Todd Gruhn hopes to bring his experience in education and educational technology to the table if elected to the Denison Independent School District Board of Trustees this May. Gruhn is one of two candidates, alongside Charles Pool, who is running for the Ward 2, Place 3 seat currently held by David Hawley.
The Herald Democrat recently reached out to all candidates in Denison ISD’s spring elections and asked them a series of questions about their priorities, qualifications and issues facing the district in 2025.
Early voting will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 22-25 and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 28-29.
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day on May 3.
The answers are published below verbatim with only minimal edits due to style, formatting and if a candidate exceeded the word count.
Herald Democrat: For anyone who may not know you in the community, who are you, and what motivated you to run for a place on the Denison ISD school board?
Gruhn: “I am Todd Gruhn, a Denison High School graduate (Class of 2001) with deep roots in this community. My wife and I have made Denison our lifelong home, where she teaches in the district, and our two children attend Denison schools. I bring valuable perspective as a former public school educator with extensive teaching and administrative experience and now as a professional in software customer success. I also serve as an Adjunct Computer Science Lecturer at a state university, a deacon at First Baptist Church, and an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 605. Education is our society’s great equalizer. I’m running to serve this community by ensuring we provide outstanding support to students and teachers. My family bleeds black and gold, and serving on the board of trustees would allow me to give back to the school system that has profoundly shaped our lives.”
HD: What unique skill sets or traits do you feel you would bring as a member of the school board?
Gruhn: “My background combines classroom teaching, district-level administration, and educational technology leadership. I’ve managed CTE programs, directed technology initiatives, overseen data analysis/collection/coordination, and managed school district budgets. This experience provides me with a comprehensive understanding of school systems’ academic and operational aspects. I have always been committed to directly supporting our students and teachers throughout my educational career. I understand educators’ everyday challenges and will advocate for resources that make a meaningful difference in classrooms. I’ll work to ensure our teachers have the professional development, technology tools, and classroom support they need while focusing on programs that help every student succeed regardless of their learning path. My decisions will always prioritize what’s best for those who make Denison ISD special – our students and the dedicated educators who serve them.”
HD: As a member of the school board, what priorities do you wish to pursue?
Gruhn: “I would prioritize maintaining educational excellence while advocating for adequate funding. Supporting our teachers and staff through competitive compensation and professional development would be essential. I would leverage my technology background to ensure our district stays innovative while remaining fiscally responsible. I would also focus on strengthening CTE programs to prepare students for college and career success. Most importantly, I would advocate for ALL our Yellow Jackets across the district.”
HD: The topic of state funding has been a recurring one for many districts in recent years. The state funding allocation has not been updated since 2019 and many districts have turned to deficit budgets as a way to make ends meet during the interim. How would you go about balancing DISD’s budget during the current funding uncertainty?
Gruhn: “I would draw on my experience managing district budgets and work with district administrators to analyze the current budget, look for innovative ways to save money by trimming costs and explore grant opportunities. Conducting a thorough analysis of current expenditures is essential to identify potential efficiencies without compromising educational quality. I would work with district administrators to ensure alignment between budget outlays and academic goals. I would also advocate at the state level for increased funding to account for growth and inflation.”
HD: Following up on the topic of school budgets, one topic that has been discussed by many districts is increasing teacher compensation. Is this something that should remain a priority while the topic of state funding remains in question? How would you go about funding increases during the current economic climate for the district?
Gruhn: “Quality education depends on attracting and retaining excellent teachers. As a former district administrator, I understand compensation and retention challenges. I would approach this by ensuring we maximize existing local, state, and federal funding streams. I would also seek community partnerships to help provide additional teacher support and recognition. While advocating for increased state funding, I would work to find innovative and sustainable internal solutions that prioritize competitive teacher pay within our fiscal constraints.”
HD: What issues do you see facing Denison ISD in 2025 and how do you plan to address them?
Gruhn: “Key challenges include continued funding uncertainty, teacher recruitment/retention, meeting diverse student needs, and technology integration. While the upcoming bond could address some of these challenges, some will take the careful analysis of processes and innovative solutions to be developed by our district stakeholders. We must get feedback from those in our classrooms consistently and systematically. We should use this feedback to drive our decisions as a board. I would strengthen community partnerships to assist with resources and opportunities for our students and teachers. I would work with the board to make evidence-based fiscal and policy decisions. Above all, I would maintain focus on providing outstanding educational opportunities for every student through collaborative problem-solving with all stakeholders.”
