Meet the 8 applicants seeking a seat on the Lawrence school board

Eight people have applied for a school board seat left vacant by the resignation of Kay Emerson.

The remaining six school board members during a special meeting set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 20 will decide which four applicants they’d like to interview for the unpaid board position. The interviews will be held publicly during the board’s next regular meeting, set for Monday, June 26.

Board members will select one applicant through a vote after the interviews to fill the remainder of the term, through Jan. 12, 2026.

Five additional school board seats will be on the ballot in the Nov. 7 general election, and there will be an Aug. 1 primary election for one of those seats. Read the article at this link to learn more.

Here are the eight people who applied, in alphabetical order by last name, and their answers to the following questions:
• How long have you been a resident of Lawrence?
• List Lawrence Public Schools activities in which you have participated, including offices held.
• List any other civic activities in which you have participated, including any offices held.
• Explain why you want to serve on the board, including relevant experience and/or expertise you would provide in this position.
• Provide at least one Lawrence Public Schools reference (e.g., teacher, principal, PTA/PTO or site council officer, district staff) and at least two professional or community references.

See their full applications at the bottom of this page.

Daniel Businger

Resident of Lawrence? 6

USD 497 activities in which you’ve participated? I have not be apart of any but been interested in working on the board.

Civic activities in which you’ve participated? I worked on several political campaigns.

Why do you want to serve? I would love to serve on the board to help serve the students of this community. As someone who is younger i believe i have what it take to bring a new vision to board and help grow our kids grow and thrive in ways the previous board members have not.

References: Tamara Moore

Robert A. Byers (Bob)

Resident of Lawrence? I moved to Lawrence in 1978 to attend graduate school. I loved the community so much that I stayed and raised my family here.

USD 497 activities in which you’ve participated? In 2004 – 2008 was a member of the district’s Equity Council and in 2008 was elected by the council as its Chair.
2009-2013 Elected to the Lawrence School board and served one term. During my term on the School Board, I served as the Board’s representative on Negotiation Committee and as the representative on the Equity Council.
2013 – continued as a member of the Equity Council.
2014 – 2015 filled a board vacancy for a year. During that year was a Board representative on the Negotiation Committee and the Equity Council. 2015 – 2021 served on the District’s Finance Committee which currently is the District Cite Council on which I currently serve.
Most recently was a member of The Future Planning Committee of the Lawrence Schools.
I have served on numerous other groups within the district regarding strategic planning and development maintenance of schools.

Civic activities in which you’ve participated? I represent Douglas County on the Board of Directors for Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging. (JAAA) For the last 2 years, I have served as the Board Chair.
Over the past 40 years as a Lawrence resident, I have been involved in developing community resources for children and families in Lawrence. Prior to my retirement, I was involved in the development of child welfare programs in the state.

Why do you want to serve? I see this opportunity to serve on the board as a chance to continue my service to the Lawrence community and to help improve the schools as Lawrence moves as a community into the future.

The experience that I will bring to the Board is 40 years of child welfare practice and an understanding of state rules and regulations and their application. I also bring experience in school finance and operations having served as a prior Board member.

References: Patrick Kelly; Kay Emerson; Susan Harrison; Kevin Harrell

Paul L. Carttar

Resident of Lawrence? 49 (of my 69) years: 1953-76; 1993-99; 2003-present

USD 497 activities in which you’ve participated? Over the years I have been involved in countless activities as a student, parent, son of former board member (Maggie Carttar), uncle to many former students and a community member. Literally the only office I’ve held was Student Body President at Cordley in 1964!

Civic activities in which you’ve participated? I’ve served on the boards of several organizations in Lawrence and elsewhere. Lawrence boards include Lawrence Memorial Hospital, the Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Bioscience Innovation Center, Kansas International, Van Go Mobile Arts, the Friends of the Lied Center, Helzberg Entrepreneurship Mentoring Program (KC), the KU Alumni Association, the KU Honors Program Advisory Board. I am currently Vice-Chair of the CIS-MA board.

Outside Lawrence, I have also served on many boards — currently including the African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (Nairobi, Kenya); the Social Ventures Hong Kong Advisory Board; the Global Alliance of Impact Networks Advisory Board (Singapore); the GreenLight Fund (Boston) and Stanford Graduate School of Business Alumni Ambassadors Group (California)

Why do you want to serve? My desire to serve is a function of two factors: the magnitude and variety of key challenges facing public education in Lawrence, and my belief that I am distinctively equipped by the breadth and diversity of my experience to help the district and community navigate a successful, sustainable path forward.

As for the challenges to public education, they are truly unprecedented and complex:
• Student learning challenges post-COVID, complicated by social media;
• Demographic trends that are reducing the school age population;
• Formidable competition to the Lawrence public schools from other educational alternatives, including private schools, neighboring public districts and home schooling;
• Funding pressures resulting from inconsistent, opportunistic public policies;
• Political/cultural controversies
• Rapidly evolving technology and scientific research that are transforming learning processes and pedagogy

As for my experience, I have served in many roles (personal and professional) that are relevant to finding strong solutions to these problems here in Lawrence:
• Being a student in Lawrence public schools for all my K-12 years, including elementary at New York and Cordley, junior high at Central and high school at LHS;
• Being a parent of three now-adult children who attended public and private schools in Lawrence (Hillcrest, Deerfield, Quail Run, Sunflower, Raintree, Bishop Seabury, Southwest, LHS and Free State); and two excellent public districts in San Mateo, CA and Wellesley, MA;
• Working as a consultant, board member and funder/investor with many innovative education-related organizations, including Teach for All, Turnaround for Children, New Leaders for New Schools and Communities in Schools;
• Working in government at the state and federal levels, including Vice Chancellor at KU responsible for legislative relations and Director of the Social Innovation Fund in the Obama Administration;
• Serving as chief program officer for the Kauffman Foundation at a time we fundamentally redesigned its strategy for K-12 educational impact.

References: Patrick Kelly; Wendy Kopp; Gene Meyer; Bart Littlejohn

Anne Costello

Resident of Lawrence? I have been a resident of Lawrence for the past 16 years, not including the years I lived in Lawrence while attending the University of Kansas.

USD 497 activities in which you’ve participated? Educate Lawrence member, Feb, 2923 – present
Futures Committee member, Sept. 2022 – Feb. 2023
Sunflower PTO member, Sept. 2022 – present
Superintendent’s Advisory Board member, Sept. 2021 – present
Broken Arrow PTA Treasurer, Aug. 2021 – July 2022
Broken Arrow site council, member, Aug. 2020 – July 2022
Broken Arrow PTA member, Aug. 2020 – July 2022

Civic activities in which you’ve participated? Leadership Lawrence, Class of 2021 – 2022
Leadership Lawrence Facilitation & curriculum teams member, August 2022 – present
Leadership Lawrence Advisory Board member, May 2022 – present
Lawrence Schools Foundation board member, January 2022 – present

Why do you want to serve? After watching the budget issue play out over the last few years, my desire to run for school board was solidified. I have 2 children in the district as well as a partner that works for the district, so the success of the district is very personal to me. I want to ensure that ALL children of Lawrence receive the best education possible.

Learning is a life-long endeavor and schools play such a huge role in that. I have a long-held passion for learning. One of my degrees is in middle-secondary social studies education. I stumbled into my current career as a buyer after graduation. Despite a love of teaching, I cannot afford the pay cut it would require to make that career shift. My current job has provided me with bountiful experience in managing a budget and balancing competing priorities, two things that will be helpful to me as a member of the board.

I was lucky to be a member of the Futures Planning Committee and obtain more in-depth training on the budget. The school budget process is overly-complicated by the state. It is imperative that we have an open and transparent budgeting process to build trust with the community that we serve.

References: Bill DeWitt; Michelle Fales; Heather Grunert

Jeni Daley

Resident of Lawrence? 14 years

USD 497 activities in which you’ve participated? I’ve served on Site Council at Woodlawn Elementary since my oldest began kindergarten, coached basketball at Free State High School for 2 years, and worked for the Boys & Girls Club of Langston Hughes for 4 years. Most recently, I was a teacher at Free State High School where my students earned All Kansas honors.

Civic activities in which you’ve participated? I dedicated two years to the Kansas Scholastic Press Association board, where I actively contributed to the advancement of scholastic journalism. Additionally, I committed to serving the Hillcrest Neighborhood Association for two years as the secretary, working to enhance the quality of life in a prominent neighborhood in our community. Currently, I proudly hold a position on the Greenhouse Church Advisory Board, where I have the opportunity to provide valuable insights and guidance to our pastoral leadership team.

From 2013 to 2015, I had the privilege of serving as the marketing coordinator for the Lawrence Public Library, working alongside some of the most prominent community leaders in Lawrence. In this role, I spearheaded the coordination of all opening day events, and designed the comprehensive signage package for the building, effectively capturing the library’s essence and inviting the community to explore its offerings. I promoted the library’s services, fostering engagement and participation within our community.

In 2013, I graduated from the University of Kansas, equipped with a wealth of knowledge and a strong commitment to making a positive impact in Lawrence. During my time at the university, I engaged with the community through my involvement with the Boys & Girls Club of Langston Hughes for four years to empower and support kids in our community. Additionally, I served as an Americorp member, further solidifying my commitment to community service and civic engagement.

These experiences shaped me into a compassionate, driven, and Lawrence-oriented individual. I am eager to continue leveraging my skills, knowledge, and passion to serve our community and contribute to its growth and prosperity.

Why do you want to serve? I’m an accomplished product manager in a prominent edtech company, but prior to this role, I enjoyed a successful teaching career spanning eight years, during which I earned local, state, and national awards, including the Kansas Horizon Award, the national Journalism Education Association’s Rising Star Award, and being named the Secondary Teacher of the Year for Gardner Edgerton in 2022. With two master’s degrees in education, including one in educational administration, I possess a unique and well-rounded understanding of the educational landscape, both inside and out of the school system.

My perspective is rooted in the intersection of excellent teaching, effective leadership, and advanced technology. Beyond the USD 497 district, I taught in two neighboring districts of similar size, providing me with valuable insights into board priorities and methodologies. I had the privilege of participating in the superintendent interview panel for Gardner Edgerton USD 231, which expanded my understanding of decision-making processes.

As a journalism teacher, I guided students in reporting on board activities, granting me invaluable insights into district finances, structures, and decision-making. Additionally, I served as the marketing coordinator for the Lawrence Public Library during the era of opening their new building, a cherished institution within our community. Both of these positions required analyzing and managing $70,000+ annual budgets, giving crucial insight to the financial health of organizations.

My professional experience includes serving on boards, delivering speeches before boards, and reporting directly to them. These interactions have equipped me with the necessary skills and understanding required for a position of high value. Between our neighborhood, school, and church, I am deeply invested in this community as a parent of three students, a proud KU alumna, the spouse of a teacher, a former teacher, a certified principal, a passionate advocate for the Boys and Girls Club, a homeowner, a consistent voter in local and state elections, and a responsible taxpayer.

With my extensive background, I offer a unique perspective and unwavering dedication to the improvement of our educational system. My commitment to transformative education, coupled with my expertise in community relations and the educational landscape, make me an outstanding candidate for a position on the school board.

References: Kathleen Morgan; Jayci Roberson; Frank Bell; Matt Baysinger; Jared Scholz

Rebekah Gaston

Resident of Lawrence? 19 years: 1997-2001, 2002-2005, 2011-2023

USD 497 activities in which you’ve participated? Equity Advisory Council, Committee Member, 2022 – present
Volunteer Summer Food Service Program Site Coordinator, Pinckney Elementary Breakfast Program, Summer 2023
Pinckney Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization, 2021-2023; served as Secretary in 2022-23

Civic activities in which you’ve participated? Lawrence Community Shelter, Board Member 2022 – present
Harvesters Summer Food Service Program Site Coordinator, Summer 2022
Kansas State Employee Health Care Commission, Governor’s Appointee – 2021-2022
Kansas Human Trafficking Advisory Board, Governor’s Appointee – 2019-2023
Lawrence Public Incentives Review Committee, 2017-2021
Douglas County Bar Association, 2011 – present; Executive Committee Member, 2018 – 2020

Why do you want to serve? A mini-resume as background:
2006-2014 Attorney at Kansas Legal Services, then solo practice focusing on children’s law, then prosecutor at the Douglas County DA’s Office
2014 – 2018 Policy advocate at Kansas Appleseed
2018-2019: Operations Director for Laura Kelly campaign, then Special Assistant on Governor-Elect’s transition team
2019-2022: Administrative leadership team at Kansas Department for Children and Families. I served as Director of both Policy and Economic and Employment Services for the first two years, then Director of Agency and Community Collaboration the next two.
2022- present: Attorney at Kansas Holistic Defenders, providing preventative legal representation to families with children to help prevent crises that could lead to abuse/neglect allegations.

My experience as an attorney in child welfare and truancy cases brings a unique perspective. Families’ trust can be eroded if the district is too reliant on the court system to solve issues identified by schools. Further, my experience at DCF during Gov. Kelly’s first term was invaluable; that team was devoted to supporting families and creating a culture of “mandatory supporting” to replace the report-first mindset that can leave families feeling targeted rather than valued.

Also at DCF, I genuinely enjoyed learning about the state budgeting process and TANF grant budgets. I am educating myself about school finance, and I believe my interest in the topic will motivate me to gain the fiscal acumen to become an effective board member.

I learned federal child nutrition policy during my time at Kansas Appleseed, and saw innovative ways communities across Kansas implemented nutrition programs. The past two summers, I led efforts to create summer meals sites near Pinckney Elementary, one of the highest-need schools in 497. Additionally, my time at Appleseed and DCF educated me about legislative advocacy, and I look forward to using those skills in Topeka during legislative sessions.

References: Julie Henry; Tabitha Pestock; Ashley All; Dr. Ashley Bloom; Heather Hall

Milton Scott

Resident of Lawrence? 41 years

USD 497 activities in which you’ve participated? · Chair, Lawrence Free State High School Site Council 2005 – 2006
· Vice-Chair, Lawrence Free State High School Site Council 2004 – 2005
· Vice-Chair, West Jr. High School Site Council
· Chair, Sunset Hill Elementary School Site Council
· Vice-Chair, Sunset Hill Elementary School Site Council
· Homeroom parent – Sunset Hill Elementary School 6th Grade (Anne Barbee class)

Civic activities in which you’ve participated? · Chair, Trustees’ Ministry, Ninth Street Missionary Baptist Church 2012 – 2019 and 1997 – 2000
· Chair, Douglas County Community Corrections Advisory Board 2012 – 2016, and Co-Chair 1992 -1993
· President, League of Women Voters Lawrence-Douglas County 2001 -2002; 2000 – 2001 and 1996 – 1997
· Member, Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence Board of Directors, 2009 – 2013
· Member, 7th District Judicial Nominating Commission 2004 – 2007
· Member, University of Kansas Commission on the Status of Women 1986
· Member, University of Kansas Women’s Recognition Committee 1986

Why do you want to serve? I feel that I offer diverse skills from both personal and professional experience that will allow me to be highly effective as a school board member. As a parent who had a child that needed an IEP, while attending schools in USD 497, I am familiar with this educational support system. In my professional career, I have worked with many children and families in both the foster care system and Section 8 and public housing programs who felt left out or not important to the point that they were disengaged in their education. I believe serving on the school board is a means to use my experience to give back and stay engaged in our community.

References: Marci Francisco; Eric Galbreath; Cathy White

Rachel I. Thomas

Resident of Lawrence? 10 years

USD 497 activities in which you’ve participated? Former employee, 2018-2020
District site council member, 2019-2020;
Lawrence Public Schools Staff of Color, 2018-2020;
helped with two Lawrence Schools Foundations Breakfasts and volunteered on behalf of LSF at Taste of Lawrence.

Civic activities in which you’ve participated? -Member of the Lawrence Latinx Youth Council, now the scholarship committee in Somos Lawrence; 2019-now. Have attended the last two years of high school scholarship awards ceremonies on behalf of our committee, and provided mentorship to college-bound Latinx students, select and provide a scholarship for college-bound students, advocate for Latinx students in the curriculum and in the state.
-KU Mentor, 2019-now. Provide professional mentorship and informational interviews to students at KU.
-Junior Achievement Teacher, 2018-2020. Taught the Junior Achievement Curriculum to first and second graders at Cordley and Broken Arrow Elementary Schools.
-Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lawrence, 2019-2020. Big sister for a year to an elementary student.
-University of Kansas Memorial Union Corporation Board Member, 2015-2017. Attended quarterly board meetings for the Union and helped manage the Unions budget, programming, policy and advising on Unions staffing.
-TEDxYouth Kansas City volunteer, 2015-2016. Programming and communications support for a TED Talk event in Kansas City dedicated to empowering youth in the area.
-Just Foods volunteer, 2013-2014. Provided communication support to Just Foods.

Why do you want to serve? I believe in creating conditions for an empowering learning environment. I’ve worked in education on a local, state, and now national scale and deeply believe in equitable experiences for all students, regardless of background or ability. Simply, I’d like to do all I can to help students. I understand current national trends in education such as the push for high-quality instructional materials and the need to expand professional learning for educators as well as statewide and national political concerns for K-12 education. My professional career included two years at the Kansas Association of School Boards where I consistently worked with school and district staff and school board members. I learned the basics of board governance and statewide advocacy, and have experience with board policy and other school board and administrative practices.

Additionally, I believe I have a perspective that is currently missing from the school board. Hispanic or Latinx students is the highest marginalized population in the school district. Currently, there is no one who identifies as a member of that group on the school board and I think it’s always wise, when possible, to have governing bodies that reflect the communities they serve.

References: Rosina Aguirre; Austin Harris; Ceri Goulter

Here are the full applications:

20230615-School-board-applicants2