2025 District 196 School Board Election: Complete Guide to Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School Board Candidates

On November 4, 2025, residents of District 196 (Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Schools) will elect four people to the school board in two separate elections. This includes three four-year terms and one two-year special election term.

Key Election Details:

Learn more about voting on the District 196 website.

Election Structure:

District 196 serves the communities of Rosemount, Apple Valley, Eagan, and surrounding areas.

The district faces important challenges including closing achievement gaps, supporting student mental health, maintaining fiscal responsibility during potential state and federal budget cuts, and ensuring competitive teacher compensation.

This election also coincides with a Special Election to renew and increase the district's technology capital projects levy, originally approved by voters in 2015. Without renewal, this funding will expire.

The five candidates bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives to addressing these critical issues.

Current Position: Appointed School Board Member (since January 2025)

Background: Robin Cerio has been a District 196 resident for 24 years, living in Eagan with her husband and two daughters who both attended ISD 196 schools. Her family initially enrolled their children in a charter school in St. Paul but chose to transfer them to District 196, a decision she describes as "one of the best decisions we've made as parents."

Professional Experience: Robin holds a Bachelor of Arts in art education and a Master of Arts in art history. She worked at the Goldstein Museum of Design before becoming a stay-at-home parent. She now serves as Director of Operations at Legacy Trailer Solutions LLC. Education runs deep in her family—her grandfather served as Director of Finance for Iowa Public Schools.

Robin's Educational Journey: Robin's own path through school was nontraditional. She struggled to finish high school, found direction at Normandale Community College, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. Catherine University with a degree in Art Education and a minor in English Literature.

Extensive Community Involvement:

Campaign Priorities:

1. Build on District Successes Robin emphasizes continuing the district's momentum with talented educators, strong programs, and student success focus. She advocates for investing in what's working and expanding access to successful programs for every student, making success "the standard, not the exception."

2. Close the Achievement Gap Robin believes every student deserves tools and support to thrive. Her approach focuses on proactive measures: equitable resource distribution, building strong student-staff connections, and tailoring learning to meet students where they are. She emphasizes that focusing on student needs opens doors to their full potential.

3. Celebrate Community Diversity Robin advocates for actively embracing the district's rich diversity in schools. She supports representation in curriculum, staff, and programming to help students feel they belong and that their stories matter. She commits to inclusive practices that reflect and affirm the value students bring to classrooms.

4. Improve Graduation Rates Robin views graduation as both a milestone and a launching pad. She focuses on ensuring students leave confident and prepared for college, trades, military, or careers. Her approach includes engagement, early intervention, and meaningful support systems to help every student "get across the stage and into their next chapter."

What Sets Robin Apart: Robin highlights her education degrees, years of district committee volunteer work, and charter school board service. She emphasizes her role as "one of seven voices at the table" and her belief that teachers are "vital partners in supporting students." She distinguishes herself through willingness to learn, listen, and work hard for student success.

Time on Current Board: Since her January 2025 appointment, Robin has found the board "thoughtful, transparent, and effective." She views running for election as "a natural continuation of my work in the district."

Endorsements:

Campaign Website: robinceriofor196.com

Current Position: Appointed and Elected School Board Member (since March 2024)

Background: Leah Gardner lives in Eagan with her husband Chris, their 11-year-old sixth-grader, and two dogs. They have been Eagan residents for seven years. As a parent whose son has "flourished" in District 196, Leah has witnessed firsthand how teachers and staff support students through challenges in reading and social growth.

Professional Experience: Leah works as a hunger relief advocate in public policy on behalf of the hunger relief community. This role gives her unique insight into community needs and experience bringing marginalized community voices to the table for better collaboration. She works closely with elected officials on state policy and budget decisions.

Education: Leah holds a business degree from the University of St. Thomas and a Master of Public Policy from the Humphrey Institute. She is a proud alumna of the Voices for Racial Justice training program and participates in trainings with the Minnesota School Board Association.

Community Involvement:

Campaign Priorities:

1. Student and Family Engagement Leah is committed to increasing opportunities for impactful two-way conversation with parents and students. She has heard valid questions from parents and improvement ideas from students during her board service. She believes "students are the leaders of tomorrow" and "ready for leadership roles in our district today—including on the school board."

2. A Nurturing School Environment Recognizing unprecedented numbers of students facing mental health challenges and growing special education needs, Leah prioritizes adequate staffing including school counselors, paraprofessionals, and support staff. She emphasizes District 196 must remain competitive with livable wages, rewarding work environments, and strong union partnerships to fill these positions.

3. No Economic Stigma Leah wants to ensure the district doesn't unintentionally create economic stigma for struggling families. This passion led her to lead the Hunger Free Schools coalition that passed universal school meals in Minnesota. She commits to cutting unnecessary fees and helping students meet basic needs with access to school supplies, activities, and support services.

4. Freedom to Learn Leah advocates for well-rounded education including "honest, accurate and age-appropriate understanding of our history." She appreciates teacher dedication to strong lesson plans and opposes efforts to micromanage lesson plans or book selection. She supports teachers who ensure classrooms include diverse materials honoring the many cultures and experiences students represent.

5. Equity for All Addressing Minnesota's status among the worst states for educational achievement gaps by race and income, Leah believes District 196 has tools and commitment to lead change. This includes holding true to district values regardless of external pressures, ensuring safe and welcoming environments for authentic student expression, and leveraging data to focus supports and meet each student where they are.

Key Accomplishments: Since her March 2024 appointment and subsequent election, Leah has become "even more passionate" about her role. She led the Hunger Free Schools effort and has worked to increase dialogue with students and families on mental health and other issues.

Why She's Running: Leah is committed to meeting the district's mission "to educate, develop, and inspire all of our students for lifelong success—including removing barriers to success." She wants to continue working to ensure schools are "a positive environment where all students can thrive and meet their full potential."

Endorsements (2024 - 2025 pending):

Campaign Website: leahgardnerfor196.com

Age: 47

Current Position: Incumbent School Board Member & Board Treasurer

Background: Sakawdin Mohamed is a longtime Eagan resident, married with six children—all District 196 students and graduates. He has been an active ISD 196 parent for over a decade. Mohamed came to the United States as a refugee 30 years ago, and credits public education with changing his life.

Professional Experience: Sakawdin brings over 20 years of experience in public finance, budgeting, and policy leadership, serving both county and city governments and in several Minnesota state agencies. He has overseen budgets exceeding $120 million annually for staff of 650 public employees and $1 billion capital improvement projects. He is a Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) and currently serves as Board Treasurer.

Career Background: Sakawdin began his career as a social worker and case manager, helping seniors and refugees live safely in their communities. He has since led initiatives in education, public health, and government accountability. He was appointed three times by two Minnesota governors to the Commission on National and Community Service, helping expand AmeriCorps and youth programs supporting reading, mentoring, and college readiness.

Education: Sakawdin holds multiple graduate degrees including a Master of Public Affairs (MPA) from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs, a master's degree in Health Science, and a bachelor's degree in Economics from North Dakota State University.

Campaign Priorities:

1. Experienced, Educator-Endorsed, Accountable Leadership Sakawdin emphasizes his proven leadership managing large public budgets and complex organizations. On the school board, he has worked to ensure fiscal responsibility, safe schools, and strong academic outcomes. He commits to transparency, sound financial oversight, and ensuring every dollar supports student learning. His experience as Certified Government Financial Manager and board treasurer ensures taxpayer investment is managed with integrity and accountability.

2. Supporting Teachers and Student Success Viewing teachers as "the heart of our district," Sakawdin advocates for policies that attract and retain excellent educators, reduce class sizes, and strengthen student mental health supports. He believes in empowering teachers with resources, respect, and professional development needed for high-quality instruction, stating "Investing in educators means investing in our children's future."

3. Equity, Inclusion, and Opportunity As a refugee, father, and community leader, Sakawdin knows firsthand the importance of inclusion and opportunity. He commits to advancing equity and diversity efforts so every student has access to success. His second-term priorities include:

District Strengths: Sakawdin celebrates District 196's excellence in academic achievement, diverse programming, and dedicated staff. He notes graduation rates, college readiness, and extracurricular offerings are among the state's best, along with inclusive culture and innovative learning environments. However, he acknowledges room for improvement in mental health services access and educator workforce diversity.

Core Responsibilities: Sakawdin views a school board member's core responsibilities as setting vision and policy, ensuring fiscal accountability, and creating conditions for every student to succeed. He emphasizes governance over management—ensuring district policies, budget, and leadership align with community values and educational excellence.

Endorsements:

Campaign Website: Information available on Ballotpedia

Age: 54

Background: Tracey Plante lives with her partner Russ, a black Labrador named Brando, and a frog named Jalapeno. She is beginning her 25th year as an educator.

Professional Experience: Tracey works as an educator and brings extensive experience working in multiple school districts. She has served in various committee roles including ISD 833 and ISD 191's District Data and Assessment Committee, Content Scope and Sequence Committees, and the Smart Choices Committee. Last year, she served as her union's pension action lead for Education Minnesota.

Education: Tracey holds extensive education credentials:

Previous Leadership:

Campaign Priorities:

1. Real Educational Experience Tracey emphasizes bringing "real experience" from 25 years of educating in multiple school districts with multiple education degrees to meet all K-12 learners' needs. She describes herself as a "life-long learner who wants students to experience success by taking risks in an educational environment that promotes life-long learning and long-term success." She uses systems thinking and social action leadership, understanding that "schools are for students and their achievement."

2. Community Voice and Shared Values Tracey wants to serve because "more community members need a voice." As the district becomes more progressive, she aims to be part of school policy decisions. With extensive public school experience and policy creation background, she wants to "tackle issues that have divided our community so that we come together to improve student success." She emphasizes honoring children's holistic development through community voice and input.

3. Closing Achievement Gaps Tracey directly addresses that MCA scores demonstrate students, "namely those from historically excluded groups, are failing in 196 and will not be able to compete on a global level." She advocates for creating policies around implementing READ Act components and new PreK-5 mathematics coaches, which are "critical to closing these gaps." She also supports principals using site funds for in-house professional development and utilizing community resources for STEM and diversity training.

4. Culturally Responsible Integration and Achievement Using both quantitative and qualitative data collection, Tracey evaluates district effectiveness through standardized test scores and conversations with students, parents, and community members about their experiences. She follows community social media pages regarding District 196 issues. She commits to creating policies around integration and achievement "using a culturally responsible lens" that must be "adhered to by all 196 stakeholders."

5. Student Safety and Cross-Content Learning Citing CDC data that gun violence is the primary cause of death for children in the United States, Tracey identifies student safety as her biggest concern. She notes students come to school with anxiety her generation never experienced and advocates for school upgrades in response to increased shootings.

She also expresses concern that students cannot compete globally, as shown by MCA and NWEA MAP scores. She notes that after No Child Left Behind, educators focused solely on math and literacy while subjects emphasizing critical thinking and cross-content skills like social studies and science were "relegated to the back burner." She commits to creating policies promoting cross-content learning with adequate instructional time.

What Sets Tracey Apart: Tracey distinguishes herself through 25 years of classroom experience, multiple education degrees, and direct understanding of public school operations. She brings a practitioner's perspective, having worked directly in schools creating policy rather than only serving in governance roles.

Campaign Website: Information available on Ballotpedia

Age: 43

Current Position: Incumbent School Board Member (Running unopposed for two-year term)

Background: Catherine Diamond lives in Eagan with her three daughters who attend District 196 schools.

Professional Experience: Catherine serves as Division Director of Injury Prevention and Mental Health at the Minnesota Department of Health. Her expertise includes data collection and analysis, systems change, and active listening. Her subject matter expertise in prevention of substance use, injury, and violence brings valuable perspective to discussions about mental health, community connection, and opportunities in the education system to support health and wellness of students, families, educators, and communities.

Education: Doctorate of Public Health (DrPH)

Campaign Priorities:

1. Expertise in Data and Systems Change Catherine brings professional skills in data collection and analysis, systems change, and collaboration with constituent groups. Her background in prevention and public health provides important content expertise for board discussions on mental health and community wellness. She emphasizes her ability to collaborate with "those impacted by the decisions being made—students, families, educators, and community members."

2. Comprehensive Education Philosophy Catherine believes "schools are meant to expose students to all voices, experiences, and opinions; to teach history accurately even if it is messy; to support teachers' decisions as experts in the education field; to teach students of all abilities, races, and ethnicities to reach their greatest potential; and to make each and every student feel loved, safe, challenged, and cared for." She states District 196 accomplishes this and wants to keep it this way.

3. Fiscal Responsibility in Challenging Times Catherine emphasizes remaining "fiscally responsible in challenging times, using tax dollars responsibly to benefit people within and outside of the school walls." She recognizes the importance of stewardship during periods of potential budget constraints.

4. Ensuring Equity in Opportunity Catherine acknowledges that while District 196 has "incredible success rates," the district is "challenged by inequities when disaggregated by race/ethnicity." She notes disparities in courses passed, attendance, and graduation rates. She advocates for working with families and communities to address these disparities collaboratively and effectively. She supports programs like Cultural Family Advocates as a "strong foundation" but emphasizes work must continue until disparities are "decreased and ultimately eliminated." She prioritizes attention to hiring practices "so that students see themselves in their teachers."

5. Health and Wellness Prioritization Catherine recognizes District 196 has "impressive services and supports for all students" but emphasizes continued growth to meet increasing student needs across all ages and abilities. She prioritizes school nurses, social workers, psychologists, health education, and universal breakfast/lunch at schools to support students. She believes "increasing health and wellness staffing in all levels of school will benefit students, families and teachers."

6. Maintaining Community Trust Through Transparency Catherine evaluates district effectiveness through graduation rates, student surveys (like the Minnesota Student Survey gauging health, wellness, and relationships), and community trust. She notes District 196 excels in these areas but acknowledges room for improvement. For example, she addresses low connectedness rates in the Minnesota Student Survey by supporting mentoring and internship initiatives connecting students with positive adults. She commits to maintaining high community trust through "continued transparent communications efforts with newsletters, websites, and information campaigns."

7. Balanced Education and Respectful Discourse Catherine's greatest concern is ensuring students "continue to have a balanced education that teaches current events as they happen, encourage respectful discourse, support healthy relationships, and remain safe and caring environments for all students." She addresses these concerns through "active listening and open communication with students and parents, teachers and administration." She believes "a cooperative School Board that listens, learns, discusses, and respects each other will allow for the best outcomes for students, staff and communities to flourish."

Why She's Running: Catherine wants to ensure District 196 schools continue exposing students to diverse voices and experiences, teaching accurate history, supporting teachers as experts, helping all students reach potential, and making every student feel "loved, safe, challenged, and cared for."

Leadership Philosophy: Catherine emphasizes that "a School Board that leads by example will maintain ISD 196 as a top district for Minnesotans to live, learn, and work together."

Endorsements:

Campaign Website: Not provided

Early voting begins September 19, 2025 and continues through November 3, 2025.

Early Voting Locations:

How to Vote Early:

District 196 faces critical decisions about:

Whether your priority is academic achievement, equity and inclusion, fiscal responsibility, teacher support, or student wellbeing, this election will shape the direction of one of Minnesota's largest school districts.

Four seats. Five candidates. One unopposed race.

The choice is yours.

District 196 serves residents of:

Verify you reside within District 196 boundaries before voting in this election.

This guide was compiled from official candidate questionnaires, campaign websites, and public records. For the most current information, visit district196.org/vote

Prepared as a nonpartisan voter resource. Not authorized by any candidate or campaign.