Campaigning was especially hot and heavy for the Mexico Public Schools Board of Education race which included an enthusiastic field of eight candidates. Three prevailed: Todd D. Yager, 1,486 votes; Mathew Pilger, 793; and Jessica Johnson Ekern, 782.

Voting was tight, with Dusty Blue getting 775 votes, Michelle Stephens, 650; and Kelli S. Teel, 636. Candidates Kara Clovis and Jennifer Gore would recuse themselves late in the race but still appeared on the ballot, splitting the remainder of the votes 95, and 184, respectively.
With ballots cast, The Ledger asked selected candidates what’s next.

Questions were:

1. You’ve been elected- (congrats)- what are some of your and/or the district’s priorities/goals moving forward?
2.  What are some of the good things going on at MPS?
3. What are some things that need attention?
4. This was a well-contested race, were you nervous on election day?
5. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Todd D. Yager

1. The goals of the district should always be focused on giving each student the best opportunity to reach their potential. This happens by taking care of all staff members and giving them the resources necessary to instruct at the highest level, while monitoring student progress.2
2. One of the best things happening, which is out of the public eye, is the work of the Instructional Coaches. They work hand in hand with teachers to maximize their instruction to reach and meet each student’s needs.
3. Communication always needs attention. I feel we do a good job but we must strive to always be great with communication. This reduces so many problems and helps students in reaching their goals. Additionally, social media is a great tool to get school information out to the public. If there are any concerns, they should always be addressed directly with the school.
4. There is no doubt I was nervous. Anytime you place your name on a ballot, there is always that chance you won’t get elected. The voters placed their trust in me and I am honored to be given three more years to serve on the school board.
5.  I believe Mexico School District has done so much recently to establish a solid foundation that will provide a high level of education for years to come. I am truly grateful for the hard work that Ms. Chastain, the Administration, Teachers and staff have put in at Mexico Public Schools

Jessica Johnson Ekern

1. Since I am not on the board yet, I’m not sure what the district’s priorities are at this date (04/10/23). Once I begin my service, I am eager to work with the Superintendent and the other board members to help meet the goals and priorities of the district. I am here to listen and learn from others as well as offer some of my insights from serving on various boards.
2.  Mexico Public Schools is a strong force in the community. The people of Mexico take pride in their Bulldogs. The community and schools go hand-in-hand. The Bright Futures Mexico program is a great example of that. It is wonderful to see people in the community building relationships with students to help them be successful. We have wonderful and committed teachers and staff who do everything within their scope to help students achieve in the classroom. It is amazing to see the number of people who have dedicated their entire career to MPS. Our teachers and staff truly care about our students and only want the best for each child. Students also have a number of different activities they can participate in and outside of the classroom.
3. We need to look at innovative ways to keep our dedicated and knowledgeable teachers and to attract a new generation of teachers. Finding ways to increase the salary of our teachers and make their salaries competitive within the state of Missouri is another issue that merits Board attention. We need to work in partnership with teachers and staff to find ways to make our school community stronger while striving to make each student a lifelong learner. Reviewing the discipline policies and finding ways to support teachers, staff and administrators is another area of concern. We need to discuss ways to help students make better choices in and outside of the classroom.
4. I was a bit anxious on the day of the forum, but once we started, I felt it was a wonderful opportunity for the voting public to see a little about each candidate. I was not nervous on election day because I felt that if the people of Mexico wanted me to serve it would all work out.
5. I think serving on the Mexico Public School Board will be a great way to advocate for our district and our children. I hope to bring my experience from serving on a number of different boards and as a member of the Chicago Public School Local School Council for 6 years to help enhance the dynamites of our MPS Board which in turn will strengthen our community as a whole

Mathew Pilger

I am humbled and honored that the Mexico community elected me to serve on the Mexico Board of Education. I am going to work with other board members on moving the Mexico School District forward in a positive direction. Part of that is communication. I plan on opening more communication about board meetings with on-air interviews with what is happening in the district.

If I’m being honest, yes I was nervous on Election Day. I had never ran for public office before. I spent the night with friends and family watching results come back. Again a big thanks for all the support. We are all in this together.