Voter guide: Hear from candidates running for Lee’s Summit School Board
Six candidates are vying for three spots on the Lee’s Summit School Board in the April 7 election, though voters will see a field of seven candidates on their ballots as one candidate withdrew from the race after a deadline.
Here’s a look at priorities for candidates in the race to help run the state’s seventh-largest school district by enrollment:
Kamile Johnson
Website: drkjforlsr7.com
Political bio/background: Johnson is a current member of the Lee’s Summit School Board. She works professionally as a pharmacist, serves as an adjunct professor and is a mother of two.
Platform: Johnson said she is prioritizing protecting public schools, public-school funding and supporting legislation that does not divert public funding to private settings.
“I will continue to educate legislators in Jefferson City and the community about the importance of public-school funding,” she said. “I will also inform people that public schools are held accountable by the state for performance, their board of directors are elected officials which allows for transparency, and it is available for all students because education is a right.”
Other priorities for her include fiscal responsibility and staying informed about spending decisions, boosting teacher and staff salaries and ensuring they are competitive with inflation and neighboring districts. Johnson said she supports Proposition C, the district’s ballot measure, which represents about $3 million to $4.5 million in annual operating revenue for the district.
Johnson said she also wanted to see the district hire staff who are representative of students, said she supported policies that create inclusive environments and wanted to boost staffing in areas where students require additional assistance.
Matt Warton
Website: mattwartonforlsr7.com
Political bio/background: Warton said he has more than 20 years of experience working in the cellphone and building technology industry and said he has worked with school districts on life safety and security systems that protect students and staff. He is also a father to four children, three of whom attend Lee’s Summit schools.
Platform: Warton said his campaign has been based on the principle of “focused leadership” and aims to put students, teachers and parents first.
He pointed to parent and community engagement, STEM and technical education, a classroom focus and fiscal transparency as campaign priorities. Warton also said he wanted to champion greater transparency and more opportunities for parents and community members to provide input on district decisions and said he would push for clear, accessible budgets and open board discussions.
“Every voice deserves to be heard,” he said.
Warton said he is passionate about expanding STEM programs, robotics, vocational pathways and industry partnerships and said he wanted to ensure that every graduate leaves with in-demand skills, certifications or training that prepares them for success.
He also said he was committed to creating “safe, distraction-free learning environments” and would support policies that keep the focus “squarely on academics and student achievement.”
Regina Garrett
Website: facebook.com/reginaforlsr7
Political bio/background: Garrett is currently a member of the Lee’s Summit School Board.
Garrett did not respond to multiple messages from The Star for this voter guide.
In the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce voter guide, Garrett said her top three priorities during a new term would be fiscal stewardship for student success, inclusive engagement and transparency, and a holistic culture of safety.
Rodrick Sparks
Website: rodsparks.com
Political bio/background: Sparks is a former member of the Lee’s Summit School Board and is a longtime resident of the district, as well as a husband and father of two. He also currently serves as the president of the Wedgewood Pointe Property Owners Association’s board and also sits on the board for Lee’s Summit Cares. Sparks works professionally in the title industry.
Platform: Sparks said he is running for the board because he believes that the district needs to stay focused on its core issue, ensuring students are learning and prepared for life after graduation.
One of the biggest issues facing the district is attracting and retaining high-quality teachers and staff, he said. Educators are the most important factor in student success, and the district needs to remain competitive in pay, benefits and working conditions, he said.
Other priorities include school safety and student well-being, academic achievement, strengthening early reading support, targeted interventions for students and ensuring classrooms remain focused learning environments, he said.
“As a former board president, I bring a governance-focused perspective,” Sparks said. “The role of the board is not to micromanage but to set clear goals, provide accountability, and build trust with the community. I believe in transparent decision-making, respectful dialogue, and working collaboratively with fellow board members, educators, families, and students.”
Kirsti Martin
Website: facebook.com/KirstiforLSR7
Political bio/background: Martin is a mental health case manager, a licensed private investigator and is a Lee’s Summit School District parent. Martin said she is also the parent of a child with special needs and in her role as a case manager, works regularly with schools, care providers and families.
Platform: Martin said her top priorities are ensuring every student has access to a safe, supportive and effective learning environment and strengthening academic outcomes across the district.
Martin said she would advocate for strong early literacy practices, timely identification of learning gaps and targeted support for students to build a solid foundation early on. Martin said she would bring a realistic, solutions-focused approach to addressing behavioral challenges, supporting teachers and ensuring students receive the intervention they need.
“As both an LSR7 parent and a professional, I recognize the gap that can exist between policy and what families actually experience,” she said. “I am committed to ensuring students with additional needs are not overlooked and have access to the support, services, and advocacy they deserve.”
Martin also said she would advocate for transparency in the district, believed parents deserved clearer communication from the district and prioritized fiscal responsibility and accountability.
Erica Miller
Website: facebook.com/ElectEricaMiller
Political bio/background: Miller is currently a member of the Lee’s Summit School Board, is a licensed family therapist and is a parent of children in the school district.
Platform: Miller said she would bring experienced leadership to the board and could focus on progress from day one.
Miller said she was committed to supporting teachers and staff through competitive pay, manageable workloads and respect for their work and said she was advocating for staff by supporting the district’s ballot measure, Proposition C.
Miller also said she wanted to expand assistance for student mental health by strengthening school-based care and community partnerships, and said she wanted to see a focus on bullying and suicide prevention and building self-esteem.
“As a parent of three, I am personally invested in our district’s success,” she said. “My middle child has dyslexia, and with the right team of specialists and teachers, she is now thriving. But my child shouldn’t be the exception, each and every child deserves access to the resources and support they need, and every family deserves guidance as they navigate their child’s education.”
Christopher Thornton
Thornton told The Star in February that he was withdrawing from the school board race. His name will still appear on ballots because he did not bow out of the race before a deadline.
