Meet Aaron Lockhart
My name is Aaron Lockhart, and I am a proud father, husband, and supporter of our local public schools.
Several years ago, my wife and I lived in Roseville with our three young daughters, and we began searching for a new place to call home. We were exhausted by the anonymity, traffic, stoplights, and chaos of the sprawling suburban maze, and we dreamed of living a life that was more connected to our environment and community. Looking back, we always say that moving to Pleasant Valley was the best choice we ever made.
In this community we discovered a grounded sense of purpose and belonging that has exceeded our wildest expectations. As soon as we moved in, our neighbors started dropping by with bottles of wine, pies, apple cider, and hugs. Every time I was out on our property building or fixing something, a neighbor would show up with tools or a tractor to help me get it done. Our first winter, we ran out of firewood for the wood stove a couple of months early, and our neighbor John kept replenishing our pile whenever it got low. This is truly a special community.
One of the big concerns we had about moving here was the fact that the small local schools can’t afford to offer the same range of academic and extracurricular programs that were available at the Roseville schools. We knew that if we wanted our children to get the full educational experience they deserve, we’d need to get involved. My wife and I have volunteered at the schools, donated generously, showed up for every special event and dance, participated in school board meetings, and now I’m running for a seat on the board.
I am deeply concerned about our rapidly declining enrollment and high rate of teacher turnover. Our current district leadership has repeatedly failed to collaborate with parents and teachers to address these existential threats at our two tiny schools. Our students, families and community deserve more. Regardless of political affiliation, we can agree our schools lack the necessary funding to provide the full range of opportunities and enrichment our students need and deserve. Our district will continue losing students until this problem’s solved, and I’m the right person for that job.
As a financial advisor, I’m held to the highest ethical standards, which I will bring to this board. I’ve helped hundreds of families and organizations define their financial goals and incorporate strategies to achieve them. As a Board Member, I’ll utilize that same process to address the most pressing issues facing our schools through close collaboration with all stakeholders, including parents and teachers.
Gold Oak Union teachers and staff are supporting me because I’ve worked tirelessly as a volunteer to mobilize community support for these schools and advocate for the best educational outcomes possible. Please join us in our efforts by voting for me this November. Thank you.
