To the editor:

I met Mehlville Board of Education candidate Tori Behlke while serving on the PTO board at Oakville Elementary.

What struck me instantly about Tori was her selfless drive, passion, motivation and dedication to making our school the best it could be for the children, families and staff.

Her ability to effectively listen and process information from different viewpoints while maintaining professionalism and respectfulness is remarkable.

Her passion and drive has only amplified as she runs for school board.

In addition to traditional meet and greets and participation in PTO meetings, she is going into our schools, interacting with the students, teachers, administration, et cetera, to truly get to know and understand the relationships and needs on an intimate level. She has a true gift of creating an atmosphere where people are inspired to collaborate as a team for the highest good of our children, schools and community.

Political environments can often be about who’s “right” and “wrong,” diverting efforts from what’s truly important … our children and our district.

It’s encouraging to see an inspiring candidate who has superior skills at collaborating, keeping focus on what’s relevant and the tenacity to bring change that truly has potential to leave a legacy for future generations.

Annette Woldanski
Oakville