Among more than two dozen candidates for six Kansas school district boards who responded to a Beacon questionnaire, just four agreed that their district was spending too much on schools at the expense of taxpayers.
Three of those candidates are running for the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools board.
Ahead of the Nov. 4, 2025, election, six candidates are vying for three open seats on the KCKPS board.
They include incumbents Wanda Brownlee Paige and Rachel Russell and challengers Sheyvette Dinkens, Pamela Penn-Hicks, Joycelyn Strickland-Egans and Josh Young.
In response to a Beacon survey on their positions and priorities, candidates weren’t unanimous on any topic, including teacher pay, vaccines or using students’ preferred pronouns.
In July, The Beacon reported that KCKPS had the lowest measles vaccination rate in Wyandotte or Johnson counties, in part because it had temporarily stopped excluding students from school if they didn’t get the vaccines required by the state.
Board candidates weren’t aligned on whether they thought the district was lenient or strict about vaccines, or how strict it should be.
After the district came under fire from the Kansas attorney general for allowing students to use different names and pronouns at school without notifying parents, the majority of the candidates thought teachers should always honor students’ preferred names and pronouns.
But one candidate thought teachers should seek parental permission first, and another thought they should never agree.
As you prepare to vote in November, here’s what to know about the candidates running for KCKPS school board.
Responses have been edited for clarity, grammar and AP style.
Click on a link to jump to a section of the questionnaire:
- School spending
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in schools
- Teacher pay
- Vaccination policies
- Transgender students
- Technology in school
- What are the three biggest challenges that your school district is facing?
- Name up to three specific things you would do on the board to address the most important issues facing the district.
Meet the candidates
Wanda Brownlee Paige (incumbent)
Occupation: Retired teacher and member of the Kansas House of Representatives
Background and qualifications: Beyond the classroom, I am an active member of the Kansas House of Representatives. I advocate for policies to uplift families politically, socially and economically.
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560875145061
Favorite school event: I love to visit the classrooms and have meetings with parents.
Sheyvette Dinkens
Occupation: Partnership and community engagement manager, VisitKCK
Background and qualifications: I am an award-winning educator, a community advocate and a student-led community leader. I have experience in higher education, 9-12 education and nonprofit management. I hold a master of business administration and secondary education.
Campaign website: www.sheyvettedinkens.com
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560052707111
Favorite school event: Of course, the 4th Annual Jamie Craig Legacy Food Truck Festival!
Pamela Penn-Hicks
Occupation: Retired federal employee
Background and qualifications: Parent to two children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Homeowner and resident of Kansas City, Kansas, since 1983. Bachelor’s degree in psychology. Currently serve as a community advocate addressing issues and concerns of citizens.
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577605672319#
Favorite school event: Students’ artistic events.
Rachel Russell (incumbent)
Occupation: Director of equity and community engagement for local nonprofit
Background and qualifications: She is the mother of two USD 500 students and serves as board vice president. She says she champions equity, student voice and community trust while leading facilities and boundary committees and advancing systemic change.
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/Rachel4KCKPS
Favorite school event: “Are You Faster Than a 5th Grader?” and graduations.
Joycelyn Strickland-Egans
Occupation: Educator
Background and qualifications: I have a master’s degree in education. I worked in elementary school as a teacher and instructional coach for 37 years.
Campaign website: joycelynstricklandegans.com/vote
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/joycelynstricklandegans/
Favorite school event: Spelling bee/Battle of the Books/debate… any academic competition!
Josh Young
Occupation: Doctoral student, Air Force combat veteran
Background and qualifications: Fifth-generation Wyandotte Countian with Hispanic, American Indian and Anglo heritage; product of USD 500 schools.
Campaign website: www.joshuasyoung.com
Favorite school event: JROTC
Multiple-choice questions
School spending
In my district…
- We’re spending too little on schools, at the expense of students.
- We’re spending too much on schools, at the expense of taxpayers.
- We’ve struck the right balance on taxes and school spending.
Paige: Only 30% of the people who live in the district pay the taxes to fund our schools. We’ve got to strike the right balance on taxes and school spending.
Dinkens: We must readjust the budget or create additional revenue streams. This responsibility doesn’t have to fall solely on taxpayers. Stakeholder collaboration is a key platform of my campaign, and by leveraging external dollars, we can bridge the gap.
Penn-Hicks: The board needs to examine the budget to align with the objectives set by the board and administered by the superintendent. Programs and activities examined for effectiveness, staffing, outcomes, factor in stakeholder interests.
Russell: I support prioritizing budgets that invest in teachers, staff and programs that directly benefit students, while also exploring sustainable ways to increase funding without placing undue burden on families.
Young: The taxpayers of Wyandotte County/USD 500 are burdened with ever-rising property taxes, and yet our schools are underperforming. Just recently, the school board voted, yet again, to raise taxes.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in schools
If Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials show up at a school, my district should…
- Cooperate as much as possible without getting into legal trouble.
- Cooperate as little as possible without getting into legal trouble.
- Other (please explain)
Paige: It’s important that we do everything in our power to protect our students and families. That means we will follow the law. No students will be handed over to ICE.
Dinkens: Staff should follow the policies outlined and approved by the KCKPS board, including JBH (release of a student during the school day), JCAC (interrogations and investigations), JR (student records), JRB (release of student records) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. In this scenario, the building administrator must be contacted immediately to engage with ICE.
Penn-Hicks: The board has set policy regarding ICE in alignment with Kansas Board of Education guidelines.
Russell: If ICE officials show up at a school, my district should protect students’ rights, cooperate only as legally required, and maintain safe, welcoming environments, treating schools as places of trust and sanctuary.
Strickland-Egans: We have trained staff and will follow the law of the state. We will protect our students at all costs and communicate with parents. Law enforcement would have to have a warrant. All students have a right to education and will be granted that right.
Young: The USD 500 should comply with ALL executive orders/policies and should cooperate with any/all law enforcement agencies. The safety of our students, our staff and our community is a high priority.
Teacher pay
Teachers in my district…
- Need a significant pay raise.
- Are paid too much already.
- Are making about the right amount.
Paige: Currently, we’re competitive with other districts. Our taxpayers can’t afford to pay any more. We’ve got to find another way to increase our teachers’ pay.
Dinkens: We are asking teachers to continue on a path that has led to a mass exodus from the profession and a worsening teacher shortage. Teaching is no longer a profession that allows people to make a sustainable living.
Penn-Hicks: Current negotiated new KCKPS teacher salary is $50,000 with a bachelor’s degree. KCKPS overall teacher’s salary is comparable to other area districts. Improving salaries to attract and retain teachers is desirable.
Russell: Teachers in my district need a significant pay raise, as current salaries lag behind inflation and the cost of living, making it difficult to support families and retain quality educators.
Strickland-Egans: We have competitive rates for our educators and have given a raise each year. No amount of money would be enough for the intensive work educators do, but we are in line with current salaries in other districts.
Young: Educators perform a job that is very underappreciated, and they are very much undercompensated. We need to find a balance between keeping taxes low and adequately compensating our educators.
Vaccination policies
My school district…
- Is strict about students receiving required vaccines, and should stay that way.
- Is strict about students receiving required vaccines, and should be more flexible.
- Is flexible about students receiving required vaccines, and should be more strict.
- Is flexible about students receiving required vaccines, and should stay that way.
- I don’t know my school district’s vaccine policies.
Paige: I’m afraid that we’re not strict enough. We mailed letters out reminding parents to get their children vaccinated. But it appears that over 1,000 or more haven’t been vaccinated. This could lead to an outbreak.
Dinkens: Currently, KCKPS follows the requirements set by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, with alternatives permitted under K.S.A. 72-6262.
Penn-Hicks: Protecting students, teachers, staff and community should remain a priority.
Russell: I support bringing vaccine services and other health initiatives to students with parental permission to improve access.
Transgender students
If a student under 18 years old requests that a teacher call them by a name and/or pronouns that don’t correspond to their gender assigned at birth, the teacher should:
- Always agree.
- Agree only with parental permission.
- Never agree.
- Be free to decide whether to agree, based on personal beliefs.
Paige: It’s important to follow the law and school policy. The teacher should work with the parents.
Dinkens: Calling someone by their preferred name, nickname or pronoun is an act of respect. It allows them to share who they are and helps build a sense of community in the classroom.
Penn-Hicks: Current policy ensures nondiscrimination, privacy and safety provisions for gender nonconforming students. Name and pronoun preferences are not reportable under mandatory reporting guidelines.
Russell: Staff should respect students’ requested names and pronouns while navigating parental rights. Noting the complexity allows students to be recognized authentically and supported in a safe, inclusive environment.
Strickland-Egans: Teachers are not judgmental rather relationship builders and show respect to all students.
Young: To do so is in direct violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The Kansas attorney general has filed a lawsuit against the district for alleged violations of FERPA (and other policies), and I support his efforts.
Technology in school
My school district:
- Doesn’t do enough to prevent harmful and distracting uses of technology in school.
- Is too restrictive about how new technologies are used in school.
- Neither.
Dinkens: I understand that phones can be a distraction, just as there are many other distractions during the school day. When implemented thoughtfully, technology can be an engaging game-changer in the classroom.
Penn-Hicks: New cellphone policy will hopefully positively impact academic performance. The recent decision to control device usage during instructional time can refocus students’ attention towards learning.
Russell: We must balance technology use in schools, including AI. Policies should prevent harm while giving students safe, responsible access to tools that spark learning and prepare them for the future.
Strickland-Egans: Technology should be used as a learning tool and is just one of many utilized.
Short answer questions
What are the three biggest challenges that your school district is facing?
Paige: 1. Improve attendance rates. 2. Improve graduation rates. 3. Students should be performing at grade level (literate).
Dinkens: Fiscal responsibility, literacy improvement and strengthening staff culture.
Penn-Hicks: Absenteeism, improving academic performance and safety.
Russell: The district’s biggest challenges are underfunding, staffing shortages and retention, as well as authentic student engagement. We must ensure equitable resources, retain and support quality staff and create inclusive, hands-on learning environments that motivate and support every student.
Strickland-Egans: Teacher retention, student attendance and high school graduation rate.
Young: 1. Keeping the mill levy low. 2. Being in compliance with all executive orders/policies. 3. Safety for students and staff.
Name up to three specific things you would do on the board to address the most important issues facing the district.
Paige: 1. The board needs to get out in the community more. We’ve got to get out and meet our parents. They need to know that we care. 2. We have to have higher standards/expectations. 3. Create an exciting STEM program for PreK-12.
Dinkens: I would serve on the budget committee to support fiscal responsibility. Advocate for literacy professionals and leveled reading curriculum for students. Develop board roundtables for building culture, strengthening morale and improving retention.
Penn-Hicks: Support services focused on the student and family to address attendance issues, Collaborate with community-based organizations to provide academic support. Seek funding to reduce class sizes, increase teacher hiring and retention. Promote critical thinking, conflict resolution, peer interaction.
Russell: I would continue to advocate for equitable funding at the state level, strengthen staff recruitment and retention efforts and enhance student engagement through hands-on learning, flexible scheduling and inclusive, supportive environments that help every student thrive.
Strickland-Egans: I would prioritize student learning, community partnerships and parent involvement. I want transparent communication with staff (teachers, nurses, bus drivers, secretaries, ALL stakeholders) as a listener, representative and collaborator and ensure that the district budget is fiscally responsible.
Young: 1. I would NEVER vote for/support any effort(s) to increase the mill levy. 2. I will NEVER vote for/support any effort(s) to violate executive orders/policies. 3. I would ensure the KCKPS police force receives the best training, equipment and support available.
