Five candidates are running for four seats on the Waukee school board: incumbents Michael Schrodt, Jaime Secory and Armel R. Traore dit Nignan, and challengers Jill Burns and Becky Lachenmaier.
The Des Moines Register asked each candidate to respond to questions on why they’re running and the issues facing their school district. Their answers may be lightly edited for clarity or length.
The election is Nov. 4.
Jill Burns
Current occupation: I’m currently the executive assistant to the founder & CEO at Navigate Wellbeing. Navigate is a technology wellness company that builds platforms for organizations to help employees with their total wellbeing and build higher employee engagement and productivity for their organization.
Education background: I received a bachelor’s in exercise science from Central College with a minor in psychology.
Where did you grow up? I was adopted from South Korea and then was adopted by a loving family from Atlantic.
Political experience: I have no previous political experience, however, my public service includes volunteering in the school district.
Age: 44
Becky Lachenmaier
Current occupation: I’m medical director for UnityPoint Hospice in central Iowa, and I have a part-time role as deputy Polk County medical examiner.
Education background: I have a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Washington School of Medicine, and completed my internal medicine residency at Internal Medicine Spokane.
Where did you grow up? I spent my childhood in Gillette, Wyoming, and Billings, Montana, where I graduated from high school.
Political experience: This is my first time running for office, but I’ve been very involved in local politics for the last 10 years, working on friends’ campaigns for city council and school board, as well as knocking doors for local and state candidates in every election since 2016.
Age: 52
Michael Schrodt
Current occupation: Regulatory risk analyst, AVP
Education background: Bachelor’s in economics, Simpson College
Where did you grow up? Altoona
Political experience: President of the Waukee Community School District Board of Education, co-chair of the 2020 WCSD Bond Referendum Committee
Age: 42
Jaime Secory
Current occupation: Designer, homemaker
Education background: Bachelor’s in economics and ethics from UNI, juris doctor from Drake
Where did you grow up? Clear Lake
Political experience: Just finishing four-year school board term, served prior on State Board for Professional Licensure
Age: 42
Armel R. Traore dit Nignan
Current occupation: Head of data and analytics
Education background: MBA — DePaul University
Where did you grow up? Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Political experience: Armel Traore dit Nignan is vice president of the Waukee school board (elected 2021) and serves on the policy and financial services committees. He represents the district on the Dallas County Assessor’s Conference Board and the Blank Park Zoo board. He also previously served on the Capital Crossroads Advisory Council. A Lead DSM alum, he has mentored with the Youth Leadership Initiative.
Age: 42
Why are you running?
Burns: I am committed to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed in a safe and supportive environment. My hope is for teachers and school leaders to feel valued and equipped with the resources they need to thrive. I would like families’ voices to be heard and respected as the district continues to grow. I also want to be a part of the fiscal responsibility and thoughtful planning to guide decisions for sustaining Waukee’s excellence for years to come. Living in the community for the past 15 years, I’ve grown a passion to educate myself and others to thrive in a successful community to help teachers and staff be successful in educating our students.
Lachenmaier: My husband and I have two boys who have gone through their schooling in Waukee and now graduated; we always volunteered in the district and have been very involved in the music programs. When we started volunteering, it was because we wanted our kids to have the best experiences they could. But as we got to know more families and students, we volunteered (and continue to) because we wanted everyone’s kids to have a great experience. Being involved has given us a wonderful community of friends, and we are extremely grateful for all of the opportunities our kids had. I am running as I feel this is the next way I can use my experience to help support the families in this district.
Schrodt: I am running for re-election to the WCSD school board because I am guided by a deep commitment to representation through engagement, responsible governance, and educational excellence. Over the past four years, I have demonstrated this commitment by being an active, visible, and engaged member of our district community, volunteering in the classrooms and at other district events. I have worked to ensure our policies are practical, our finances are efficient, and our resources are used wisely. I consistently champion expanded educational opportunities. My goal is to get our staff the tools they need so that every student leaves our schools prepared, confident, and equipped for their future.
Secory: I am running for relection to continue the work of providing oversight for one of the largest and fastest growing districts in the state. With challenges caused by state legislation and inadequate funding, it is all the more important that we have individuals who seek to support all students in their educational journeys to prepare them for life after high school, and all staff in their incredibly demanding and important occupations.
Traore dit Nignan: My story is that of an immigrant from what many consider to be one of the poorest countries on earth — Burkina Faso — who was given the opportunity to blossom through education. That opportunity was made possible by the generosity of many, and it’s only natural that I pay it forward. I’m running because I learned early that serving one’s community is belonging. My professional background could help students’ learning and growth in a world shaped by rapid technological change. My campaign is grounded in three priorities: expanding learning opportunities for all students; pioritizing the well-being of our community; and managing growth thoughtfully and responsively.
What do you think is the most important issue facing the school district and what would you do to address it?
Burns: Waukee is one of the fastest-growing communities in the state— and our schools are at the heart of that success. But growth without investment puts our momentum at risk. If we want to keep our classrooms strong, attract and retain great teachers, and support every student, we must secure the state funding that reflects our growth. This isn’t about politics — it’s about protecting our kids, our property values, and our community’s future. Waukee is moving forward, and our funding must move forward with it. Funding our growth means securing our future. We’ll need the Legislature to raise the per-pupil funding to at least the national average. Strong Schools. Strong Community. Stronger Tomorrow.
Lachenmaier: I think the most important issue facing the WCSD is our continued rapid growth in the setting of inadequate increases in funding for public schools. As the number of students grows, we need to continue to expand programs that help students prepare for their post-graduation plans, and at the same time, compensate staff appropriately, keep students safe, and maintain our infrastructure. The board will need to continue to budget carefully to do this. Personally, I’ll do everything I can to lobby my state legislators to increase public school funding.
Schrodt: The most pressing issue facing the district is ensuring that every student has access to meaningful, future-ready educational opportunities. In a rapidly evolving world, we must prepare students not just for graduation, but for life beyond it, whether that means college, the trades, the arts, or other career paths. I have supported initiatives like dual credit courses, internships, and innovative classroom technologies. I will continue to advocate for programs that expand access and empower students. By aligning our resources, policies, and instructional strategies with the varied needs of our learners, we can build a district where every student can thrive.
Secory: I think right now the most important issue facing our school district is lack of funding for staff and programming. Because of our large property base, we are fortunate to be able to build beautiful new buildings in our community. Unfortunately, this source of funding cannot be used to fill these buildings with the proper number of teachers and support personnel. Add to this complicating factors like funding in arrears, and a multi-million dollar special ed deficit annually, and we are in a difficult situation. In order to provide a first-in-class education to our students, Iowa needs to get back to appropriately funding education.
Traore dit Nignan: The most urgent issue for the Waukee Community School District is funding uncertainty from low Supplemental State Aid and possible property-tax changes. That hinders long-term planning just as artificial intelligence and a shifting job market require durable skills. I’ll continue to advocate to tie state aid to the Consumer Price Index, protect local decision-making, safeguard facility funding, and push for transparent, sustainable models. Inside the district, we’ll continue to manage resources carefully, prioritize core academics, pursue creative staffing, and expand public-private partnerships to increase opportunities for our students and staff.
How can the school district protect LGBTQ students and still comply with state and federal policy changes discouraging gender identity policies?
Burns: First off, I’m in full support of any student willing to learn the curriculum and any teacher willing to educate them in support of their LGBTQ identity, as long as both parties are treated respectfully.Our district has to follow the new state rules on gender identity, and we will. But that doesn’t stop us from protecting every student’s safety and dignity. We can enforce strong anti-bullying policies, provide private restroom and locker room options, offer counseling and mental health support, and make sure student information is handled correctly under the law. Waukee can comply with state and federal requirements while still creating a safe, respectful environment for all students.
Lachenmaier: As a school board, we are obligated to follow the law. However, the law does not change how we should treat each other as staff, teachers, students, and community members in our district. Treating each other with respect and compassion has nothing to do with names or gender identity. I think all parents just want their kids to be in a place that is safe and makes them feel valued. Laws that discriminate against LGBTQ students don’t make anyone more safe — we have laws to protect all of our kids already. We should expect our staff and students to interact with care for each other all the time.
Schrodt: LGBTQ+ students can be protected by providing them the same opportunities to reach success as all other students, without additional barriers. All students should be respected and should be afforded the freedom to be able to express themselves without fear or bullying. Bullying and harassment should not be tolerated, accepted, or rationalized. All people thrive in environments where they are respected, treated with dignity, and feel safe; it is no different in the learning environment. The policies I support, within the guidelines set forth by federal and Iowa laws and regulations, foster an environment to allow all students the opportunity to excel.
Secory: This is a good example of the complicated intersection between state politics and board policies. I understand the goal of the legislation to ensure open dialog between guardians and teachers, and of course I feel this is a valuable objective — schools and parents should always be working together to support children. There may be a rare case where the child’s safety is at risk which can be a complicated situation for a staff member. At the end of the day, what matters most is that all students feel welcome, valued and safe when they are at school. Our staff has worked hard to ensure this is the case regardless of any legislation.
Traore dit Nignan: I voted against removing gender identity from our policies because our first duty is to protect every student, consistent with federal civil-rights protections, including Title IX and the U.S. Constitution. I will work to keep schools safe and supportive for all. Our updated bullying and harassment policies protect students from mistreatment — no matter their background — and give clear steps to prevent, report, and remedy harm. I’m confident our Waukee educators will continue to show up for every student. Perhaps our state should focus more on real challenges: a slowing economy and shrinking workforce, a teacher shortage, water-quality, and gaps in health care.
Phillip Sitter covers the suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. Find out more about him online in the Register’s staff directory.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Meet the 5 candidates running for Waukee school board
Reporting by Phillip Sitter, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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