With four young children, Chelsie Angleton Decker wants to ensure her children have the best possible education.
She believes one of the best ways to do that is to serve on the USD 258 Board of Education. She is one of 10 candidates vying for four seats.
“It’s important for parents to be part of the school board. Our children are truly our No. 1 priority,” she said.
Decker will appear as “Angleton” on the ballot. She and husband, Denton, were married in August and have four children. She is a 2011 graduate of Humboldt High School. The family moved back to Humboldt in 2020 because they wanted their children to attend school at Humboldt.
Decker has worked at Allen County 911 since 2014 and now serves as the director.
As 911 director, Decker’s priorities are safety and security.
“Because of my background, I want to give guidance where I can,” she said.
She strongly supported the school bond project, which will replace heating and cooling systems, add new fire alarms and replace windows at all three schools. At the elementary school, it will add a new roof, a drop-off lane, cafeteria and other improvements. At the high school, it will replace the elevator.
“The elevator hasn’t worked since I was in school. I’m excited to see that. I have family members who are unable to make it up the stairs,” she said.
“The project addresses a lot of the needs of the school without having to tear it down and start over.”
DECKER recently ran into her third grade teacher at a craft show. She enjoyed catching up. That’s an example of the advantages of living in a small town and a small school district, she said.
“I still keep in touch with a lot of my teachers,” she said. “And a lot of my teachers have stayed with the district through retirement. I think that speaks volumes about the workspace and the culture.”
She hopes to provide the kind of leadership that encourages a positive atmosphere.
With schools across the nation facing a shortage of teachers, recruiting and retaining qualified staff is a concern everywhere. Decker believes Humboldt can offer the kind of culture that will attract and keep the best teachers.
“I think the most important piece for recruitment is providing a safe space for people to come to work,” she said.
