Stephanie Johnson, who is executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson City, announced Tuesday she intends to run for a seat on the Board of Education of Jefferson City Public Schools in the April 2, election.
There will be two seats available for three-year terms - incumbent JCPS board Treasurer Lorelei Schwartz said at this month's board meeting she intends to run again for her seat, while current board Vice President Rich Aubuchon said he will not run again.
The first day candidates are able to file for the April 2019 municipal election is Dec. 11, and the last day to file will be Jan. 15, 2019, with the ballot certified Jan. 22.
Johnson, a 1989 Jefferson City High School graduate with children attending the district, said Tuesday serving on the school board is something she's thought about for several years, and she wants to be an advocate for all students' voices during "a new chapter for our school district."
She said her priorities on the board would be to broaden support for students' behavioral health needs, teachers and vocational education opportunities - as well as to make sure the district's opening of a second high school is successful.
She said, if elected to the school board, she would continue to serve in her role as leader of the Boys & Girls Club.
Johnson added she's put a lot of thought into whether her serving on the school board while also leading the Boys & Girls Club would be a conflict of interest, but while "we have similar missions and goals," she and the club's Board of Directors have determined there would be no conflict.
"She is a perfect bridge from people that she serves to people in power," her campaign treasurer Dan Westhues said.