Meet the 10 candidates running for Ankeny School Board in the 2023 election
Eight candidates are on the ballot for four at-large seats with a four-year term on the Ankeny School Board, including Nick Bourne, Katie Claeys (incumbent), Stephanie Gott, Christian Holtz, Shelly Northway, Joshua Palik (incumbent), Amber Romans, and Ryan Weldon (incumbent).
Holtz has since suspended his campaign.
Two candidates are vying for one at-large seat with a two-year term, including Amy Guidry and Amy Tagliareni (incumbent).
The Des Moines Register asked each candidate to respond to questions on why they're running and the issues their district is facing. Their answers may be lightly edited for clarity or length.
The election is Nov. 7.
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Nick Bourne
AGE: 41
GREW UP: North of Webster City
CURRENT HOME: Ankeny
EDUCATION: Degree in political science from the University of Northern Iowa
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: N/A
Katie Claeys (incumbent)
AGE: 45
GREW UP: Cedar Falls
CURRENT HOME: Ankeny
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Arts in elementary education, Loras College; master's in middle level curriculum and instruction, UNI; master's in educational leadership, Drake University
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ankeny School Board, 2019-present
Christian Holtz
Editor's note: Holtz has suspended his campaign.
AGE: 22
GREW UP: Waukee
CURRENT HOME: Ankeny
EDUCATION: Graduated from the Waukee Community School District. Am enrolled at Christian Leaders Institute studying ministry.
PAST POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: 2021 Ankeny School Board candidate
Stephanie Gott
AGE: 44
GREW UP: Newton
CURRENT HOME: Ankeny
EDUCATION: Bachelor's in business management with an emphasis in human resources, University of Northern Iowa
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Current: Orbis Advisory Council; Prairie Ridge Church, advisory board member; Miracle Travel Works, board member; Engage Ankeny, founding board member; 100 Women Who Care Ankeny. Past: Make-A-Wish Iowa, vice president of the board; City of Ankeny Human Rights Commission; ACSD Strategic Planning - Human Capital Committee; ACSD School Improvement Advisory Council; The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Light the Night Walk, executive committee member; United Way of Story County - Young Leaders Society, committee member; Brown County United Way - Emerging Leaders Society committee chair
Shelly Northway
AGE: 53
GREW UP: Ankeny
CURRENT HOME: Ankeny
EDUCATION: Ankeny High School
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ankeny School Board candidate in 2021. Currently serves on school committees and previously served on the PTO.
Joshua Palik (incumbent)
AGE: 39
GREW UP: Western Nebraska
CURRENT HOME: Ankeny
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, University of Wyoming
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ankeny School Board since 2022, serves on facilities and finance committee and facilities master plan committee; National Society of Professional Engineers, Nebraska Eastern Chapter president, 2018-2019; Engineering Adventures at the Kroc Center, member & curriculum developer, 2018-2021
Amber Romans
AGE: 45
GREW UP: St. Louis, Missouri
CURRENT HOME: Ankeny
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Arts in human resources management, Lindenwood University; Master of Business Administration, Drake University
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Volunteer work includes working with the ACHS Marching Band, lead a local chapter of an Executive Women's organization (4Word), co-lead a yearly fundraiser for MDA (Comedy for a Cause), volunteer at my church and a part of the largest MDA fundraising teams in the nation.
Ryan Weldon (incumbent)
AGE: 39
GREW UP: International Falls, Minnesota and Dyersville
CURRENT HOME: Ankeny
EDUCATION: Bachelor's in Christian leadership & management, Liberty University
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ankeny School Board, 2019 to present; board president
Amy Guidry (running for a two-year term)
AGE: 43
GREW UP: New Orleans, Louisiana
CURRENT HOME: Ankeny
EDUCATION: Paralegal, certification from the University of New Orleans.
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: No political experience.
Amy Tagliareni (incumbent, running for a two-year term)
AGE: 52
GREW UP: Wauzeka, Wisconsin
CURRENT HOME: Ankeny
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science in public relations; master's in sport administration
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Four years on Ankeny School Board; five years on executive race committee for Des Moines Marathon; two-year member of Ankeny Kiwanis; planning committee for Ankeny Pride; strategic plan core committee; facilities and finance committee; diversity, equity & inclusion committee; social and emotional health task force; school foundation committee; behavior support task force; Orbis leadership committee; superintendent’s advisory committee; Terrace Elementary PTO; volunteer media coordinator 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball; volunteer media coordinator 2015 NCAA Division I Volleyball
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Why are you running?
Nick Bourne: I was fortunate enough to be presented with an opportunity, that after some reflection became a responsibility. I am running to help ensure the future success of our educational foundation and fast-growing system in Ankeny for not only my own children, but all children of Ankeny.
Katie Claeys: Ankeny is a fantastic school district; it has the best teachers in the state. The facilities are state of the art; its athletics, activities, and clubs are incredibly successful and offer enumerable ways for students to be engaged in co- and extra-curricular experiences. But it is not without its challenges. There are portions of an increasingly diverse population that are not showing the same achievement gains as their peers. I believe my background and experiences in educational leadership can help lead Ankeny schools in its efforts to build responsive programming that better meets the needs of all of its students.
Stephanie Gott: I have lived in the Ankeny community for 12 years and have been actively involved in the community. In more recent years, I got involved in the strategic planning with the school district, served on a couple of committees, and developed a passion for serving in that space and helping where I could. I'm excited for the opportunity to serve in a bigger way to advocate for our staff, students and community. I believe we can shape the future of education together through excellence in education, empowered employees and an equipped student population that is prepared for future workforce needs.
Christian Holtz: I am running for School Board to put students first through dignity, respect, and opportunity. That is going to be the work of my first term. This means providing school choice, banning books that include explicit/pornographic content, not teaching critical race theory in school and many issues. I happen to be the only candidate standing who comes from a different ethnic origin, Ukrainian American. Note: Holtz has suspended his campaign.
Shelly Northway: I know this Gandhi quote has become a cliche, but I really believe in the idea of being the change you want to see in the world. There is a lot Ankeny does right, but there is a lot we can improve on and a lot at stake in the coming months and years. If I want to see my values reflected on the board, then I need to put myself out there, which is why I made the decision to run again.
Joshua Palik: I am running because I want to continue serving the Ankeny community where we make students’ educational success the sole focus of our district. When we put the educational success of all students first and foremost, we naturally retain and attract the best teachers, staff and administration who share that same vision. This is achieved with sound policy, fiscal responsibility and enhancing facilities.
Amber Romans: I want to become a difference maker. My family have been a part of the school system, we bought a house in Ankeny because of the schools. In the past couple of years, I have seen a breakdown of what has attracted so many families here. We must ensure our students, parents, and teachers have someone who is in their corner. I love being here, I love this community and I want to give back.
Ryan Weldon: As the current board president, I'd like to continue applying what I've learned this term and build on the positive momentum our district has right now. I want to continue leveraging data to challenge students who are overachieving so they can achieve at even higher levels, to help support students who are struggling to meet standards, and maintain our focus on rigorous academics for everyone in-between. To do that we need to continue developing high capacity leaders throughout the district to ensure we have an innovative and welcoming culture focused on doing what’s best to educate our students.
Two-year term candidates:
Amy Guidry: Helping students design their future is a passion. It is something I have done with my own daughter, who is a junior at Ankeny High School. My goal for all students, when they walk across that stage, is for them to have received a world-class education that prepares them for their future. My strengths have been built from a diverse background in supporting my children in multiple districts during family career moves and have included public, private and charter schools. My professional experience as a litigation paralegal has honed my skills to listen and collaborate to achieve optimum results.
Amy Tagliareni: I originally ran to be a voice for the students that were often left out of the conversation in Ankeny. While progress was made early in my board tenure, over the last two years that progress has slowed. I am running again to ensure that every student, regardless of background or circumstances, is provided with an equal chance to succeed. I want to ensure that our schools are safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces, where all students feel valued and supported. We must begin addressing achievement gaps and providing targeted resources, to create a level playing field for all students.
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What is the most pressing issue facing the school district and how would you address it?
Nick Bourne: Educational excellence and academic curriculum to ensure the future success of our children.
Katie Claeys: Many would say the most pressing issue is the implementation of the long range facilities plan, which includes changing grade level configurations and the building of a Secondary Innovation Hub. I believe the most pressing issue is the vast discrepancies in early literacy achievement data among our elementary schools. I will continue to stay engaged with our district screening data three times a year and work with my board colleagues to keep a laser-like focus on the results; allocate necessary resources to support improvement; and create accountability measures through our district and superintendent annual goal setting processes.
Stephanie Gott: I believe one of the most pressing issues for the district is recruiting and retention of teachers and other critical staff that make it a great district for our families and community. I hope with my more than 20 years of experience in human resources to partner with leaders in the community and district to make a positive impact. As all industries are evolving, so is education, and in addition to the creative strategies the team is already exploring, we will need to employ new, innovative strategies to attract, retain and create a culture that is competitive against other districts and industries.
Christian Holtz: The most pressing issue facing the school district is school choice. School choice means not allowing the local, state, or federal government to take over your child's education. Parents should have the right to enroll their child in homeschool, charter school, private school, or public school. They should have the right to decide what is best for their kids when it comes to making important decisions in your child's education. On day one, I will address the parents and students and the concerns with school choice and how we must allow parents to make the decisions on school choice. Note: Holtz has suspended his campaign.
Shelly Northway: Retaining teachers and faculty. Teachers and faculty have been leaving at an alarming rate and many positions still remain open. This problem has been exacerbated by recent contract negotiations, which removed paid leave from the bargaining agreement. If we want teachers and faculty to remain, as well as attract new talent, we need to provide proper compensation and contractually guaranteed benefits. I will work to see what, if anything, can be done about the recently signed contracts and will advocate for contractually guaranteed benefits moving forward.
Joshua Palik: The most pressing issue is furthering post-secondary preparation for students who don’t see a traditional four-year institution as their post-secondary plan. It’s solved by continuing the work of graduate profiles and the work I already have contributed to through the facilities master plan committee focused on grade level configurations, future facility needs, boundaries, and renovations and construction. We must also enhance pathways for our gifted and talented students to continue to enhance their secondary education as they prepare for their post-secondary plans.
Amber Romans: Teacher retention is a core issue for our School Board. I have had multiple discussions with different teachers just this week. They are fed up, feel alone, and abandoned by the current board. Teachers need to feel heard and supported. We need to leave the nation's narrative behind and listen to our community.
Ryan Weldon: A common foundational challenge for public schools across the country right now is staffing. I applaud our district team, because we've been more successful than many districts at attracting and retaining staff. But there's always room for improvement. I believe we should continue innovating and being creative while leveraging foundational approaches like increasing awareness of our district through PR, marketing, and partnerships, building leadership capacity and investing in our current staff, as well as ensuring our compensation and benefits are competitive and attractive.
Two-year term candidates:
Amy Guidry: After meeting with students, parents, taxpayers, teachers, administrators, and certified staff, the concerns surrounding the lack of communication and connectedness to the board needs to be addressed. It’s a foundation for continuing to move us forward. I would like to address this by having weekly visits to schools by board members in order to see first-hand what is needed and how do we support our students on a day-to-day basis.
Amy Tagliareni: Retaining and hiring high-quality staff is an issue that we must address. The top priority for retaining our high-quality staff is to heal the rift that was left after recent contract negotiations. While all parties play a role in healing the relationship, it must start with the School Board. Better communication and developing a new approach to negotiations are the first steps. Hiring high-quality staff includes offering competitive salaries, professional development opportunities and teacher support/mentorship programs. We must also collaborate with universities nationwide, develop targeted recruitment efforts, and continue programs for Ankeny students and support staff interested in education.
How would you balance the needs of students and staff while complying with a new state law, Senate File 496, that restricts certain books and LGBTQ instruction for certain grades?
Nick Bourne: The state has defined guidelines that our current board has already done an excellent job with setting expectations and standards to comply. I would look to continue to support their efforts and look forward to continuing academic excellence.
Katie Claeys: Legislation like Senate File 496 continues to degrade the morale of staff and students. It sends the message that educators are untrained and untrustworthy. I will listen to Dr. Pruitt and our teachers to understand what their needs are. While Senate File 496 creates numerous challenges for schools, it is important for the district to follow the law in order to protect teachers from the unnecessarily harsh punitive measures outlined in the legislation. As a board member, I will advocate with legislators to overturn the censorship in book banning and the continual marginalization of LGBTQ students.
Stephanie Gott: I view this issue similar to the motion picture film rating system. We have to apply age-appropriate guidelines to the content displayed or provided in our schools. As a parent of three children, I relied on that film rating system to determine when it was appropriate for my children to view certain movies. I feel this requires a similar approach.
Christian Holtz: First off let me make this clear that inappropriate material inside the classroom is wrong and my religion goes against teaching this kind of material. Any candidate standing who wishes to use those materials inside the classroom is not qualified for office for the Ankeny School Board seat. It is disturbing and disgusting and they should have their heads down in shame. I am confident there is other material that we should be able to use besides LGBTQ. I do not agree with individuals who choose to stand and support LGBTQ, due to my religion. I respect their decisions but it goes against scripture. Note: Holtz has suspended his campaign.
Shelly Northway: First things first, I want to state for the record that I am wholeheartedly opposed to the bathroom bill passed earlier this year as well as the omnibus education bill (SF 496). They are as cruel as they are silly and unnecessary. As to the question of compliance, the Iowa Department of Education has provided no guidance on what is necessary to be in compliance. This means it is up to school boards and school board members to interpret those laws, and I am on the side of interpreting them as narrowly as possible.
Joshua Palik: The district has the responsibility to comply with and the Board of Education must govern adhering to all state of Iowa laws. I will strive to continue to make the Ankeny Community School District a welcoming and safe environment where the educational needs of all students are met and rewarding professional development for career progression and success of all staff are provided.
Amber Romans: I will encourage loose interpretation of the law. Educate the public that the district has a policy in place for any books or subject a parent does not want their child to participate in. Support the teachers when they are working through this vague law.
Ryan Weldon: We need to do our best to clarify how we operate in alignment with the law. We do that by making sure our district's policies and documents align with all current laws. There is policy in place to guide the library curation process and there are processes and procedures in place that spell out what to do if something is brought to the district's attention that isn't obviously against the law. The district staff can then follow district policy to develop tools and curriculum that supports our students in alignment with the law.
Two-year term candidates:
Amy Guidry: Balancing the needs of students and staff comes down to communication and fundamental education. All of our students are important and need to be provided with a foundational curriculum to help them succeed in the future. I’m proud to have been part of the secondary school task force committee where we created a framework of what this educational hub will look like and how it will serve all of our students.
Amy Tagliareni: It is important that administration and the board understand the law, its limitations, and its implications, which will in turn provide clarity in decision-making. We must also provide training for staff to ensure they understand and operate within the law. To ensure there is balance in the decision-making process, districts must create a review committee that includes teachers, parents, students, administrators, and community members that represent a variety of viewpoints. Districts must create a supportive environment for LGBTQ+ students to ensure all students feel valued and respected. This includes acquiring age-appropriate materials that are permitted by law.
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In recent years, Des Moines metro school districts have seen their enrollment numbers steadily increase. What can the district and board do to manage future student growth?
Nick Bourne: We need to be in a proactive position anticipating the continued growth that has substantially grown year over year. We now have a baseline set of expectations for future growth and should be able to maintain an anticipatory position to the increased growth. The current board already has expansion plans that have been in motion for the last several years and account for the future growth. I would look to support and continue those efforts to ensure both our student body and faculty are supported.
Katie Claeys: Ankeny has over a decade of experience in managing student growth. By engaging a diverse set of voices from the community in strategic and long-range facilities planning, the district assures it is addressing its most pressing needs. Additionally, by connecting with businesses throughout the metro to identify post-secondary needs in our workforce, we can work to make sure our academic programming is built to prepare our students for their post-graduate experiences. By continuing to engage in these types of thoughtful, wide-ranging feedback loops, Ankeny will continue to manage student growth in a meaningful way.
Stephanie Gott: It's exciting to be a part of a growing and thriving state, and it will be essential for all of us to plan accordingly. Proactively anticipating what enrollment numbers will be at each grade level and establishing a strategic plan that accommodates those numbers is important. In addition to planning, we also need to ensure we create a plan that is flexible and can ebb and flow with the changes of population makeup over time.
Christian Holtz: The way we can manage future growth is by holding staff accountable, paying close attention to instruction, aligning standards, curriculum assessments and policies, having effective leadership, and lastly managing the external environment as much as possible. The Ankeny school district is going to continue to grow and that's what to expect. Note: Holtz has suspended his campaign.
Shelly Northway: Growth management is contingent on two factors, infrastructure and talent recruitment. We need the buildings, buses, classrooms, and auditoriums to hold more students, and we need the employees to staff them. Of the two factors, recruitment is the most pressing. Almost every school district in the metro is currently looking for talent. As stated in question two, we need to be providing both proper compensation and contractually guaranteed benefits we are to remain competitive.
Joshua Palik: The district has already begun addressing this with engaging a facilities master plan committee over the 2022-23 school year. I was honored to be one of three board members to serve on this committee. The committee focused on grade level configurations, future facility needs, boundaries, and renovations and construction. The work will continue over the 2023-24 school year where the Secondary Innovation Center will be the next step to addressing post-secondary readiness for students as well as managing current facilities in a fiscally responsible manner.
Amber Romans: We need to know how to grow effectively, while maintaining the small town community feel while also embracing the cultural swing of having to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion and ensuring all students are still engaged, and have a safe environment to learn and prepare for the future. We need to continue build our DE&I programs to continue to reach all students.
Ryan Weldon: Growth has been a constant for Ankeny. Spending time and resources on gathering data from experts within and outside of the community has been valuable in our planning. Recently, we went through a master facility planning process that looked at current and projected data points to determine the best way forward for our district. The committee included district leaders, community members, demographers, and students pooling together our collective knowledge and experience. Taking this time to develop a foundational plan is crucial for managing future growth especially as we inevitably experience unexpected circumstances as the future plays out.
Two-year term candidates:
Amy Guidry: Managing our future student growth is achieved by continuing to meet with our community members, district leaders and business owners. We need to engage and continue to draw the most qualified educators to our district. Remaining competitive will be key.
Amy Tagliareni: Ankeny strives to educate students in an environment that can meet their changing needs. To achieve this, we must continue to effectively utilize funds provided through the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy and Secure an Advanced Vision for Education. These funds are used for facility improvements, school infrastructure, technology, purchasing property and much more. Receiving annual demographic projections allows the district to predict trends in student population changes, which is vital in anticipating future needs and identifying the most effective locations for new buildings. Managing growth involves an approach that is data-centric, proactive, cost-effective and collaborative.
Chris Higgins covers the eastern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 10 candidates are vying for Ankeny School Board in the 2023 election
