Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
With the general election Nov. 5, contested school board candidates were asked to respond to three questions.
Today’s responses are from Warsaw School Board candidates for district 1, Tom Westerhof and Heather Helton.
Answers were limited to 250 words per question.
1. What is your background and why are you running for the Warsaw School Board?
Helton: I have proudly called Warsaw home since I was 6 years old. I attended Jefferson Elementary School, Lakeview Middle School and graduated from Warsaw Community High School with an academic honors diploma.
I earned my elementary education degree from Grace College, a Reading Recovery certification from IUPUI, a special education degree and master’s degree in mild intervention special education from Indiana Wesleyan University and an Educational Leadership certification from the University of Kentucky in 2025.
As a special education educator with more than 15 years of experience, I have worked with students from kindergarten through post-high-school programs. I have seen firsthand the importance of supporting students, families, and educators while preparing students for life beyond graduation.
I am running because parents, educators, students, school staff and taxpayers deserve a voice in their schools. I want to advocate for those whose voices are not always heard and help ensure every student has opportunities to learn, grow and reach their potential.
As a Libertarian, I value personal responsibility, parental involvement, individual freedom, transparency and limited government. I also believe residents should be able to easily find understandable district maps and identify which school board member represents them.
I am not running to be a politician. I am running to bring my educational experience, ask important questions and make sure our community has a voice in decisions affecting our schools.
Westerhof: I've lived in Warsaw most of my life. My wife Nicole and I have two children currently attending Warsaw Community Schools, and I'm completing my first four-year term representing District 1 on the school board.
I'm running for re-election because I believe in our schools, the people who work in them, and the importance of providing every student with the opportunity to succeed.
2. If elected, what are some of the goals you would like to accomplish in the next four years at Warsaw Schools?
Helton: My goals are to strengthen transparency and communication, support educators and school staff, encourage meaningful family involvement and prepare students for success both in school and beyond graduation.
I want parents to feel comfortable asking questions, educators to have the resources and professional development they need, and students to know their voices matter. I would advocate for practical life-readiness skills, including communication, financial literacy, independence, employment preparation and responsible technology use.
I also want to make school board representation easier to understand. District maps should be easy to locate, read, and use so residents can identify their district and know who represents them.
Responsible budgeting and taxpayer accountability would be priorities. Although Warsaw Community Schools is not currently proposing an operating referendum, future funding needs could bring that possibility into the conversation. As discussed at a recent town hall with Ryan Mishler, the possibility of a referendum and increased taxes deserves careful consideration. Before any such proposal, the community should receive clear information about the need, costs, alternatives and expected outcomes.
I would measure progress through student growth, attendance, graduation and post-secondary outcomes, staff retention, school climate, and community feedback. I believe every student deserves opportunities to succeed regardless of ability, athletic involvement, family name or personal circumstances.
My approach would be to listen, ask questions, review evidence and work collaboratively toward practical improvements that serve students while respecting taxpayers.
Westerhof: I want to continue building on the progress we've made at Warsaw Community Schools, ensuring every student has the opportunities and resources they need to succeed, both in the classroom and beyond. Just as importantly, we need to remain responsible stewards of the resources entrusted to us by our community.
3. What do you think the role of the school board should be within the school corporation?
Helton: I believe the school board’s role is to establish policy, provide responsible oversight, set priorities, evaluate the superintendent and ensure the corporation’s resources are used effectively to support students.
Board members also have a responsibility to represent the community and promote transparency. Parents, educators, students, staff and taxpayers should have meaningful opportunities to share concerns and understand important decisions. That includes making district maps accessible and easy to understand so residents can identify their school board district and representative without unnecessary confusion.
I believe the board must also be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. That means understanding the budget, asking questions about spending, evaluating whether resources are producing meaningful results, and communicating financial information clearly. If a future referendum or tax increase is considered, residents deserve a transparent explanation of the need, potential cost, alternatives, and expected benefits before making an informed decision.
It is equally important to respect the distinction between the board’s policy-making responsibilities and the administration’s daily operations. My role would not be to micromanage administrators or tell teachers how to teach. It would be to ask thoughtful questions, examine evidence, and ensure policies serve students and the community.
As a first-time candidate, I recognize that effective governance requires teamwork, respectful disagreement, and a willingness to consider different perspectives. My Libertarian values of transparency, personal responsibility, individual freedom and limited government would guide my decisions.
Ultimately, I want to build trust between Warsaw Community Schools and the community it serves while keeping students’ needs and responsible stewardship at the center of every decision.
Westerhof: The school board's responsibility is to establish policy, provide oversight and hold the administration accountable while giving our educators and administrators the freedom to do their jobs. At the end of the day, every decision we make should be guided by what's best for our students.
