
JoNell A. Bakke
Non-Partisan | North Dakota
Candidate Profile
Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
JoNell A. Bakke
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary
Race
Grand Forks Public Schools School Board, At-Large Seats (vote for five)
Incumbent
No
EDUCATION
University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, Bachelors/Masters, 1969-1973
WORK & MILITARY
Grand Forks Public Schools, Special/Elementary Education Teacher 1983- 2013, Resident Intern Supervisor 1991-1993 (2 yr. position), District Mentoring Coordinator 2001-2011, Grand Forks Public Schools Teacher Specialist 2023- 2026, Resident Intern Supervisor 1991-1993 (2 yr. position) District Mentoring Coordinator 2001-2011 Grand Forks Public Schools Teacher Specialist 2023- 2026
State of North Dakota, State Senator - District #43 - 2006-2010. 2018-2022, Committee Assignments Education & Transportation (2007) Education & Political Subdivisions (2009) Judiciary & Transportation (2019, 2021) Interim Committees Human Services & Judicial Process (2007-08, 2019-21) Education & Long Term Care (2009-10) WSCI, Education Process, Human Services, Judiciary (2018-2022)
Student Success Center, Tutor 2011- 2013, Educational Supplementary Services Coordinator (2011)
University of North Dakota, Cooperating Teacher for Student Teachers (2014 to 2025)
State of North Dakota, Mentor Trainer (2010-2019), Responder to First Year Teacher Reflection Papers (2010-2019)
AFFILIATIONS
North Dakota United, Board of Directors; NW Region Representative 2004-2010, 2023-2026 Committees - Minority Affairs, Professional Development, Personnel, Budget, Awards, Policy, Effective Locals, Membership (Chair), Alternative Compensation
Grand Forks County Zone Advisory Board, Secretary, Foster Parent (12 years), PRIDE trainer for county (16 years) Zone Advisory Board (2018-Present), 2018-2026
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Educators, Board of Examinations (10 years)?ARPA Board (8 years) ARPA Board Chair two terma
North Dakota Youth Council, Governor Appointment – 2009-2010
ND Human Right Coalition, Board of Director, Vice Chair and Program Chair 2007 to 2015
Grand Forks Public Schools, Ad Hoc Member of Grand Forks School Board Intern Supervisor for Graduate students Social Studies Standards District Co-chair Social Studies Curriculum Committee District Flood Recovery Advisory Board Teacher Assistance Team? Board Policy Review Committee Transfer Policy Review Board
State of North Dakota, Ad Hoc Member of Grand Forks School Board Intern Supervisor for Graduate students Social Studies Standards District Co-chair Social Studies Curriculum Committee District Flood Recovery Advisory Board Teacher Assistance Team? Board Policy Review Committee Transfer Policy Review Board
Dem-NPL, Chair of District 43 for four years State Convention Committee Member (2008, 2012) State Executive Board – Region Five Northern Valley DemNPL - Chair 4 years
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State of North Dakota State Senator, 2018-2022
State of North Dakota State Senator, 2006-2010
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
State of North Dakota State Senator, 2011-2014
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (1)
Grand Forks Education Association
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
State Democratic Party Organizations (2023)
Mac Schneider (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Choose not to answer
What role should the school serve in helping a student with an unwanted or crisis pregnancy?
The school should not have a role in this area.
ECONOMY
Student loan forgiveness unfairly shifts the financial burden to those not responsible for student debt.
Disagree
In some cases, loan forgiveness is used as a recruitment tool.
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
That is the one of the primary responsibilities outline in the constitution - A free and appropriate education for all.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
With regard to public schools, what does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
We have students of all of religious background in our schools and we need to respect the students and families rights to religious freedom which is the outlined in our US Constitution. Therefore the schools and governement need to leave religious beliefs to the parents and guardians and not impose any religion on anyone.
IMMIGRATION
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enhances the safety and security of communities by identifying and detaining illegal aliens.
Disagree
The schools should not be involved in this process and only provide to the students the educational services that they are required of them.
EDUCATION
Abortion and gender-affirming providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Neutral
This is a personal decision between the student and their parents or guardians The school should not be included in these decisions.
Consequences for bad behavior create a safe and orderly environment, which is essential for student learning.
Agree
Part of the learning process includes accepting consequences for one's actions. These consequences need to be appropriate to the behavior and done in conjunction with the parents.
Educators should give students a thorough education in America's founding documents and cultivate American patriotism.
Agree
The history of our country and it's founding documents are a part of the curriculum as established by the national and state departments of eduction. Patriotism can't be taught as it is a belief or feeling that needs to be defined by each students in their own way.
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Disagree
The US Department of Education provides funding and educational supports at a level that many state could not afford to provide.
If you support the teaching of Sex Ed, please answer the following question: Sexual education should include these topics (list all that apply and add your own, if needed) -- abortion methods and side effects; abstinence; consent; contraceptive methods; human anatomy/the reproductive system; physical and emotional health outcomes; sex acts and pleasures of sex; sexual orientation and gender identity; stages of pregnancy and fetal development
Sex Education should provide a basic educational understanding of the workings of the human body. The other topics are a family responsibility.
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): American History, Art & Music, Civics, Critical Race Theory, Foreign Language, Gender Identity, Information Technology, Language Arts, Mathematics, Personal Finances, Physical Fitness, Political Activism, Science, Sexuality, Social Emotional Learning, Vocational Learning
What is taught in the public schools should be determined by the federal and state standards that are established.
Public schools should prioritize academic achievement and building character necessary to preserve American traditions and self-government.
Strongly Agree
That was the reason for the establishment of public education in our country.
School choice creates competition, and that competition will push public schools to improve their educational systems.
Disagree
If this question is addressing charter and private schools, I do not see this as a competition but a separation of have and have nots.
VALUES
Biological males should be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Choose not to answer
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
My spiritual beliefs are private. As far as values, I respect others and treat them with kindness and caring.
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Agree
Parents should and need to play a role in their children's education and support the schools in their mission of educating their children. The relationship should be collaborative not combative.
I support the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that people should be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
Strongly Agree
Absolutely! Race should not be a factor in how we education or treat others.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Disagree
Government should not define the term marriage. That is an individual and personal decision between two adults.
Mental health conditions such as anorexia and gender dysphoria need to be treated, not affirmed.
Neutral
These two issues are not school and educational issues. These are family issues.
School library books that have literary value, as determined by experts, should be exempt from obscenity laws.
Neutral
Books are already reviewed for there appropriateness before placed in a school library.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Neutral
No individual entitled to vote in this country should be prevented from voting.. The states have already established their process and North Dakota does not have any difficulty with their voting regulations.
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2014 Democratic Primary 2014 General Election 2016 Democratic Primary 2016 General Election 2018 Democratic Primary 2018 General Election 2020 Democratic Primary 2020 General Election 2022 Democratic Primary 2022 General Election
What political party are you affiliated with?
North Dakota DemNPL
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to immigration and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Moderate
I believe in studying all the fact and issues before making decisions.
2ND AMENDMENT
Faculty who are licensed to carry and have had ongoing training should be allowed to carry guns at school in order to respond to an active shooter situation.
Strongly Disagree
No firearms should be in public schools as they are a danger to the studentsl.
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