Brandon Clark (Colorado)

Brandon Clark

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Academy School District 20 school board, At-large

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 4, 2025

Education

High school

Odessa High School

Bachelor's

Northwest Missouri State University, 2012

Personal

Birthplace

Independence, Mo.

Religion

Catholic

Profession

Director of operations

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Brandon Clark ran for election for an at-large seat of the Academy School District 20 school board in Colorado. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

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

Biography

Brandon Clark was born in Independence, Missouri. He earned a bachelor's degree from Northwest Missouri State University in 2012. His career experience includes working as a director of operations.

Elections

2025

See also: Academy School District 20, Colorado, elections (2025)

General election

General election for Academy School District 20 school board, At-large (3 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Academy School District 20 school board, At-large on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		Susan Payne (Nonpartisan)
		Brandon Clark (Nonpartisan)
		Cynthia Halverson (Nonpartisan)
		Renée Ludlam (Nonpartisan)
		Jennafer Stites (Nonpartisan)
		Holly Tripp (Nonpartisan)
		Eddie Waldrep (Nonpartisan)

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The outcome of this election has not been called yet.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Clark in this election.

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Brandon Clark completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Clark's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m Brandon Clark, a dad of three young kids who either currently attend or soon will attend schools in Academy District 20. I’ve spent my career in strategy and planning for software companies, helping teams set goals, manage budgets, and work together to reach them.

Outside of work, I stay pretty involved in our community from serving on the PTO, to volunteering with the local Cub Scouts pack.

I decided to run for the D20 Board of Education because I believe strong schools are the foundation of a strong community. My focus is on keeping our district sensible, safe, and successful by supporting great teachers, spending tax dollars wisely, and ensuring every student feels welcome and supported in our schools.

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?

• We can’t have strong schools without great teachers. My top priority is attracting and retaining high-quality educators by creating a supportive culture and making sure our pay is competitive. When teachers feel valued and supported, our students succeed.
• We need to spend our tax dollars wisely and transparently. Every dollar should be working for students by supporting classrooms, teachers, and programs that directly improve learning. Our community deserves to know how their money is being used and to see real results.
• Every student deserves to feel safe, welcomed, and supported at school. That means focusing on both physical safety and the emotional well-being of our students and staff. A safe, welcoming environment is the foundation for academic and personal success.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m passionate about education policy that puts students and teachers first. That includes supporting competitive teacher pay, ensuring safe and supportive learning environments, and using taxpayer dollars responsibly to directly benefit classrooms. I also care deeply about transparency in governance, parents and community members should have a clear view into how decisions are made and how resources are used.

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

Integrity, humility, and a willingness to listen are essential. An elected official should lead with transparency, be open to differing viewpoints, and make decisions based on facts and community input rather than ideology. They should also be willing to admit when they don’t have all the answers and stay focused on doing what’s best for students and families, not the national narrative or what’s politically convenient.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was at the Pizza Hut in Odessa, Missouri. I started at 16, mostly so I could keep gas in my car and pay for insurance. It wasn’t glamorous, but it taught me how to work hard and take pride in showing up. I kept that mindset through college, working my way through to rent and tuition, and I’ve carried it into my career ever since. These days, that same drive goes toward supporting my family and building a future for my kids.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is The Catcher in the Rye. I first read it in high school, and it stuck with me because of how honest and imperfect the narrator is. Holden Caulfield’s voice felt real. Frustrated, curious, trying to make sense of the world around him. As an adult, I still appreciate that mix of honesty and questioning; it’s a reminder that growing up never really stops, and that paying attention to what’s real still matters.

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

The core responsibility of a school board member is to represent the community’s interests by setting policy, overseeing the district’s budget, and holding the superintendent accountable for results. Board members should focus on governance, not management, trusting the superintendent and their staff to do their job, but making sure our schools are safe, well-resourced, and focused on student learning. Just as importantly, they should listen to parents, teachers, and students, and make decisions that reflect the values and priorities of the entire community.

What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?

Proper funding starts with clear priorities and transparency. I would advocate for budgets that direct the largest share of resources toward classrooms; teacher pay, instructional support, and student programs. When possible, I’d support local funding measures like Mill Levy Overrides that are clearly tied to student outcomes and communicated honestly to voters. I also believe in working closely with state leaders to push for fair, sustainable education funding across Colorado so districts like ours aren’t forced to do more with less.

What are your preferred strategies for faculty, staff, and administration recruitment?

Recruiting and retaining great teachers and staff starts with creating a culture where people want to work. Competitive pay matters, but so does respect, support, and trust. I believe in building strong pipelines by partnering with local universities, offering mentorship opportunities for new teachers, and reducing unnecessary bureaucracy that drives good educators away. When we treat our faculty and staff as professionals and give them room to thrive, great people will want to join and stay.

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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Candidate

Academy School District 20 school board, At-large

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