Supporting Gretchen Holtsinger for WISD

I have known Gretchen since 2009 when we became neighbors and, since then, close friends. Not only is she passionate about education, but she also is a person of integrity and empathy. She is a woman of strong faith who doesn’t impose her religious beliefs on others. A permanent resident of Wimberley, she’s both a mom of adult children and a grandmother.

For those who have been antagonistic on social media, know that Gretchen is not an ideologue, and, remember, this is a non-partisan race. She’s an excellent listener, and she SHOWS UP, answering questions in person, online and on social media.

Gretchen spent 26 years as an educator and administrator, and she has worked with school boards without confrontation. Now retired, she continues to help students and school districts across the U.S. as a partner in a business that evaluates transcripts of incoming foreign students and American students returning from abroad. Her expertise helps these districts place students in the appropriate grade level.

Gretchen understands federal and state laws that govern what school boards can and cannot do. While those less knowledgeable are raising issues that are not within the purview of school boards, Gretchen is concentrating on how the Wimberley Valley community and the WISD school board can help administrators, teachers and parents provide high-quality education for students during the Covid-19 pandemic. She understands the burdens teachers face in teaching in person and online, and the burden parents working inside and outside the home face in deciding which method works best for their children. Most important, she understands the challenges students face learning in new ways.

For these reasons, I support Gretchen Holtsinger for Place 6, WISD board of trustees. Teachers, students and parents will benefit from her experience and her abilities.

Lauraine Miller Rose