Ryan Duffy
Ryan Duffy
517 Stewart Ave
South St. Paul, MN 55075
Occupation: Realtor, Substitute Teacher, Coach
Share a little about your background.
A life long and proud member of the South St Paul community. I graduated just 7 years ago in the class of 2017. The community has given me so much and we have historically always backed our schools when it comes to our kids. Being apart of the district through teaching and coaching I have been able to develop a first hand perspective of the challenges our students, families, and teachers face throughout our community. I am committed to our kids and community to uphold an inclusive and safe environment for all families.
What qualifications or experiences do you have that make you a strong candidate for the School Board?
I played college and semi-professional baseball. Through these experiences I have developed tools to be able to build a positive and safe culture. I also have taken on leadership roles in the form of coaching and continually learn to develop students and push them to succeed. These tools of leadership will help in connecting with other board members and being able to communicate in a healthy way to come to an informed decision.
Being recently out of school myself I believe that will help in terms of connecting with our students. As someone who is fresh out of school I have a good understanding of navigating school inside and out. School and its environments are constantly changing and having a fresh unique perspective from the same schools is something I bring to the table.
Lastly, I have worked within our district for the past two years and understand our buildings. Through my time I have connected with students and teachers learning what they feel they need. I understand what it is like to navigate the school system both as a student and a teacher/coach. This something unique that I can provide to the board in terms of age and work ethic.
What activities and organizations are you currently involved in?
I am currently involved in:
- SSP High School Baseball
- SSP High School Football
- SSP Open Foundation
- Volunteer throughout the community (Walkathon, sporting events)
Why is serving on the South St. Paul School Board important to you?
Serving on the board is very important to me because our community isn't as connected as it once was. I hope to bridge the gap between our district office and students, teachers, staff, families. Each of these groups feels a bit disconnected and it's time we got back to being one SSP community. I would like to assist bridging that gap so we can work more as one community moving forward. As I stated earlier, the SSP community has always backed it's schools when it comes to our children and that's what makes our city so wonderful. Our community must know that they are not only being heard but we are taking the correct steps to ensure we follow through with our promises that we made to our families and their children.
What is your vision for the future of education in South St. Paul?
Reconnection is the lesson.
My vision is to bridge the gap so we can get back to THE SSP community. We encourage open communication and push for community involvement. This is the way we can make informed decisions that reflect the needs of our students and community. Each of us can play a role in ensuring we are doing what is right by the kids of our community by reconnecting as one.
What are your thoughts on how the district should address equity and inclusion?
In order to address equity and inclusion you must figure out your strongest areas of need in terms of resources and time. From there you address areas of focus and ensure that you are giving everyone an equal opportunity to thrive.
I believe small group practices for individuals who fall along the same requirements help maintain a stable and healthy way of learning. Through these practices we must not forget to instill accountability and pride in what we do. Small groups are inclusive and will allow the right environment for children to learn and grow without the stress of falling behind.
What areas of concern do you have regarding the current state of South St. Paul Public Schools?
I am concerned over the disconnect we seem to have between the district office and the various communities involved in our school. Many concerns over decisions, lack of support, and unfulfilled objectives have yet to be addressed. Are the decisions we have made really putting the kids first?
What specific suggestions do you have for improvement?
Communication, that is the answer. We need to communicate and foster an environment that people want to get involved and feel heard. We must listen to our students and staff making sure they feel not only heard but valued in our community. That our objectives are student-first centered and fulfilled.
Provide a brief candidate statement.
Reconnection is the lesson.
As a South St Paul School Board candidate, I am committed to reconnecting our community. I will work to provide a safe and inclusive environment where open communication and community involvement is encouraged.