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Wichita school board appoints Sheila Kennard to at-large seat after candidate interviews
Summary
After interviewing 10 applicants at its May 15 meeting, the Wichita Board of Education appointed Sheila Kennard to its at-large vacancy following rounds of written-ballot voting; the transcript does not record the appointment vote tally.
The Wichita Board of Education on May 15, 2026 appointed Sheila Kennard to fill an at-large vacancy after interviewing 10 applicants and conducting written-ballot voting rounds.
Board leaders opened the meeting to review candidates and explained the process: candidates would be called at random, receive up to 10 minutes to answer up to three questions, and voting would proceed in rounds with a candidate receiving four votes in any round appointed. Board members asked each applicant about whether the district’s strategic plan is guiding the district, whether they had supported prior bond measures and would support future bond proposals, and what unique skills or lived experience they would bring.
Applicants voiced broad support for the strategic plan’s goals — including student achievement, postsecondary readiness and safe, inclusive schools — and several said they would back future bond proposals to address deferred maintenance and building needs. "Strong schools change lives, strengthen families, and create opportunities that can impact communities for decades," an applicant told the board in her interview, urging collaboration and measurable benchmarks. Another applicant, Candice Landers, described herself as a former educator and advocate and said she would "be ready to contribute immediately and work collaboratively with both the board and the broader Wichita community." These comments reflected a common theme among candidates emphasizing community engagement and experience with special education, building assessments or business and operations work.
After the interviews, board members praised the candidate pool’s depth and committed to keeping non-selected applicants involved in district work. The chair then announced the board’s selection, congratulated Sheila Kennard and welcomed her to the Wichita Board of Education. The transcript records the chair’s announcement and welcome but does not include the names associated with individual ballots or a round-by-round vote tally for the appointment.
The meeting concluded with a procedural motion to adjourn moved by Amy Jensen and seconded by Diane Albert; the chair announced the motion carried 6–0.
