Potential SPS candidate has advocated for LGBTQ students, criticized board member comments

Kyler Sherman-Wilkins has repeatedly addressed the Springfield school board in meetings. Now he wants a seat at the table.

In multiple appearances in recent years, Sherman-Wilkins has spoken in support of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts; advocated on behalf of students from historically under-represented groups; and called on the board to issue a specific statement of support for LGBTQ students and staff.

He also delivered pointed criticism of board actions and comments members made during meetings and other public appearances.

"I've seen some troubling trends with the school board not just here in Springfield but nationwide. There has been a lot of partisanship," he said, of running for a seat. "For me, enough is enough."

He said he wants to serve to do "what is best for our youth, what is the best for our district, what is the best for our public schools and not just our students but our teachers."

Sherman-Wilkins has raised the ire of at least one sitting board member with his fiery comments in meetings.

In late 2022, shortly after board members Steve Makoski and Maryam Mohammadkhani, discussed gender identity during a radio program — describing it as a "distraction" in the classroom and and raising concerns that adults in the school setting may "groom" vulnerable students, ideologically or sexually — Sherman-Wilkins signed up to speak to the board.

"There are members of this board who, at best, are flirting with racist, homophobic and transphobic ideas and, at worst, are racist, homophobic and transphobic themselves," he said at the time.

He said students deserve better than individuals who "spout hateful, divisive, vile and cruel ideology masquerading as expertise in simply asking questions."

This summer, as part of a meeting discussion about issuing the statement of support for LGBTQ students and staff — tabled indefinitely for lack of support — Makoski called out Sherman-Wilkins by name, saying he has shown "vitriol and disdain" for the board.

Makoski described comments by Sherman-Wilkins and others who spent nearly a year asking the board to issue the statement as "activism inciting division and nothing more than political grandstanding."

Sherman-Wilkins, an associate professor of sociology at Missouri State University, is part of the leadership team for the Springfield NAACP and the GLO Center, which serves the LGBTQ community.

He is one of eight people who picked up a petition packet to run for three open spots on board.

Sherman-Wilkins is one of three potential first-time candidates, although he briefly considered a run in 2022. Three incumbents are also in the running along with two candidates who ran unsuccessfully in April.

"I am entering this race because I think I have a perspective and a voice and a skill set that will help our district serve our most vulnerable students," he said.

He said the decision to run this year is rooted in the need to speak up "for every child."

Sherman-Wilkins said he was "very disappointed in the failure of the board" to vote on the proposed statement of support for LGBTQ students. "For me, that was the final straw."

The 34-year-old Illinois native has been engaged with the Springfield district for more than three years. He attends board meetings and has served on the discipline review work team.

He attended public schools growing up. After earning a bachelor's degree at the private Cornell University, he went to the public Pennsylvania State University for his master's degree and doctorate.

In August 2017, he moved to Springfield to work for Missouri State.

"Public schools are a public good and every member of our society ... should have a very strong investment in how we educate our children. Our taxes fund public schools so in a very basic, fundamental concept we are all in this together," he said.

"A servant for the community"

Sherman-Wilkins said he has served on boards at the state, regional and national level and understands what that entails.

"Serving on a board means that you speak with one voice when the final vote is cast," he said. "I firmly believe what happens in our discussion can be as heated as necessary but when we are taking that vote and we are standing together as a board, I respect the decision of the board."

Asked about serving alongside board members, some of whom he's publicly disagreed with, Sherman-Wilkins said he will be professional.

"This is not my first rodeo. I am a Black gay man in Springfield, Missouri," said Sherman-Wilkins, who got married this year. "I am a professor of sociology and talk about really tough things. I can serve with folks whom I vehemently disagree with."

Given recent comments, the News-Leader asked Makoski about Sherman-Wilkins' interest in serving.

Makoski said he applauds anyone who wants to be "a servant for the community and help out the kids, our school district."

He added that on a personal level, he is concerned about anyone who "continuously attacks another person."

"I don't see that I would have the greatest amount of respect for somebody that continues to tear down another individual just because they don't have the same beliefs," Makoski said.

More: For first time, a member of SPS Hall of Fame is interested in running for school board

"Sometimes you have to look above and beyond just being an individual. You can't have biases. You have to be able to respect the other person that is wanting to serve just as you want to. We just have different ways of serving or going about it."

Makoski gave an example, pointing out that as a veteran of the U.S. Navy he does "not approve" of the fact board member Shurita Thomas-Tate will not pledge allegiance to the American flag.

Earlier this year, when the issue came up, Thomas-Tate said she stands during the pledge out of respect for all who serve but added: "As an unapologetic Christian, I pledge my allegiance only to God."

"Does that mean I won't work with her? No, not at all, because I know she has a vested interest in the kids, too. We may have a different pathway to get there but there is times we will agree and times we will disagree and it's being able to get past the discourse to achieve the goals of the district and help our children, our educators and our administrators," Makoski said.

"If Kyler was to actually achieve a position on the Board of Education, I would treat him just like I would anybody else."

Eight potential candidates step forward

Three spots on the school board will be decided April 2. The seven-member board sets policy, approves a spending plan, and hires and evaluates the superintendent.

Potential candidates can drop off petition packets starting Dec. 5. The final day is Dec. 26.

Seven others have picked up a packet to run for school board. They include:

• Incumbent Scott Crise is the manager of gas plant operations at Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. He is currently board vice president;

• Incumbent Danielle Kincaid, a partner at Elder Law Group, currently serves as board president;

• Landon McCarter, CEO and co-founder of Secure Agent Marketing, is an entrepreneur who unsuccessfully ran for school board in April 2023;

• Incumbent Maryam Mohammadkhani, a retired pathologist at CoxHealth, is former board vice president;

• Susan Everett Provance, retired teacher and coach who worked for SPS and the park board;

• Charity Jordan Rex is a prevention education coordinator at Harmony House;

• Chad Rollins, a pharmacist and facility director for Healthdirect in Ozark, unsuccessfully ran for the school board in April 2023.

Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Potential SPS candidate lobbied board to support LGBTQ students, staff