Troy School Board Candidate: Mike Dillon

• Why I’m qualified and why I’m running:

My family and I have lived in the Troy District for 14 years and have three children currently in the Troy school system.  My wife is a dedicated educator who teaches a special needs class at one of the Troy elementary schools. 

My life experience includes managing our oldest child with special needs through the complex education process.  I am a highly involved and highly engaged parent who understands the importance of parental involvement and the need to keep education as a top priority in a child’s life. 

In my personal life, I have been a youth coach in football and baseball for the last 10 years. 

In my professional life, I have been helping banks throughout the country identify performance improvement opportunities and developed strategies to help them reach their objectives. 

As a result, I understand how to work within a team of professional to collaborate for the shared good of everyone involved.  And most importantly – I know how to move the bar when it comes to improving performance – whether that be with children, or with senior management at some of the largest banks in the country. 

I am running for the school board position because I want to make a difference in the lives of the most important resource for our future … Children, and the education they’ll need to help the community, the country, and themselves prosper. 

• What is the single most priority if I get elected?

Maximizing the potential of each and every student is and will always be the top priority of any school district. 

As economics and demographics evolve over time, the school district needs to be nimble enough to provide curriculum and support that helps both teachers and parents meet each student “where they are” and take them “where they need to go”. 

That means providing solutions that meet the needs of all students through programs that address things like; support for children and families where

English is a second language, accelerated programs for more advanced learners, integrated, but specialized solutions for those children with special learning and physical needs, tutoring programs for students and mentoring/coaching programs for teachers, and curriculum that readies our children for the changing world ahead and prepares them for the high school experience.

• What sets me apart from other candidates?

All of the candidates share the same passion for education and the desire to contribute to the future. 

While I have children in the system, I am not motivated for their special interests, rather, I am focused on offering my intellect and experience for the good of our community. 

I have an incredible amount of respect for teachers and the job they do day in and day out, and want to provide support to insure the education we provide in Troy District 30C is the best it can be. 

My professional background also enables me to be an expert collaborator and team player, while, at the same time, being a creative leader with a logical and simple approach to problem resolution.