Thanks to all the Minneapolis DFL Delegates for your participation at the convention on 4/18/2026!

The following has been lightly updated as of 4/20/2026 to reflect that the city convention has already taken place. I am continuing my run for School Board.

I’ve served as a DFL delegate, and I know what it’s like to sit in a school auditorium for many, many hours. For a candidate to declare they won’t adhere to endorsement – well, that really sucks to hear. I understand why it is a yes/no question. I answered “no.” Why?

If I drop out, there may be no contested races for school board.* No contested races means no in-depth discussion during a pivotal time for our schools.

* Correction: District 3 will have a contested race if Incumbent Lucie Skjefte seeks another term.

Take Action’s Minneapolis Families for Public Schools has mobilized their membership and a combined campaign staff behind three candidates as a slate: Shannon Gibney (District 3), Becca Dryden (District 5) and Christin Crabtree (At-Large). This is a smart strategy that I respect.

MFPS opted not to offer an open endorsement process. Absolutely their choice! I’m happy to see all candidates advocate for investment in our schools.

I’m an independent candidate competing as hard as I can for your endorsement.

I will use the months I have to make a strong case for widespread engagement and investment in Minneapolis Public Schools.

Thanks for hearing me out, intrepid DFL delegates and alternates! Your hours of participation and thoughtful engagement are noticed and deeply appreciated.

Yes! You can download the PDF here. It consolidates a few reference points into one chronological document.

District 5 is an open seat. Lori Norvell is not seeking re-election.

Announced candidates for District 5 are Molly Chase and Becca Dryden.

Notably, District 5 is currently the only contested race for 5 open seats on the Minneapolis School Board.

✔ Investment in MPS to Increase Enrollment and Improve Working Conditions. Proposed cuts create more problems than they solve. Consistent, fully-staffed schools are as essential to increasing enrollment as they are to improving our schools’ work and learning conditions. 

✔ Safety and Freedom from Fear for Every Person in our Schools. Working conditions include safety. We can take practical steps to reduce gun violence in all its forms. We can protect students, educators and staff from discrimination or harassment.  

✔ Leadership Through Crisis. Oversight that Never Quits. Boards are meant to oversee the Administration, not be an extension of it. Our parents and educators deserve speedier access to information. I have the financial rigor, organizational background, and tenacity to provide real oversight.

✔ Open Communication with Constituents. My commitment to transparency includes hosting a constituent listening session between every monthly Board meeting. I listen carefully and answer plainly. 

✔ Depth and Breadth of Community Engagement. The Transformation report is expected in May 2026. We cannot afford another rollout like 2021’s Comprehensive District Design (CDD). Meaningful community engagement requires more than a wish list. We need strong effort and, in Minnesota, benefit from a variety of proven community engagement models that work.

Yes, we’re both pro-educator, pro-student candidates who want to see Minneapolis Public Schools succeed. That’s why so much of my site focuses on concrete examples and people vouching for who I am and how I work.

Beyond that, here’s what sets me apart:

MN School Board Experience/Track Record. I loved serving my 4-year term as a governor-appointed board director at Perpich Center for Arts Education (2020-2024). While there I:

• Expanded free lunch and breakfast, increasing student opt-in rate for meals from approx 40% to 80%.

• Chaired the Government Relations Committee. 

• Successfully advocated with GOP and DFL legislators to save Perpich from closure.

• Attended and actively engaged in board meetings (40+) and committee meetings (30+), missing only 2 in four years.

• Co-crafted meaningful annual board retreats that connected the board in shared vision and tactical next steps.

Track record of taking on extremely challenging projects that require community outreach and investment and working within confining structures. Examples:

• 825 Arts in Frogtown, a 15-year uphill project. I worked within the community to write a comprehensive plan that integrated: 500+ community member’s combined vision, foundation funding requirements, government funding requirements, individual fundraising efforts, capital fundraising feasibility plans, deferred maintenance plans, construction plans, and more. 

• Massive trash incinerator project adjacent to a densely populated area already hit hard by environmental injustice. This fight took approximately four years and involved persuasion of elected officials and the media, as well as coalition-building among neighborhoods.

15-years experience making boards more effective. I’ve worked with dozens of boards on building:

• More effective financial dashboards

• Designing and facilitating meaningful and productive working/planning sessions

• Providing administration oversight that’s both respectful and effective

• Managing conflict constructively while aligning around core values and goals

Budget oversight experience that’s extensive, including forecasting, tracking and auditing. Within a career that spans for-profit, non-profit, and governmental financial processes and reporting.

Independence. I’m running this campaign on my own, without either influence or support from outside organizations. 

Meaning: I’m already showing you what I’m promising. I work hard and I don’t mind an uphill battle.

No, though I follow and appreciate their work!

Prior to the DFL Caucuses in February, MFPS mobilized their members to caucus for Christin Crabtree, At-Large candidate.

On March 30, they announced endorsement of three candidates as a slate:

• Becca Dryden (District 5) 

• Shannon Gibney (District 3)

• Christin Crabtree (At-Large)

MFPS determined their slate internally, meaning they did not offer an open endorsement process.

I’m excited for so many passionate people in this board race. Practically speaking, this makes me an underdog because:

• MFPS has combined their efforts behind three candidates, sharing a campaign manager, fundraising efforts, a volunteer base, and other essential roles. Super smart! I respect it. 

• The backing of Take Action/MFPS increases the likelihood of endorsements.

I’m an independent candidate who has written every word of this website. I’m competing as hard as I can for your endorsement, and I hope that comes through.

So glad you asked! A strong public school system benefits us all, but a lot of messaging targets parents and caregivers. We need to bring along everyone, including Minneapolis neighbors without kids or who have chosen to be child-free.

As a city, we have to ask ourselves:

• Are we okay living in a city that doesn’t value our educators?
  
  Our state and federal government continue to pile on unfunded mandates. Schools have become the last line of defense for our social safety net, catching childhood hunger, immigration challenges, homelessness, food scarcity, and more. On top of that, we ask our educators to brace all day every day for the possibility they’ll need to put their bodies between students and a shooter. Can’t we do better than this?

Meanwhile, as with our health care system, our public schools are a core part of a thriving community. And, similar to our health care system, schools are undermined by large corporate interests and political forces. Specifically:

• Charter school licensors in MN have a direct financial incentive to renew licenses regardless of how well the charters under their management are serving students.

• Tech companies are aggressively pushing AI as a solution to large class sizes.

• In cities and towns in Minnesota wide, MAGA candidates are flooding elections for school board seats. That may seem far away in Minneapolis, but the critical mass of this movement can and will affect us if we don’t take steps to shore up our schools.

  • Did you know that school boards across the state collaborate on a cohesive legislative agenda? We must protect our communities, including students of color, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ students.

We can’t lose sight that companies and some political factions have significant financial incentive to undermine our public institutions’ success.

Whether it’s our health care access, our libraries, or our public schools – we must protect public institutions that are the backbone of our city.

Three of my core values are transparency, communication, and providing way too many options:

• 📆 Choose a time that’s convenient for you! Sign up for 10 minutes (or more) and let me know if you prefer a call, text, or zoom meeting.

• 💬 Text me at: 612-208-8203

• 📧 Email me at: hello @ mollyforminneapolis.com

• And/or send me your feedback and priorities via this survey.

Amazing – thank you!

If you haven’t already, could you fill out this brief form? It will be a huge help.

All information is kept confidential and I will not spam you.

Thanks again! Here’s that link.