2025 Candidate Questionnaire
Marcia Ellermeyer
Q: In what ways have you been involved with East Helena Public Schools? How long have you been a part of this community?
I have lived in East Helena for almost 30 years and have served on the East Helena Public School Board for 23 years.
Q: Why are you running to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees for East Helena Public Schools?
I have been privileged to be a part of some amazing achievements that have allowed East Helena to grow and develop into a thriving community. I am a past school board chair and have been actively involved in the statewide school board organization. The knowledge gained from over 20 years of education, experience and dedication to our public school and our community makes me uniquely qualified to continue as a trustee.
Q: In your view, what area of East Helena Public Schools excel?
I think that EHPS excels at so many things, prioritizing the education of the kids while remaining fiscally responsible to the taxpayers, strong relationships between unions and management which allows everyone to focus on the education of our kids. The list could go on and on.
Q: If elected, what are your priorities for East Helena Public Schools in the next 5 years?
The priority is always the kids of East Helena. Providing a positive experience and quality education while remaining fiscally responsible is the goal. Addressing the continued growth of the district will be a major part of the 5 year plan as well as maintaining transparency and communication with the public.
I have lived in East Helena for almost 30 years and have served on the East Helena Public School Board for 23 years.
Q: Why are you running to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees for East Helena Public Schools?
I have been privileged to be a part of some amazing achievements that have allowed East Helena to grow and develop into a thriving community. I am a past school board chair and have been actively involved in the statewide school board organization. The knowledge gained from over 20 years of education, experience and dedication to our public school and our community makes me uniquely qualified to continue as a trustee.
Q: In your view, what area of East Helena Public Schools excel?
I think that EHPS excels at so many things, prioritizing the education of the kids while remaining fiscally responsible to the taxpayers, strong relationships between unions and management which allows everyone to focus on the education of our kids. The list could go on and on.
Q: If elected, what are your priorities for East Helena Public Schools in the next 5 years?
The priority is always the kids of East Helena. Providing a positive experience and quality education while remaining fiscally responsible is the goal. Addressing the continued growth of the district will be a major part of the 5 year plan as well as maintaining transparency and communication with the public.
Describe how you would get to know teachers, staff, and gain an understanding of what is happening in the schools.
Working for the last 23 years with the administration and staff has been such a pleasure. It is amazing to see such dedicated professionals performing under challenging circumstances and accomplishing amazing things. Visiting schools and attending functions and working with admin and unions during negotiations has provided me with great insight into what it takes to make the school run. It has been a privilege to be just small part of that process. I am more than grateful for the experiences it has provided me.
Working for the last 23 years with the administration and staff has been such a pleasure. It is amazing to see such dedicated professionals performing under challenging circumstances and accomplishing amazing things. Visiting schools and attending functions and working with admin and unions during negotiations has provided me with great insight into what it takes to make the school run. It has been a privilege to be just small part of that process. I am more than grateful for the experiences it has provided me.
Tiffany Richardson
Q: In what ways have you been involved with East Helena Public Schools? How long have you been a part of this community?
I’ve lived in Montana my entire life and was born and raised in East Helena and Montana City. After spending several years in Livingston, my family moved back to East Helena in 2020 to be closer to home. Since then, we’ve been fully invested in the community. Two of my three children have been in the district since kindergarten. I’ve volunteered as a Girl Scout troop leader, and my husband serves as a volunteer firefighter with the Tri Lakes Fire Department. From the start, it’s been a priority for us to step up and stay involved.
Q: Why are you running to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees for East Helena Public Schools?
I’m running because I care deeply about our schools and our community, and I want to be part of the great work that’s already happening. I don’t see this as an opportunity to fix something—it’s a chance to support what’s working and keep the momentum going. I want to be a positive, accessible voice for our families, educators, and students.
Q: In your view, what areas of East Helena Public Schools excel?
There’s so much to be proud of. Our new school buildings are top-notch and thoughtfully designed. The music program is absolutely outstanding. And our athletic programs have grown so quickly—they’re becoming something really exciting for the whole community. But more than anything, it’s the teachers and staff who truly make the difference. Their dedication to our kids is something special.
Q: If elected, what are your priorities for East Helena Public Schools in the next 5 years?
My priority will be to stay connected and accessible. I want to make sure every voice—students, families, teachers, and staff—feels heard and represented. I don’t come to the board with a personal agenda. I believe the priorities of the board should reflect the needs and ideas of the community, not just individual opinions. I also bring a financial background as a CPA, so I hope to help the board make thoughtful, strategic decisions that support students and staff without losing sight of the big picture.
Describe how you would get to know teachers, staff, and gain an understanding of what is happening in the schools.
I believe in showing up. I plan to spend time in our schools, attend events, and be available for conversations. The best way to understand what’s going on is to listen directly to the people who are there every day. I want to be someone teachers and staff feel comfortable reaching out to—not just during meetings, but anytime.
I’m running because I care deeply about our schools and our community, and I want to be part of the great work that’s already happening. I don’t see this as an opportunity to fix something—it’s a chance to support what’s working and keep the momentum going. I want to be a positive, accessible voice for our families, educators, and students.
Q: In your view, what areas of East Helena Public Schools excel?
There’s so much to be proud of. Our new school buildings are top-notch and thoughtfully designed. The music program is absolutely outstanding. And our athletic programs have grown so quickly—they’re becoming something really exciting for the whole community. But more than anything, it’s the teachers and staff who truly make the difference. Their dedication to our kids is something special.
Q: If elected, what are your priorities for East Helena Public Schools in the next 5 years?
My priority will be to stay connected and accessible. I want to make sure every voice—students, families, teachers, and staff—feels heard and represented. I don’t come to the board with a personal agenda. I believe the priorities of the board should reflect the needs and ideas of the community, not just individual opinions. I also bring a financial background as a CPA, so I hope to help the board make thoughtful, strategic decisions that support students and staff without losing sight of the big picture.
Describe how you would get to know teachers, staff, and gain an understanding of what is happening in the schools.
I believe in showing up. I plan to spend time in our schools, attend events, and be available for conversations. The best way to understand what’s going on is to listen directly to the people who are there every day. I want to be someone teachers and staff feel comfortable reaching out to—not just during meetings, but anytime.
Scott Walter
Q: In what ways have you been involved with East Helena Public Schools? How long have you been part of the community?
Over the last 18 years, it has been a genuine pleasure serving as a school board trustee and board chairman for the great people of the East Helena Public School District. Along with my service to the EHPS, I serve as a board director for the
Montana School Boards Association and recently served as its president through the leadership ladder. I also serve on the national stage as a board director of the Consortium of State School Board Associations (COSSBA). Within these state and national roles, I have gained a unique perspective on the issues facing our public schools and have used those opportunities to build important relationships and develop solid public education policy. I believe that my participation in these roles continues to pay significant benefits for EHPS. I have been a resident of the greater East Helena community for over 30 years, and with my wife, Lori, have been blessed to be able to raise our two wonderful daughters through the East Helena schools and within our phenomenal community.
Q: Why are you running to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees for East Helena Public Schools?
I am running for another term on the EHPS Board to continue to build upon the wonderful accomplishments already realized by our district, identify additional ways to enhance the educational experience for each of our students, and build on the legacy of accomplishment for which our district is known. I believe that through my years of experience, leadership, and unique perspectives, I have provided valuable insights into the decisions made by our board and have assisted in helping to achieve many of our successes. I wish to continue to work in this role and would be honored if the community renewed its trust in me in this capacity. We have realized some incredible goals, and the future of our district seems to be as bright as ever. In fact, I would contend that the East Helena Public Schools exemplifies to the rest of the state how a district should operate. This is a fact that we should all take pride in, and a distinction that I would like to maintain and grow.
Q: In your view, what area of East Helena Public Schools excel?
I believe that the East Helena Public Schools do so many things extremely well; however, one area that I believe distinguishes it from other school districts within the state is its keen sense of community. The partnerships and collaborations developed between the staff, administration, board, community, parents, and especially our students, demonstrate that we are more than just a group of schools, we are a shining example of how a community can come together to support and deliver the foundation of educational excellence that we need for our kids. Of course, there are always areas for improvement and missteps have been made, but we learn from our mistakes and embrace the lessons that come from them.
Q: If elected, what are your priorities for East Helena Public Schools in the next 5 years?
I contend that providing our kids with the highest quality education possible in a safe environment is crucial to the long-term success of our children and community, as well as ensuring the long-term economic security of our country. I believe that by building upon our past successes, the district can achieve even greater things, including expanding academic and extra-curricular opportunities at all grade levels, meeting student educational needs on an individual basis, addressing the wonderful challenges of a growing and vibrant community, and much more. This will all need to be done while being responsible stewards of our taxpayer entrusted financial resources.
Describe how you would get to know teachers, staff, and gain understanding of what is happening in the schools.
Over these past 18 years, I have been fortunate to work collaboratively with the amazing teachers, support staff, and administration that we have employed at our East Helena Public Schools. By participating in the various working groups, committees, and school events of the district, I have developed many valuable relationships with many of these incredible people. I believe that this has led to many of the success that we have come to realize. Moving forward, I will continue to reach out to our wonderful staff and work to identify the processes and ideas that we can use to continuously improve the educational services provided to our students.