Voters seeking to elect new leadership for the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District have an opportunity to consider candidates with significant local connections. At a recent community forum, individuals vying for school board positions underscored their long-standing ties to the area, presenting their personal histories within the district as a testament to their understanding of local educational needs and challenges.

Brittany Labour, a candidate from Oakdale, shared her extensive history within the district. She grew up in Oakdale and attended Eagle Point Elementary, Sky View Middle, and Tartan High School. Her family remains deeply integrated with District 622, as her middle child currently participates in the Spanish immersion program at Castle Elementary. These firsthand experiences, spanning decades as a student and now as a parent, positioned Labour as someone intimately familiar with the district's evolution and current offerings.

Another contender, Caleb Anderson, hails from Maplewood, adding another layer of local perspective. Anderson’s educational background includes involvement with Century College (Sentry) through PSO (Post Secondary Enrollment Options) and its Alumni Association. Professionally, he has taught preschool and currently works at Woodbury Lutheran. His family's roots in the area run deep, with his father having grown up in St. Paul, attending Washington High School. Anderson’s oldest daughter is currently enrolled at Tartan High School, further cementing his direct, ongoing engagement with the district's high school experience. He also mentioned connections to Weaver Elementary and North High School, indicating a broad awareness of the district's schools.