Meet the 6 candidates running for De Soto School Board in Johnson County

The upcoming elections for three seats on the De Soto School Board will see two incumbents face a challenger alongside an open seat.

The district, which includes De Soto and parts of Shawnee, Lenexa, Olathe and unincorporated Johnson County, has more than 7,300 students and has seen massive growth in recent years.

The seats for candidates in positions 4, 5 and 6 are up for election this year. Position 4 covers most of the district, including De Soto. Position 5 covers the northern half of the district’s northeast section, while position 6 covers the southern half of that section.

Voters will cast a vote for all positions in the general election, according to the district website.

Lucy Rumsey DeWitt and Nancy Moneymaker are running for position 4, where incumbent Danielle Heikes is not running for reelection.

Incumbent Calley Malloy and challenger Christian Amend are running for position 5.

Incumbent Brandi Jonasson and challenger TJ Finan are running for position 6.

School board races are technically nonpartisan, but local political parties have recommended candidates. The Democratic Party of Johnson County has recommended DeWitt, Malloy and Jonasson, while the Republican Party of Johnson County has recommended Moneymaker, Amend and Finan.

Johnson County’s website lists all candidates running for election this year, and voters can see sample ballots on the Kansas Secretary of State’s website. Find more coverage of the 2025 local elections at kansascity.com, or sign up for a free newsletter with news for Johnson County.

Position 4

Lucy Rumsey DeWitt

DeWitt graduated from De Soto High School in 2001 and has a degree in communications from Baker University. She has a daughter who attends school in De Soto and a son who currently attends a private school that focuses on students with language-based disabilities as the family looks forward to him returning to the district. She currently works for MERCK, according to a teachers union questionnaire.

DeWitt said during a candidate forum said she wants to give back to the district that has given so much to her family and continues to do so.

She said she was a funeral director for many years, making her uniquely qualified to work with people under stressful circumstances and show empathy and understanding in difficult situations. She said she will bring a listening ear and an ability to problem solve to the role.

DeWitt said her priorities would include teacher retention and addressing the teacher shortage; preparing for the district’s future growth; and preparing students for life after school.

She said a great challenge the district will face is artificial intelligence and called for professional development for teachers and staff to learn how to harness it and use tools in the classroom with students without over-relying on it.

Nancy Moneymaker

Moneymaker attended Kansas public schools and has been a De Soto resident since 2004. She has a degree in geology from the University of Kansas.

She founded an elementary education academy focused on science on history and has taught multiple subjects, including business, art, government and economics, according to her campaign website. Moneymaker is a small business owner and has experience in gold mining, the gemstone business and working in an environmental lab.

Moneymaker served on the board of Midwest Parent Educators, a Christian homeschooling advocacy group.

She said during a candidate forum that she decided to run when thinking about her grandchildren’s future and decisions made at the national, state and local school district level. She said is running for residents to be heard and will devote herself fully to the task.

She said her priorities will include student achievement; professional development and higher pay for teachers; and building a culture of appreciation.

Moneymaker said a great challenge for the district will be funding, including managing the budget in light of federal and state cuts.

Position 5

Christian Amend

Amend is an air force veteran and has a degree in engineering. He is now a professional engineer and now runs an inspection company in Shawnee. He said during a candidate forum he is running to make sure his kids and everyone else’s kids have a good education.

Amend has sons attending high school in the district, according to a teachers union questionnaire. He is a Boy Scout leader and has helped coach football and soccer.

Amend said his priorities will include transparency, teacher salaries, fiscal responsibility and trades programs for students. He said he will look to bring a fresh look and an invigorated spirit to the district.

He said a great challenge the district will face is managing its resources better.

Calley Malloy (incumbent)

Malloy was elected to the school board in 2021 and has two children in the district. Malloy said she is running to continue the excellence that is the De Soto school district. She is the director of program development for Minds Matter, according to a teachers union questionnaire. She has two children in the district and has served on various organizations and boards.

She said during a candidate forum that she has had the honor working with the board, district leadership, teachers and families to achieve meaningful progress, including: maintaining its status as one of the best districts in Kansas, having the lowest tax levy since 1993, saving taxpayer money by paying down bond debt, hiring a new superintendent, reducing class sizes and keeping a high graduation rate.

Malloy said her priorities will include recruitment and retention of teachers and staff, expanding real world learning and STEM opportunities, and preparing for upcoming growth in the district.

She said a great challenge the district will face is forecasting future growth, which she said is a positive sign of a thriving community but also brings significant planning challenges for budgeting, staffing and facilities.

Position 6

TJ Finan

Finan said during a candidate forum that he is running to give back to a district that has given so much to him and his family.

He moved to the area in 2008 and once served as a supervisor for the TSA. He later switched careers into coaching sports and teaching, including special education at Mill Valley, and has a degree in special education from Pittsburg State University.

He is now an intensive needs specialist at St. James Academy, according to a teachers union questionnaire. He has two children at elementary school in the district, one in middle school and one in pre-K. He has served on a special education school improvement committee.

Finan said his priorities would include funding for academic resources, technology and school infrastructure; professional resources and mentorship for staff; and student academics, well-being, inclusion and safety.

He said a great challenge the district will face catching students who are falling behind on reading and math skills early on and help support them and fill the gap as they move to higher grades.

Brandi Jonasson (incumbent)

Jonasson was first elected to the school board in 2021. She is a small business owner and has a degree in English from Emporia State Univeristy. She currently owns a digital marketing agency, according to a teachers union questionnaire. She has two children who have graduated from the district and one in high school.

Jonasson said during a candidate forum that she started volunteering in the schools, including for field trips, classrooms and making copies to advocate for teachers and has sinced served in PTA leadership alongside church service.

She said she is proud of accomplishments during her first term including raises for teachers and staff, hiring a new superintendent and expanding real-world learning opportunities for students. She said she is fully committed to making the district the best it can be.

Jonasson said her priorities would include teacher recruitment and retention; ensuring students are prepared for the real world, whether college, trade school or workforce; and financial responsibility.

She said a great challenge the district will face is planning for future growth and the impact on staffing, facilities and budget needs.