review Cycle: A structured system ensuring every ISD 200 policy is reviewed at least once every three years. The cycle has improved the efficiency, consistency, and transparency of policy review while helping ensure district policies remain clear, legally compliant, organized, and responsive to the needs of students.
The Efforts to Guide Academic Excellence through ISD 200's Education Programs Policies: A twelve-month collaboration between the policy committee, district leadership and building principals, the policies governing curriculum and instruction were thoroughly reviewed and revised. to provide clearer, more consistent direction for ISD 200’s educational programs, while maintaining a student-centered, outcome-focused approach.
Jessica has pushed for governance practices that increase participation, strengthen representation, improve public access, and make the board’s processes more effective and responsive to the community.Jessica advocated for:
Moving School Board Elections to Even-Numbered Years: Reducing election costs and administrative burden while increasing opportunities for voter participation. November 2026 marks ISD 200’s first regular school board election held in an even-numbered year.
Giving Students a Seat at the Board Table: Establishing a consistent place for student perspectives in board governance conversations. ISD 200 is entering its third school year with student representatives serving alongside the board.
Restoring Public Comment at Regular Board Meetings: Providing community members an opportunity to address the full board after completing and submitting ISD 200’s required public participation form.
Good governance also means supporting well-developed administrative recommendations that advance academic excellence and benefit students. Jessica supported:
Wit & Wisdom Elementary Curriculum aligned with the Science of Reading and supported by professional development.
Curriculum Review & Development Procedures establishing a consistent process for evaluating and improving curriculum.
Expansion of the High School Pathways Program increasing career exploration, postsecondary opportunities, and hands-on learning.
ISD 200 Data Dashboard & Vision Card providing transparent measures of student learning, attendance, survey results, and district performance.
Middle School Redesign strengthening programming and better supporting students’ academic and developmental needs.
I Love U Guys Standard Response Protocols establishing clear, consistent emergency response procedures across ISD 200 schools.
Leadership with a Clear Understanding of the Board’s Role
Throughout her service, Jessica has remained focused on the board’s governance responsibilities rather than the day-to-day operations of the district. She has worked to establish clear expectations, increase transparent operations, and improve collaboration without sacrificing oversight.
Her record reflects a consistent approach: lead on governance, advocate when change is needed, and support administration-led initiatives when they are evidence-based, fiscally responsible, and clearly advance student outcomes and opportunities.
On November 3, 2026, Vote Jessica Dressely for ISD 200 School Board