Learn about the Seven Heartland School Board Candidates & Why They are Running

The upcoming May 12 primary election is approaching, and the Heartland School Board has three openings with seven candidates running.

Of the seven candidates, six will be chosen to move on to the general election in November to contend for the three seats on the Heartland School Board. Ryan Goertzen is the only incumbent who has filed to run again.

Here are the three questions we asked each candidate to address:

1. Why are you running for the school board, and what are your qualifications?

2. What do you see as the strengths of the Heartland School District?

3. What are some of the current challenges facing the district, and how would you address those challenges?

CURT FRIESEN:

1. I feel that all residents of the district should find ways to improve our community through public service. Each of us has something to offer, whether it is serving on boards or volunteering for different organizations. My experience of serving in the Nebraska Legislature has given me a larger picture perspective of our K-12 education system. I have strongly supported our public schools but do feel that we could do better.
2. We have excellent facilities and a strong community support system. We have parents who are engaged with the system and care about their child’s education and want them to be as prepared as possible for life after graduation, whether that’s entering the workforce or furthering their education at a Community College or University. 
3. One of the challenges that I hear about is the number of home-schooled kids in the district. Maybe we could learn what some of the issues that home schooling parents have about sending their kids to public school. We are a small school and struggle to fill our classrooms and sports teams so that we can compete at the state level. There has been a lot of discussion in the Legislature about the high cost of K-12 system and that the state should be looking at further consolidation. Our cost per pupil is around $25000 with a state average of around $17000. Overall, I feel that we have an excellent school, but that shouldn’t stop us from improving and demanding that our kids are better prepared for life after high school. 

ERIK FRIESEN:

1. I have served on boards for the community and church, which have required physical labor involvement as well as negotiation and compromising skills, quote/estimate retrieval and discussion with outside parties, and needing to make a wide variety of people content with decisions being made. I am a lifelong resident of Henderson as well as a Heartland graduate myself. I am looking to send two young boys through the district and want them to have the best experience and education available, which means I want to support the staff that I have faith in. My wife and I were very involved in the passage of the bond in both 2022 and 2024 and are strong supporters of the Heartland School District. Being on the school board would be another way I could continue that support.

2. Strong and supportive administration and staff. Safe, updated facilities. Ability to work with other districts (Hampton) to provide more extracurricular opportunities for students and help solidify the future of these activities and the school. Integration with the community through local businesses, provides students with the opportunity to see on job experiences that help students make decisions for life after school. Our district also provides so many services and para for one-on-one help for students with needs not met in the standard classroom experience.

3. Big challenges facing our district are the ever-changing environment our state legislature puts school districts across the state in.  Laws and funding change yearly, making it hard for smaller schools to make future plans, as was seen in the Heartland district while trying to secure financing for our building project.  Keeping our excellent staff and finding new staff are another hurdle our district has always faced, but I feel with a strong, supportive board and administration, this is a shining point of our district.

RYAN GOERTZEN:

1.

• Spent the last four years as a school board member and serving as Board Vice President for the last two years. I am also on the Finance Committee, Daycare Committee and Negotiating Committee.
• Spent 25 years in education started in pilot training, maintenance training, as the Vice President of Education at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. I later became the President of the Tulsa campus before the Chief Aviation Officer over all four campuses with 1700 students in various technical programs and pilot training.
• President of the non-profit Choose Aerospace which just won the Grand Laureate Award from Aviation Week and Space Technology in the MRO category. This is a high school curriculum that covers the twelve airman certification standards of the general curriculum for airframe and powerplant certification.  It is currently in 50+ high schools in 23 states with about 2000 students enrolled in the 25/26 school year.
• I work with Superintendents in these states to promote career and technical education. 
• Locally, my wife and I have supported the Heartland Booster Club and have sponsored two classes on their Senior Sneak Trips. 

2.

• Community support of our students and staying engaged in their educational process. 
• We have a proactive administration that evaluates the changing needs in classroom curriculum, standards, and opportunities, as well as extracurricular activities. 

• Amazing teachers and their focus on outcomes that lead to student success both inside and outside the classroom.

3.

• Nebraska needs to focus like I see in other states on the advancement of Career and Technical Education. Continue to grow relationship with SCC that already has many certification and diploma programs. Build a coalition around allowing freshmen to take College classes. We need more graduates with Associate Degrees, Diplomas are Certificate Programs as well as industry recognized credentials along with HS Diploma. 
• Headwinds caused by new unfunded mandates coming from state of Nebraska and Washington. This can be managed in several ways. Our administration is well connected inside of the state legislature both in personal relationships as well as our various associations. I spend a great deal of time with our congressional delegations in both the House and the Senate in Washington. I met with the Deputy Secretary of Labor under the current administration. The Department of Labor is going to be the agency moving forward for educational funding for career and technical education at the federal level.  Having these relationships gives us a fighting chance to keep negative legislation from becoming law

BRAD JANZEN:

1. I’m running for the school board because I believe in giving back. I was fortunate to receive a great education at Henderson and to grow up surrounded by a Henderson community that invested in its young people. Serving on the school board is my opportunity to pay that forward.

I attended Henderson from kindergarten through graduation and after spending several years in Kansas, my wife and I and son, Braden, moved back in 2008 to farm alongside my family. 

In terms of involvement, I’ve been a supporter of the robotics program, which I believe develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills our students need for the future. I was also part of the founding group that established the daycare currently operating at Heartland.

2. Dedicated educators and staff who go above and beyond for their students are at the heart of our district. Strong extracurricular activity participation is a sign of a school culture where students feel involved and connected even after school.  We have a solid basis to build upon since our parents and community members are similarly committed to their kids’ education.

3. It can be challenging to keep kids engaged when extracurricular activities draw so many students from the school on any given day.

Ensuring every student is appropriately challenged is a priority for me. Our district faces the challenge of meeting students where they are academically — supporting those who need more time to master concepts while keeping advanced learners engaged. I hope we can expand learning opportunities so that no student is ever left waiting or held back.

JAYDON JANZEN:

1. My name is Jaydon Janzen, and I am running for the Heartland School Board because this community is not just where I live. It is where I am raising my family, building my businesses, and investing my future. I have lived in the Heartland district since before my oldest son was born in 2017, and my husband and I are proud to be raising our three boys, Madden, Wesley, and Nolan, here. I come from a family that deeply values education. My mother is a college instructor, and that commitment to learning has shaped who I am.

Professionally, I manage all business operations for our family business, co-own Dorée Events, a thriving event planning and rental company, and operate a tanning salon on Main Street, all right here in Henderson. Running multiple businesses has given me real-world experience in budgeting, personnel, community relationships, and strategic planning, skills that translate directly to effective board service. 

My commitment to Henderson extends beyond my businesses. For the past two years, I have been actively involved with the Henderson Healthcare Foundation, playing a key role in helping raise money and support the community through multiple events, including golf outings, harvest meals, and the yearly gala. Giving back to the people and the place that supports my family and my livelihood is not just something I do. It is something I believe in.

Most importantly, my family has been touched personally by the work Heartland’s staff and teachers do every day. From the preschool home visits that helped us navigate speech therapy needs to the extraordinary support our son has received as he grows and thrives in his kindergarten classroom, Heartland has shown our family what is possible when a school district truly prioritizes its students. I want to give back to a district that has given so much to us.

2. The greatest strength of Heartland Community Schools is its people. The teachers, paraprofessionals, and support staff who show up every single day with genuine care for every child in their classroom. As Jaydon Janzen, a mother of three boys currently enrolled in or soon to be part of this district, I have witnessed this firsthand.

Our family entered the preschool program through home visits to assess our sons’ needs, and that early, proactive outreach set the tone for everything that followed. One of our boys is autistic, and I will be honest. Not every school would have been the right fit for him. Heartland has been. The staff made him a priority, worked with patience and creativity, and helped him reach milestones that once felt out of reach. As a kindergartener, his goal was simply to remain in a classroom for ten minutes without disruption. By February, he was staying engaged for over 45 minutes and participating in PE, music, and library. That is not a small thing. That is a life being shaped in the right direction.

Heartland’s strength is that it meets students where they are, whether a child needs extra support or needs to be challenged beyond grade level. That commitment to the whole child, across the full spectrum of need, is something worth protecting and celebrating.

3. Like many rural school districts, Heartland faces real challenges in recruiting and retaining quality staff, securing adequate funding, and ensuring that our curriculum continues to meet the needs of every learner, from students requiring additional support to those who are ready to be pushed further.

As Jaydon Janzen, a Main Street business owner and community member, I believe addressing these challenges starts with community. A strong school district and a strong local economy are inseparable. Families choose to stay, and businesses choose to invest in communities where the schools are excellent. I want to bridge that relationship more intentionally, advocating for the resources, tax support, and community partnerships that allow Heartland to recruit talented educators and sustain the programs that make a real difference.

I am also passionate about ensuring that our district is equipped to serve the full range of learners. Every child deserves a path that fits them, whether that means individualized support, advanced coursework, or anything in between. Our goal as a community should be to raise young people who are prepared to be responsible, respectful adults who are proud of where they come from, and who choose to return here, contribute to our economy, and carry this community forward.

I am ready to roll up my sleeves and do that work.

TIFFANEE OGORZOLKA:

1. I am running for the school board as I believe our school is the foundation to a strong community. I want to be a part of making sure we are giving every student the best opportunities possible. Having lived in the district for 19 years and as a parent with two children in the school system, I see firsthand what’s working well and what we can continue to improve.  I am currently the Co-Head of the Recreation Department, where I help organize community events. Through Rec, we host the annual Easter Egg Hunt and Weenie Roast, and we also coordinate all of our T-ball, softball and baseball organization.

I have also coached many youth sports and volunteered at the school for Holiday Parties and events needing chaperoning. These roles have allowed me to work directly with our youth and build relationships with families. As a business owner, I understand budgeting, accountability, making each dollar count, and making thoughtful decisions that balance our needs.

2. I believe Heartland has several strong assets, making it a place for students to learn and grow. Our teachers are dedicated, hardworking, and invested in the success, both academically and personally. Secondly, we offer a wide range of extracurricular opportunities. From sports, robotics, quiz bowl, fine arts, etc., we have programs that give all students a chance to get involved, build skills, and develop teamwork and leadership outside the classroom.  All things that will be beneficial for our children. I believe our students receive a strong education that prepares them well for their future. 

3. Like any district, we face a few important challenges that we can address thoughtfully and collaboratively. I believe having an open forum on the meeting agenda is important. Right now, the public is only allowed to speak on agenda items. Providing a space where community members can share concerns, ask questions, and stay informed helps build trust and accountability. I would support creating more opportunities for open dialogue so everyone feels connected and involved in the direction of the district.

Another challenge is budget and spending. It is important that we are responsible and transparent with taxpayers’ dollars. I would focus on careful budgeting, prioritizing student needs, and make sure decisions are made with long-term sustainability in mind. Lastly, I believe we can improve our parents’ involvement. I would work to improve communication between the district and families and encourage more opportunities for parents to be involved.

LANCE PETERS:

1. I made the decision to run for school board because I believe I can have a positive impact on the direction of our school.  I have previously served on several boards such as the CVA coop board where I was Chairman of my committee.  I also was voted on by the board to serve as an Executive Board member at CVA.  This board experience will be valuable to me as I serve on the Heartland School board because of the work I was able to do on policy, financial statements, building projects, strategic planning, and mergers. 

I also had the opportunity to travel and work with other local and regional boards across the US.  I was born in Henderson and graduated from Heartland Community School. I have 3 children who attend Heartland and my wife substitute teaches there as well.  Shortly after college, I moved back to the community to raise my children and start farming.  I have been involved in coaching youth sports, baseball, basketball, and football, and also organizing camps for youth sports.  

2. Heartland School District has many strengths.  The recent improvements to the building, gym, and weight room, along with the addition of classrooms and a daycare, put Heartland in a great position for the future.  Heartland has great teachers and staff who truly care about the students.  I see the willingness of parents to volunteer and be involved in the students’ lives, both during school activities and outside of school events, as a large strength to our school.  

3. There are some challenges I would like to address during my time on the school board.  Currently, and moving forward, financial responsibility and strategic planning will be increasingly important to ensure the long-term success of our school.  We need more transparency in the issues facing our school, also the learning materials and media selected to be used in the classroom.  Part of the transparency improvements could be achieved by reorganizing the boardroom layout and policies. 

The boardroom needs to be more inviting to the public.  Currently, half of the board has their backs to the crowd, which makes it hard to hear and gives participants a sense of not being welcome.  I would like there to be opportunities for the people to interact with board members at appropriate times during meetings.  Having all board members facing the crowd and giving them opportunities to interact would improve trust and accountability. 

Also, having the board meetings recorded to be viewed at a later time would help to inform people what the board is working on.  Many parents and community members who would like to attend the meetings have other obligations at those times.  I believe that more transparency and community involvement will help build a better culture.  Student enrollment is also a large part of the success of our school. Currently, we have around 90 students either homeschooling or choosing out of Heartland.  I would like to see a team put together to meet with these families to learn how we can build their trust to bring their students to Heartland. I acknowledge that families have many different reasons for choosing other options for their students’ education. These students would be a great asset to our school, improving our classrooms and bringing additional talents to our sports, band, music, FFA, FBLA, Drama, and all the other programs. 

Now that much of the building construction has been completed, it is time to get policies in place for the community to be able to utilize the weight room as discussed prior to the vote of the bond.   Finally, I would like to explore what other educational opportunities we can offer our students. We have recently made many improvements to our facility and I would like to see our focus shifting more towards education and preparing our students for their future.