NKC PTA forum spotlights teacher retention, special-education needs and bond on April 8 ballot

Six candidates for two seats on the North Kansas City School Board appeared at a PTA candidate forum to discuss priorities for the district and a school bond that will appear on the April 8 ballot.

The forum, hosted by Holly Kaden, PTA District Council president, gathered questions from a student advisory committee and covered recurring themes: recruiting and retaining teachers, expanding supports for students with special needs, resources for English-language learners (ELL), student mental health, community engagement and the bond measure that candidates said would fund building projects across feeder patterns.

Jason Russell, a candidate and local parent and coach, said his family’s experience with special-education services shaped his priorities. "Having a special needs daughter is probably the number one way," Russell said, adding that he saw gaps in playground accessibility and supports and praised recent bond work while saying more is needed. Russell also urged support for the bond on the ballot, saying, "check yes on the bond...vote yes." He noted the bond would help work planned for Oakwood Manor among other projects.

Erin Peters, a candidate and former classroom teacher who currently works as a community development officer, identified teacher recruitment and retention as her primary concern. "Recruiting teachers and retaining teachers," Peters said, calling for attention to compensation, benefits and professional development so schools can both attract and keep educators.

Roy Copeland III, a business owner who has children in Title I schools in the district, said his experience in Title I schools underscored the need for targeted spending and community engagement. "It gives you a different perspective," Copeland said, describing how Title I funds were used locally and how additional classroom supports helped a child struggling with reading.

Dan Wardick, a former principal and candidate, highlighted teacher autonomy and a continuous-improvement approach. Wardick said building trust between administration and classroom teachers and providing mentoring and release time can help teachers "deliver the curriculum" and sustain classroom practice.

Carolyn Mason, a retired teacher and current substitute, described classroom-level observations she brings to the campaign, emphasizing relationships between teachers and students and small practices—such as multi-age "club time"—that she said support student belonging and success.

Jessica Resak, a PTA treasurer, parent and software engineer, described technology and workforce-readiness priorities. Resak said advances in artificial intelligence could change classroom supports and suggested AI-facilitated tools could expand tutoring: "There are schools right now in the country that are promising one-to-one tutoring for all students in their building, that's facilitated by artificial intelligence." She said the district should prepare graduates for evolving workforce skills.

Student questioners pressed candidates on how they would amplify student, family and teacher voices, and how they would support ELL and mental-health services. Candidates repeatedly said they would seek stronger communication channels, invite more voices into meetings and prioritize staffing for special-education and ELL programs. Peters noted prior service on the Beacon Mental Health board as relevant experience and proposed forming a coalition or task force to coordinate resources.

Several candidates referenced the district’s portrait of a graduate and emphasized postsecondary planning and real-world skills. Candidates described successful graduates as confident, able to advocate for themselves, equipped with a plan after graduation and prepared for multiple pathways, including college, technical training or employment.

Organizers reminded attendees that two board seats are open and that the bond and board seats will appear on the April 8 ballot. Holly Kaden, the PTA District Council president, closed the forum by encouraging community participation in voting and local PTA engagement.

The forum was informational; no board actions or official decisions were made during the event.