Amber Frommherz says she is passionate about education and wants to bring that enthusiasm to the Juneau School District Board of Education. She’s currently a candidate for the school board. In October, voters will choose from among six candidates for three available seats.<\/p>\n
“I am a parent of kids in the district, and I care about the education all of our children are getting and the educational system they are in,” she said during a recent interview with the Empire. “I’m a passionate parent, passionate community member and passionate about education.”<\/p>\n
She said that as her three children are getting older, she now has more time to dedicate herself to different pursuits, like school board service.<\/p>\n
Frommherz acknowledges that her educational journey — which started in Page, Arizona, adjacent to the Navajo Nation and ended with her earning a master’s degree in educational studies from Tufts University near Boston— was made possible in part by the support she received along the way.<\/p>\n
“My entire journey has been in pursuit of education. So many helping hands helped me along the way,” she said. “I want to return the favor.”<\/p>\n
Candidate seeks open school board seat<\/a><\/ins><\/p>\n Qualifications<\/p>\n Frommherz is a U.S. Navy veteran and married to an active duty Coast Guard member. She is currently the Director of Tribal Services for the Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority.<\/p>\n Before that, she was the Head Start Director for the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. She’s worked as a lead teacher for Head Start and as a Navy recruiter. She said these experiences equip her with insight she can use on the school board.<\/p>\n “I bring leadership experience, military perspective, and an early childhood background. I’ve seen different school districts and can offer insights,” she said.<\/p>\n Frommherz also mentioned her experience working with budgets — state, local and family — as qualifications for the job. She said her work had exposed her to large budgets as well as families facing economic stressors.<\/p>\n She said her experience at Head Start gives her insight into the importance of early childhood education, and she plans to apply that to board service if elected.<\/p>\n “Once you are a Head Start person, you always are a Head Start person,” she said.<\/p>\n Frommherz said that early childhood concerns are “near and dear” to her because early life experiences drive many life outcomes.<\/p>\n “Research has shown long-term benefits from early childhood education. More students graduate and it offers protective factors,” she said, adding that Juneau and all of Southeast Alaska could benefit from increased early childhood investment.<\/p>\n First-time candidate seeks school board seat<\/a><\/ins><\/p>\n On the issues <\/strong><\/p>\n Fommherz said she supports the direction of the current school board and sees new opportunities.<\/p>\n She said that last year’s upended school schedule was tough as both a parent and a professional. She said the decisions the board made around the pandemic were complicated and difficult. But, she sees a bright side to the COVID-19-driven upheaval.<\/p>\n “It showed us how much more adaptive we are,” she said. “They (the board) made the best decisions they could with the information at hand. Hands down, I appreciate the leaders who have gotten us through this,” she said<\/p>\n She sees increased access to the school board through Zoom meetings as another bright spot.<\/p>\n “I want to be a vessel to hear from parents,” she said.<\/p>\n