Ashley Burns (Cedar Rapids Community School District school board District 3, Iowa, candidate 2025)

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Ashley Burns

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Cedar Rapids Community School District school board District 3

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 4, 2025

Education

Bachelor's

Creighton University, 2015

Personal

Birthplace

Cedar Rapids, IA

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Ashley Burns ran for election to the Cedar Rapids Community School District school board to represent District 3 in Iowa. She was on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

Burns completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Ashley Burns provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on October 25, 2025:

• Birth date: March 16, 1993
• Birth place: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Bachelor's: Creighton University, 2015
• Gender: Female
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign slogan: A New Voice for Our Schools
• Campaign website
• Campaign endorsements
• Campaign Facebook
• Campaign Instagram
• LinkedIn

Elections

General election

General election for Cedar Rapids Community School District school board District 3

Incumbent Jennifer Borcherding and Ashley Burns ran in the general election for Cedar Rapids Community School District school board District 3 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Jennifer Borcherding (Nonpartisan)
		Ashley Burns (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Burns received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Burns's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here.

• Cedar Rapids Gazette
• Linn County, Iowa, Stonewall Democrats

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Ashley Burns completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Burns' responses.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Ashley Burns is a lifelong Cedar Rapidian whose career has centered on advocacy, public service, and building stronger communities. She currently serves on the Foundation and Volunteer Services team at the Cedar Rapids Public Library, where she helps lead efforts to raise funds for the new Westside Library—a transformational project expanding access and opportunity for families across the city.

Before her work in the nonprofit sector, Ashley spent several years in healthcare as a Certified Nursing Assistant and Surgical Technologist, assisting families through labor and delivery. That hands-on experience with Cedar Rapids families deepened her belief in equity, service, and community connection.

For more than a decade, Ashley has been a community and political organizer, advocating for fair funding, labor rights, and public education. She currently serves as Executive Vice President of a local women’s leadership organization, mentoring women in civic engagement and nonprofit leadership.

Ashley Burns is running for the Cedar Rapids School Board (District 3) to bring a bold, new voice to one of Iowa’s largest districts. She opposes vouchers and believes public dollars belong in public schools. Her priorities include expanding career and technical education pathways, ensuring safe and modern learning environments, and strengthening communication and trust across the district. Ashley believes that when schools are strong, the whole community thrives.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Advocacy matters. As the third-largest district in Iowa, we should be leading the way in shaping education policy and standing up for our students and staff.
• Every student, future ready. Our schools must care for the whole student—their academics, mental health, and sense of belonging—while preparing them for life after school, no matter their path. Whether a student chooses college, a trade, military service, or entering the workforce, every path deserves support and respect.
• Safe, modern, and equitable schools. Every student deserves a learning environment that is safe, comfortable, and future-ready, where both students and staff can thrive.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m passionate about public education, early childhood access, and workforce readiness through strong Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs. I believe innovation should be embraced in our classrooms, not feared, including integrating emerging tools like artificial intelligence to prepare students for the world ahead. I’m also deeply committed to teacher retention, equitable funding, and ensuring staff are valued as professionals.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I lead with integrity, empathy, and a collaborative spirit. My background in healthcare, community organizing, and public service has taught me how to listen deeply, find common ground, and take action. I believe leadership means showing up prepared, asking hard questions, and making decisions based on data, community input, and what’s best for kids and educators, not politics or personalities.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

A school board member's core responsibility is to ensure every decision aligns with the district’s mission (Every Learner, Future Ready) and to act as a bridge between the community and the classroom. That means setting clear policy, providing oversight, ensuring accountability, and advocating for the needs of students and staff with both courage and collaboration.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want my legacy to be that I helped make Cedar Rapids schools stronger, more equitable, and more connected to the community they serve. That I used my voice & my advocacy background, to move us from cautious to courageous.

If years from now people can say that our schools became places where every child felt seen, supported, and prepared for life after graduation, no matter their path, then I’ll have done my job.

I also hope my time on the board inspires others, especially younger generations and those who haven’t always felt represented, to step up and lead. Public education is the foundation of a healthy community, and when we nurture it with collaboration, transparency, and care, everyone benefits. I want to leave behind a district that believes in itself and continues to lead boldly for the next generation of students, families, and educators.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

The primary responsibility of a school board member is to ensure every decision aligns with the district’s mission (Every Learner. Future Ready) and to act as a bridge between the community and the classroom. That means setting clear policy, providing oversight, ensuring accountability, and advocating for the needs of students and staff with both courage and collaboration.

Who are your constituents?

My constituents are the families, students, educators, and community members of District 3 in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. But I also recognize that every decision a board member makes impacts the entire district—our 16,000 students, their families, and our staff across all schools.

That means my responsibility extends beyond one neighborhood or school. It includes listening to parents and caregivers, supporting teachers and education support professionals, and ensuring that every student, no matter their ZIP code, race, identity, or background, has access to a safe, high-quality public education. I also view our broader community as partners: local businesses, nonprofits, and civic leaders who share in the success of our schools. When we work together, our entire city benefits.

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

Strong public schools rely on strong community relationships. I plan to be a visible, accessible, and engaged board member who listens, learns, and collaborates across Cedar Rapids.

First, I’ll continue engaging with parents, students, educators, and staff through regular attendance at school events, board and committee meetings, and community forums. I also want to strengthen partnerships with neighborhood associations, PTAs, and cultural organizations, ensuring diverse voices are represented in district decisions.

I’ll prioritize connection with local nonprofits and civic organizations, such as the Cedar Rapids Public Library, local foundations, and workforce development partners, to expand learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Building strong relationships with local businesses and CTE partners will also be key to preparing students for life after graduation.

Finally, I’ll maintain open communication with city, county, and state leaders to advocate for fair funding and shared community goals. Collaboration, not isolation, is how we move Cedar Rapids schools forward.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The Cedar Rapids Gazette
Stonewall Democrats

Describe your ideal learning environment for students.

Smaller class sizes, modern classrooms, and temperature-controlled buildings.

Candidates hear many personal stories from voters. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching or memorable?

One that stays with me is from a Cedar Rapids parent who shared how their child struggled to feel safe and supported at school after experiencing anxiety and bullying. What struck me wasn’t just their concern; it was how much they still believed in our public schools and wanted to work with the district to make things better, not against it.

Their story reminded me why I’m running: because families aren’t looking for perfection, they’re looking for partnership. They want to be heard, to know their child is valued, and to see schools take action when things aren’t working.

That conversation reinforced for me that every data point we discuss as a district, attendance, behavior, achievement, represents real students and families with real hopes and challenges. It’s our job to listen to those stories, respond with empathy, and make decisions that honor the trust our community places in us.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

I’m most proud of my work helping to bring the new Westside Library to life. It’s a project years in the making, and one that will finally provide a much-needed community space for families, students, and neighbors on the west side of Cedar Rapids. Being part of that effort through my role with the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation and Volunteer Services team has been deeply meaningful because it represents what’s possible when a community believes in itself.

That project is about more than bricks and mortar; it’s about access, opportunity, and belonging. It’s a tangible reminder that when public institutions are supported, they can transform lives.

I’m also proud of my years of advocacy and organizing - helping elect leaders, strengthen public education, and bring people together around shared goals. Those experiences have shaped the kind of board member I strive to be: collaborative, prepared, and focused on the people at the center of every decision.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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