Two Des Moines metro school districts have appointed new school board members.
The West Des Moines school board on April 16 appointed Lonnette “Lonnie” Dafney to serve until November 2027 to fill the vacancy left by former member Fannette Elliott, who won election in March to West Des Moines City Council.
Dafney first won election to the school board in 2019 but did not run for reelection in 2023. The board selected Dafney from six finalists who applied to be appointed.
Dafney most recently served as senior vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for Federal Reserve Financial Services, according to a district news release. She had previously held a similar position at EMC Insurance, and before that was the director of human resources for Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines.
She is the mother of two Valley High School graduates, who graduated in 2013 and 2015.
Dafney said in her application for appointment to the school board that she is committed to providing access for all students to high-quality education and opportunities to reach their full potential.
“I am particularly motivated to contribute during this pivotal time, as districts navigate evolving student needs, workforce readiness expectations, and financial pressures,” she said.
Ankeny has new school board appointment
On March 30, the Ankeny school board appointed Erin Lee Schneider to fill the vacancy left by former board member Roxanne Petersen, who resigned. Schneider is set to serve until November 2027.
Schneider and her husband have two children attending school in the district. She is the Dean for Student Success and Urban Student Development at Des Moines Area Community College. She was also previously an assistant dean at Drake University Law School and a family lawyer, and she has previously served on Ankeny school district committees.
Her academic and teaching interests include “the ways that poverty impacts access to education and justice. Erin has a passion for improving systems to increase efficiency and access,” according to her profile on the district’s website.
Phillip Sitter covers the suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at PSitter@usatodayco.com. Find out more about him online in the Register’s staff directory.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ankeny and West Des Moines appoint new school board members
Reporting by Phillip Sitter, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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