Wagstaff hopes to bridge trust gap

New Douglas County School Board Trustee Yvonne Wagstaff hopes to bridge the gap between the school board and the public and put the focus back on the children.

“This is not about me; I have no aspiration for political office I just want to do what is right for our kids,” said Wagstaff. “I think in all that has happened, we have forgotten where our focus is and what’s best for our kids.” 

Wagstaff was voted in unanimously as a member during the Douglas County School Board’s meeting on Jan. 9, taking over the district 1 seat after Tony Magnotta resigned in December.

Wagstaff has lived in the area for 10 years, has six children, three who are Douglas High School graduates and three sill attending the high school and Carson Valley Middle school. She said she has volunteered at every school her children have attended and has taken an active role in their education.

“I wanted to see what they were learning and experiencing so I could help direct them through and be the best they could,” she said. “I believe that taking an active role in their education is the best thing I could do for them as their mother.”

When her youngest began kindergarten, she saw the need for substitutes in the district and began working as a paraprofessional while still volunteering and later taking a position at Piñon Hills Elementary school in the Special Education department and as a playground aid, where she worked for six years.

“I felt blessed to have the opportunity to work where my children attended school,” she said. “I love being able to work with the children, inside the classroom and out, and to work with a variety of teachers and staff that care about each student.”

Wagstaff resigned from her position at Piñon Hills in order to serve on the school board.

“It was bittersweet to leave,” she said. “I am looking forward to this opportunity, but I love the kids, the teachers and the atmosphere and what Jason (Reid, Principal at Piñon Hills Elementary school) brings to the school. He truly cares about each student and staff. I am looking forward to be able to visit other schools and get to know the teachers, staff and students there too.”

In her letter of interest for the school board seat, Wagstaff said “Every student and teacher deserve a school board who can work together to help facilitate a good working and learning environment ensuring that our students’ needs always come first.”

Part of her plans to put that statement into practice is to be a voice for the parents.

“There is a need for parents to be a voice, not just for their own kids but for all kids,” she said. “I hope to bring down the heat; the fighting is not accomplishing anything. The public does not trust the board right now and I hope as a parent I can be a voice of reason and understanding to help build that trust again.”

Wagstaff said through her experience of working and volunteering in school districts and raising six children she has gained a lot of insight of what kids need to be successful in school and beyond.

“I have six kids and that in itself is a lot to learn from,” she said. “Every child is different and come from different backgrounds and experiences and at the end of it all, most people just want our kids to learn good, positive things in school. I am looking forward to learning more whether from the students, parents or public and to use our resources to do what is best for the students.”

Wagstaff said she hopes to be as transparent as possible with the public, to listen to them and to not be swayed by political agendas and popular opinions.

“I know what it’s like to be on the other side of the table and to feel ignored,” she said. “I don’t want parents to feel that way. I want them to know that they are heard, and that every voice is heard. I will always try to be informative, to do my research, to listen and understand.”