Contact me and get involved! Kelly@brownforboard.com
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About Me
My Background
Hi!
Well, you found my webpage, so you must be thinking about who to vote for in the Kettle Moraine School Board election on APRIL 5, 2022. Let me tell you a little bit about me...
I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan as the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran, Ford Motor Co., factory worker and a school teacher at the Macomb Intermediate School District. I learned independence and a strong work ethic from my parents and put it all to good use when I moved to Wisconsin in 1997. My husband Matt, is from Janesville and we met while we both were working at Kohls Department Store. I eventually got into the banking industry after a teller changed my life when I was 19 and have been there ever since.
I started in the industry as a personal banker and worked my way up to start my own bank called First Wisconsin Bank & Trust. I know what you must be thinking...how in the world does someone start a bank? Trust me...I thought that too especially since I did not have the traditional career that most do that takes them to this point. But...I also knew that many folks in this industry, lack the ability to relate to everyday people and can often be seen as unhelpful. Over the years, my customers were like my family and I learned that working one-on-one with people in a transparent fashion would allow me to be seen as a solution provider. It worked. After the bank sold in 2009, I started a new company called The American Deposit Management Co. where I serve today as CEO and Chairman.
Today, our company manages funds for companies nationwide in one very specific way. We ensure they are insured. We manage a network of banks that provide excess FDIC and deposit related insurance for companies, municipalities, school districts, non-profits, unions and the list goes on and on. We have 32 employees and are located in Pewaukee, WI. We've won many awards for business ethics and 8 consecutive best workplace awards. I am honored to be the CEO.
I am a graduate of Cardinal Stritch University with both my BA and MA in Organizational Behavior--in a nutshell...learning how to help organizations function better and work together toward common goals. I've also attended UW-Madison and Wharton Business School for many executive courses that have assisted me in my leadership style over the years.
I am active in the community as well. I founded the Marquette University Commercial Banking program and currently chair the board. In the past, I have served as a Trustee for Cardinal Stritch University, Junior Achievement, and Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful. I was also appointed by Gov. Scott Walker to the Wisconsin Chiropractic Board and have volunteered tirelessly for conservative principles.
My Hobbies
Strangely enough, I love what I do so much that I really have never felt like I work. Everything feels like a hobby to me. Hobbies are what you love and enjoy! I enjoy teaching and I teach any chance I get. Anytime I can help people in financial education or financial freedom, I consider that a privilege.
However, in the summer, you can find me on Okauchee Lake boating and fishing with my family otherwise I enjoy playing music and singing. I am a classically trained violinist and find myself trying to improve my guitar skills so one day in retirement I can play my guitar at a beach side bar for tips!
My Favorite Things
My favorite things are my two kids--Ava who is a graduate of KM and is now a Junior at UW Madison studying law and political science, and my son William who is a KM Junior and one of the kindest people you'd ever meet. God has blessed me beyond words and my children are truly my greatest joy! You can also add to the list my wonderful husband Matt and our dogs Koko, Otto and Fred--I'm sure you'll meet all of them at an event in the future!
How will I vote as a member of the KM School Board?
I am a conservative Republican who is strong in fiscal issues, have undying support of our military and law enforcement, support the 2nd amendment (I also carry) and support protecting our U.S. Constitution at all costs. If you vote for me, you will vote for a strong, tough, accomplished woman that is willing to fight for the conservative principles we hold dear.
I will vote for making COMMON SENSE decisions that our community wants. I will be your voice for our kids in the District!
How will I communicate as a member of the KM School Board?
If you're a parent, your emails will be returned by me. You will get calls from me asking if your issues have been addressed. I will attend meetings and ask lots of questions. I will be engaged at board meetings and welcome community listening sessions monthly. I will document what is working well and work with teachers, students and administration to communicate where are challenges are.
If you're a teacher, you have my word, I will fight for you. I will listen and will work to find common ground and the best solutions possible. I will work to visit your classrooms and engage with you on your achievements and your challenges. You no longer need to be fearful of having a voice.
If you are a student, I will visit your games, come to your class and ask how we can do better for you. I will listen to your ideas and work with our entire community to ensure you are heard.
I am not an empty suit. I will not defer to the District Administration to make decisions about your kids and I will communicate everything possible to ensure we have transparency.
Why I am running for School Board
Both my kids went to Magee and the experience was unbelievable. I bragged to others what a great school district I was in and how my kids were excited to go to school every day. Some of their greatest memories were the Halloween Parade in Genesee Depot, Poynette Trip, morning announcements and the terrific teachers like Mrs. Gross, Mr. Hallagan and Mrs. Coss.
However, over the past 10 years, we have seen a deterioration of the district in both what is being taught and how things are taught.
I started to really pay attention over the last 2 years and what I saw was frightening. What is happening in our beloved Magee Elementary School is awful with the removal of many time honored traditions. And decisions made by outsiders with no experience in this District and no ties/children in the District. It needs to change-now.
We have a board that has given up. A board that defers to the administration for decisions that effect our children. A teachers union that infiltrated the board and the staff to a point that teachers are afraid to speak up. We have reached a critical point in this community.
We are lacking transparency and have allowed liberal, non-American views to be spewed in our classrooms unsupervised. It's all being encouraged and underscored. The left has been successful in taking advantage of sleepy parents in conservative areas by stacking the schools with the union backed candidates for board and superintendents. The current administration/board is approving hires that do not have our Districts children and parents in mind.
Enrollment continues to decline at a rapid pace, families are removing their children from our District, meanwhile the District administration continues down this awful path.
Wasteful spending of your tax dollars, ignoring the needs of our children-especially those with special needs and poor management of large projects that our kids have come to rely on. You should have fiscally responsible guardians ensuring your funds are used in the most appropriate way possible. Meanwhile, the level of education for our kids has suffered. Where has our board been?
Our current board is asleep at the wheel allowing the current administration make decisions without proper governance.
IT MUST CHANGE NOW!
I am running for school board to be a leader in the community and to help build back the reputation that KM once had. We need transparency for our families of what is being taught in classrooms, understanding for teachers to allow them to teach and not just 'test', and get both teachers and students excited again to be in education. Our children should be taught HOW to think...not WHAT to think!
We do this by working together and listening to the largest stakeholder in this fight--the PARENTS. The Board of the KMSD should never take direction from the Superintendent unless it has the support of the parents and students.
I will fight for:
-Transparency
-Accountability
-Access for parents
-Bringing back civics and teaching American Excellence
-Involve those in the community such as veterans, elderly, entrepreneurs, business leaders and authors in educating our students.
And of course I will fight for families to make choices that are best for them--no mandates, EVER.
Join me. I am awake but I am not 'woke'. I am ready to defend freedom and liberty for our children as a member of the board. I need your vote. I will need your help. Lets do this together and make KMSD Great Again!
Upcoming Events
Meet me at an event near you!
We had a great turnout of parents and community members from around the District meet up in October and November of 2021.
It was great to meet so many wonderful people! We will be planning more events so be sure to provide your email in the contact us section so we can keep you up-to-date on our next events!
I am sure you'll be seeing me around the community very soon!