Position 3

In Position 3, three candidates will appear on the ballot: Krystal Pike, Bree Libertad and Gabrielle Pargett.

Pike, a licensed stylist and nail technician who also serves as the head track and field coach at Seaside High School, said she’s running to help bridge a gap between district staff and the board, with the goal of creating a better line of communication. As a mother with children in the district, she added that she wants to be more involved in helping ensure students receive the best education possible.

Libertad, a family support specialist with Healthy Families, has also worked as an educator and substitute teacher at local schools, including Warrenton Grade School. With a child entering kindergarten this year, she said she’s interested in ensuring optimal educational experiences for students, especially in light of concerns she’s heard from some parents who have opted to send their children to other districts.

Although Pargett’s name will appear on the ballot, she told The Astorian she doesn’t plan to campaign, and instead will be endorsing Libertad.

Position 4

In Position 4, board chair Neal Bond faces challenges from Dacei DeVos, Mandi Simonsen and Chelsey Frank.

Bond, a protection unit forester with the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Astoria district, has been a Warrenton-Hammond School Board member since 2019. In that time, he said the district has made significant accomplishments, including passing a bond for a new master campus and for the building of the new middle school. With two children in the district, Bond said he’s running for reelection to help keep improving the district and supporting students.

DeVos, another parent in the district, is an office manager at Mark’s Auto Service Seaside. She is on the board of directors for First Steps Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, and has also served as the vice president of the Warrenton Grade School Parents and Teachers Helping Students group. As someone who attends nearly every school board meeting, DeVos said she’s interested in becoming more involved in decision-making.

Simonsen, who owns Northern Homes LLC with her husband, said she wants to bring a renewed focus on supporting students and overburdened teachers. Simonsen has been a vocal critic of the board and superintendent on Facebook, earlier this year creating a petition for the board not to renew Rogozinski’s contract. She stressed the importance of parental involvement in schools, advocating for opportunities beyond field trips and party days.

Frank is a certified medical assistant in the U.S. Coast Guard Base medical clinic in Astoria. Frank could not be reached for additional comment.

Position 6

Four candidates are running for Position 6: Lindsay Ceaser, Crystal Green, Matt Ahearn and John Duncan.

Ceaser, a barber at Kut and Shave Barbers in Astoria, said she is running for the board to help build “strong, positive, proactive leadership that fosters a nurturing learning environment.” She added that she opted to remove her children from Warrenton Grade School, but wants to encourage families like hers to reinvest in the district rather than continuing to turn to alternatives like homeschooling, private schools or other districts.

Green, the owner of Arnie’s Cafe in Warrenton, is an alumna of Warrenton High School. As a longtime business owner and volunteer coach with Warrenton Kids, Inc., she said she wants to use her community relationships to work collaboratively through challenges and to “restore trust, ensure transparency, and put students, teachers, and staff first.”

Ahearn, a produce clerk, serves as a volunteer youth soccer coach. In the past, he’s also worked as an attendance advocate in the Central Curry School District. He said he’s running to advocate for policies and approaches that empower teachers, involve parents, invest in students who might otherwise “fall through the cracks” and set them up for future academic and life success.

Duncan, the facilities manager for the McMenamins Gearhart Hotel and Sandtrap Pub, has three children in the Warrenton-Hammond School District. He and his wife have experienced the district’s “highs and lows” for over a decade, and he said he feels it’s time to step in and help move the district forward.

Position 7

Candidates on the ballot for Position 7 include Mindy Little, Sara Robinson, Jared Warner and Adam Murray.

Little has been an educator since 2004, serving in a variety of roles in the Warrenton-Hammond School District, including as an elementary, junior high and alternative education teacher and as an alternative education principal. She has also served on a range of committees, including with the Oregon Alternative Education Association and the Warrenton Grade School Parents and Teachers Helping Students group.

Little was dismissed from her role as Warrior Academy principal in February following investigations into alleged misconduct. Little has denied the allegations.

Robinson, a registered nurse with a background in case management and counseling, said she’s running for the school board to make a necessary change and more equitably serve student needs. Like some parents, she said she has opted to enroll her children in the Astoria School District instead of the Warrenton School District. She said she thinks it will take some new faces on the board in order for Warrenton to do better.

Warner is an electrician who was born and raised in Warrenton and has three children in the district. He has served as a volunteer coach for his children’s sports teams, including through Warrenton’s Babe Ruth program. He said he sees running for the board as an opportunity to give back to the community and work cohesively with teachers and parents through challenges.

Murray is a service technician with P&L Johnson Mechanical, Inc. He is currently on the board of Warrenton Kids, Inc., and has previously served as the vice president for Lower Columbia Youth Soccer Association. As a parent of three children, he said he wants to get involved to help give them the best chance of success possible in the district.