Courtesy photo
- Occupation: product sales and service manager at Breckenridge Ski Resort
- Hometown: Hudsonville, Michigan
- Years in Summit County: 13
- Family: husband, Tom Lutke; daughter, Rowan
- Civic involvement: Breckenridge Ski Resort Epic Promise Foundation co-chair, Carriage House Early Learning Center former board member and Wellington Neighborhood board member
I’ve been close to the Summit School District for a while,
married to an educator and supported many athletic events. I’ve taken a step
even closer in the past year, enrolling my 7-year old in kindergarten. This
experience has enlightened me to the incredible influence this school district
has on our kids and thus our community’s future. I have the capabilities and
confidence to steward that future forward. Here’s why.
My philosophy and how I set a positive example for my
daughter? Get involved. As an involved community member, I’ve served on the
Wellington Neighborhood board and Carriage House early education center’s
board. I’m currently a co-chair for Vail Resorts Epic Promise Foundation in
Breckenridge, which support staff and dependents in times of need through
relief grants and educational grants.
Through my more than 13 years in management at Breckenridge
Ski Resort, I’ve learned the skills necessary to treat others with integrity,
provide support and, above all else, listen to differing voices. My staff knows
my dedication for full connection from the community because they see it every
day in how I prioritize communication, transparency and involvement.
Who I am is all well and good, but what the Summit County
voters should care about is what I will do as a board member. I’m a real
community member with just a few priorities that I’d like to share with you.
Priority 1: Ensure each and every student is provided the opportunity to learn and grow
We need to continue to challenge ourselves to look at our
offerings for all different types of students, not just the ones who have
learning come easy. This means properly supporting those with learning
disabilities, challenging our gifted learners, partnering with concurrent
enrollment, supporting and expanding our career and technical offerings (to
appeal to those who are career bound versus college bound) and continuing to
support a comprehensive dual language program — starting in elementary school
and continuing through to high school. There’s a lot out there for our kids; we
just need to continue to provide more opportunities for them.
Priority 2: Get these kids consistently healthy
Student wellness is incredibly important for the health of
school districts. If kids are missing school, that means our school is missing
them. Our community and thus our school district needs to mitigate the risk
that vaping and mental health pose to our kids. We need to build an accurate
and effective support system to ensure each kid’s health is strengthened.
Priority 3: Those that teach need us
To be a leader in education, we need to support our
educators. We need to be the positive example in Colorado for our current
educators and our potential educators. We need to attract the next generation
of talent to our schools to ensure the next generation of our kids has a strong
future. How we ensure consistent training, tools and compensation is just as
critical for these pillars of our community as it is for our kids.
That’s a lot for a voter to take in. Maybe you just are concerned
with who I am — as you’ve learned, I’m a mom of a 7-year-old, wife of a high
school teacher, manager of ticket sales for a ski resort and deeply passionate
about our community’s future through education. Does that make me qualified for
a position on the school board? Potentially. Would I be great at it? Yes. I’m
organized, dedicated, strong at communication, and have my priorities straight.
I will make sure our kids succeed, and really that’s all that matters.
Please vote for me in the upcoming election Nov. 5. Questions? Reach out to me on my Facebook page, Emily Lutke for Summit School Board. I look forward to serving our community.
Find more election coverage at SummitDaily.com/election.