Elections & Candidate Recommendations

MNEA members are Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. The issues that unite them are protecting children and improving public education. These are the issues that drive MNEA’s and NEA’s candidate-recommendation process. 

How you vote is a personal decision; however, Missouri NEA leaders hope that, as you review the issues and positions of candidates, you will consider the recommendations made by MNEA-PAC. 

Report your local association recommendation for the April 2nd school board election

To report candidates recommended by your local association, please send the name of the school district and recommendations to MNEA Political Director Elizabeth Zerr by submitting the Candidate Recommendation Form

Missouri NEA local associations abide by a recommendation process that evaluates candidates based on their values, not party affiliation. They recommend candidates whose values closely align with MNEA's beliefs and legislative resolutions, which include protecting the rights of students and education employees; ensuring every student has a qualified, caring teacher; and investing in public education so teachers have the tools they need to help drive student success.

Candidates are interviewed by a committee that lives in your school district and knows the issues that are unique to your community. 

Questions? Contact MNEA Political Director Elizabeth Zerr (elizabeth.zerr@mnea.org, (573) 644-9610). 

Submit Form

For the April 2, 2024, election, MNEA members support: 

BLUE SPRINGS NEA
April Agate
Kurt Swanson

COLUMBIA MNEA
Jeanne Snodgrass
Alvin Cobbins

FORT ZUMWALT
Gabriel Helms
Tommy George

FOX NEA
Michael Myers

FRANCIS HOWELL EA & ESPA 
Steven Blair 
Carolie Owens

GRAIN VALLEY 
Yes on Levy Transfer & Increase
Eddie Saffell
Jared English

HANNIBAL EA
Tysa Coleman

HAZELWOOD NEA 
Elizabeth "Betsy" Rachel 
Andrea R. Gregory 
Stephen H. Lewis

HICKMAN MILLS NEA
Ron Pearson
Alvin Brooks

HILLSBORO TA NEA
John Linhorst

KIRKWOOD NEA 
David Davis 
Laura Hepburn

INDEPENDENCE NEA 
Wendy Baird 
Zac Harmon-McLaughlin 
Brandi Pruente

LEES SUMMIT NEA 
Stacie Myers 
Rodrick King Sparks

LINDBERGH - NEA 
Megan Vedder
Rachel Braaf Koehler

MEHLVILLE NEA
Patrick McKelvey
Tori Behlke
Peggy Hassler
Jean Pretto

MERAMEC VALLEY NEA
Laura Riegler
Mary Clasby-Agee
Brian Steel
Allen Tindall

NORTH KANSAS CITY NEA
Susan Hines 
Joe Jacobs
Jan Kauk
Jane Rinehart

NORTHWEST EDUC ASSN 
Terri Green

PARK HILL NEA
Brandy Woodley
Harrison Todd

PARKWAY NEA 
Matthew Schindler 
Kevin Seltzer

PATTONVILLE NEA 
Jeanne Schottmueller 
Jan Schweiss 
Rena Simmons

RIVERVIEW GARDENS
Veronica Morrow-Reel
Melvin Williams

ROCKWOOD NEA 
Tamara Jo Rhomberg 
Phillip Milligan

SALEM NEA
Lauren Prugh
Vote YES on Bond W and Levy E

SPRINGFIELD-NEA 
Kyler Sherman-Wilkins 
Maryam Mohammadkhani 
Landon McCarter

ST. CHARLES EA
Ellen Zerr
Heidi Sikma

ST. JOSEPH EA
LaTonya Williams
Sean Conners

TROY NEA
Kelly Edinger

WENTZVILLE NEA 
Brad Welsh 
David Biesenthal

WINDSOR NEA
Kevin Stoffey
Michael Dubis
John DeWalle

WINFIELD TD NEA 
Chris Dickmeyer

MNEA-PAC Executive Council Candidate Recommendation Process

Recommendation decisions are made by the MNEA-PAC Executive Council.  The executive council comprises three representatives from each of the eleven governance districts: the chairperson (president of MNEA), the vice-chairperson, the treasurer, NEA directors for Missouri, and the MNEA vice president. Representatives from the governance council are elected at the fall representative assembly for staggered terms of three years. 

All viable candidates are given the opportunity to respond to a questionnaire and be interviewed by a local committee of MNEA members for possible recommendations to the MNEA membership. There is one exception: incumbents who have maintained an excellent record of support for children and public education issues are given early support. 

Candidate questionnaires are designed to measure the candidates' commitment to children and education on the following issues: 

  • Protecting children's health and safety.
  • Preparing students for jobs of the future through professional development, classroom technology, and access to a college education.
  • Strengthening public education in America through support for school funding and the U.S. Department of Education, and opposition to vouchers and privatization.
  • Respecting the rights of school employees to be partners in school change, to be involved in decisions concerning education quality, and to bargain collectively.

Preparation for Recommendation Process

  • Members may sign up to become Education Advocates. MNEA Government Relations staff and UniServ staff will notify and help coordinate Education Advocates living in the same legislative district to schedule screenings and meeting with candidates in the respective legislative district.
  • Education Advocates schedule the screenings following the close of candidate filing in March or informal discussions with incumbents recommended for early support or to interview all candidates that have filed in races where early recommendations have not been made.
  • Education Advocates complete screening worksheets and return to those MNEA headquarters and contact MNEA Executive PAC Council members assigned to their legislative district to discuss the outcome of the screening meetings and whether or not Council should recommend or not recommend candidates in each race.

Incumbent Recommendation

An elected officeholder who has a record of support for children and public education is given special consideration. These officeholders have worked with the Association to pass the Association's legislative agenda.  Giving them an early recommendation of support sends a message to them, to other legislators, and to MNEA members that they are supporters of children and public education.

  • The MNEA-PAC executive council may make early recommendations for incumbents who have a record of support for children and public education. 
  • Before filing opens in February, the screening committee holds informal discussions on Association legislative issues with the recommended candidate.  
  • After the informal discussion, the local screening committee decides to concur or not concur with the MNEA-PAC Executive Council recommendation decision.
  • An early recommendation made by the MNEA-PAC stands, unless the screening committee refuses to concur and notifies the MNEA political director. 

Opponents of the incumbent recommended for early support are not sent a questionnaire or interviewed unless the local screening committee does not concur with the MNEA-PAC recommendation.

A non-incumbent candidate could receive an early recommendation by a 2/3 vote of the MNEA-PAC Executive Council.  

Candidate Recommendation Process

Recommendation decisions are based on written questionnaires, candidate interviews, and an assessment of candidates' campaign plans and winnability.  

  • After filing closes, MNEA government relations sends each candidate a questionnaire. Candidates are instructed to return their questionnaires to MNEA headquarters. When the questionnaires are received, a copy is immediately sent to the screening chair. Originals are kept on file in MNEA headquarters. 
  • Screening chairpersons are notified when questionnaires are sent.  Then they begin the final preparation for the interview with the candidates who return questionnaires. 
  • After conducting the interviews, the screening chair sends the MNEA political director the recommendation decision.  Their options are to recommend a candidate, recommend a candidate for only the primary, or no recommendation.
  • Local screening committee recommendations are presented to the MNEA-PAC in early summer for consideration. If a recommendation fails to receive a 2/3 vote of the executive council, there is no recommendation unless the executive council votes to recommend a candidate.  
  • After the MNEA-PAC meeting, all candidates interviewed receive a letter from the chairperson of the MNEA-PAC. The recommended candidates receive a letter notifying them of the recommendation. Candidates who are not recommended, receive a letter thanking them for taking part in our recommendation process. 

The recommendation process requires the commitment of MNEA members to carefully examine the candidates for public office to assess their commitment to children and public education.