Candidate Profile: Matthew Klein

Four candidates are running in the District 197 (West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan) School Board Election this year. There are three open spots on the board.

Patch asked the candidates about their experience, connection to the district and about the issues that they would focus on. Here is the response from Matthew Klein.

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My name is Matthew Klein.  I grew up in St. Paul and attended Highland Park Senior High School.  I graduated from Mayo Medical School and I work as an internal medicine physician at Hennepin County Medical Center.  My wife Kristine and I have five children who all attend district 197 schools.

I have previously served on the Board of Directors of Dean Medical Systems, a medical provider and insurer in Madison, Wisconsin.  More recently, I served as vice president of the Heritage Middle School PTA (with my wife as president.)

In our work at Heritage, we strive to improve parental engagement in student performance.  I hope to bring a philosophy of parental engagement to the district level, as a tool to tackle the achievement gap in our schools.  During my campaign, I have knocked on doors to meet voters in every part of our district, from Eagan to West St. Paul.  I have heard their concerns and will continue to meet with voters and represent their interests with integrity if elected.

Matt Klein