Dionna Langford
Dionna Langford was the District 2 representative on the Des Moines Public Schools school board in Iowa. She was first elected in 2015. She did not run for re-election in 2019.
Biography
Langford is a youth development specialist with the Youth Work Readiness Program at Children and Families of Iowa. A graduate of East High School, Langford went on to earn a bachelor's degree in social work from the University of Iowa.[1] When she was first elected to the Des Moines school board at the age of 24, she became the youngest member the school board had ever seen up to that point.[2]
Board membership
2015-2017
The Des Moines school board voted unanimously on 96.35 percent of its motions between the annual organization meeting on September 15, 2015, and the regular board meeting on July 11, 2017. The voting data indicated that Rob Barron, Connie Boesen, Cindy Elsbernd, Dionna Langford, and Teree Caldwell-Johnson were the governing majority on the board, and Natasha Newcomb was the sole member of a minority faction. Heather Anderson did not vote consistently enough with Newcomb or the majority to be considered part of either group.[3]
Elections
2017
Four of the seven seats on the Des Moines Public Schools school board in Iowa were up for nonpartisan general election on September 12, 2017. The race for the two at-large seats on the board included incumbent Rob Barron and challengers Louisa Dykstra and Kyrstin Delagardelle Shelley. Barron won another term on the board, and Shelley won the other at-large seat, which was left open by incumbent Connie Boesen, who instead ran for the Des Moines City Council. In their bids for re-election to the District 2 and District 4 seats, incumbents Dionna Langford and Teree Caldwell-Johnson ran unopposed and won additional terms on the board.[4][5][6]
Results
| Des Moines Public Schools, District 2 General Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Dionna Langford Incumbent (unopposed) |
97.79% | 840 |
| Write-in votes | 2.21% | 19 |
| Total Votes | 859 | |
| Source: Polk County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, "School Election Tuesday, September 12, 2017: Official Results," accessed September 18, 2017 | ||
Funding
Langford began the race with an existing account balance of $287.47 from her previous campaign. She reported $400.00 in contributions and $100.00 in expenditures to Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, which left her campaign with $587.47 on hand in the election.[7]
Endorsements
Langford was endorsed by the Des Moines Education Association.[8]
2015
Four of the seven seats on the Des Moines Public Schools School Board were up for election on September 8, 2015. The available seats included an at-large seat with a four-year term, seats with four-year terms in Districts 1 and 3, and a seat with a two-year term in District 2.
Prior to 2013, all representatives on the school board represented the district at-large. Voters approved a proposal to incorporate four district representatives on the school board in 2011. In 2013, residents voted for representatives in District 2 and District 4. In 2015, residents voted for a representative in District 1 and District 3. Toussaint Cheatom won the election for the District 2 seat in 2013, but he resigned due to health concerns. Nathan Blake was appointed to the open seat. The District 2 seat was open in 2015 for a two-year term.[9]
Incumbent Cindy Elsbernd defeated Royce Turner for the at-large seat. Newcomers Heather Anderson and Shane Schulte ran for the one available seat in District 1. Anderson defeated Schulte. Dionna Langford defeated challengers Ed Linebach and Edgar Ortiz for the two-year term seat in District 2. In District 3, Rocio Hermosillo was defeated by Natasha Newcomb. Incumbents Nathan Blake, Bill Howard, and Pat Sweeney did not run for re-election.[10][11][12]
Results
This election was held September 8, 2015.
| Des Moines Public Schools, District 2, 2-Year Term, General Election, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Dionna Langford |
43.0% | 511 |
| Edgar Ortiz | 39.1% | 465 |
| Ed Linebach | 17.9% | 213 |
| Total Votes | 1,189 | |
| Source: Polk County Auditor's Office, "Regular School Election," accessed November 12, 2015 | ||
Funding
Langford reported $3,111.01 in contributions and $2,261.14 in expenditures to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, which left her campaign with $849.87 on hand during the election.[13]
Endorsements
Langford was endorsed by state Reps. Ako Abdul-Samad (D-35) and Ruth Ann Gaines (D-32).[14]
Campaign themes
2017
Langford participated in the following questionnaire conducted by The Des Moines Register. The questions provided by the newspaper appear bolded, and Langford's responses follow below.
What is the biggest challenge facing Des Moines Schools?
| “ | The inadequate state supplemental aid we are receiving from the state legislature.[15] | ” |
| —Dionna Langford (2017)[16] | ||
What are your top three priorities if elected?
| “ |
|
” |
| —Dionna Langford (2017)[16] | ||
What is your view on the proposal to change school start times in Des Moines?
| “ | In the spring, I likely would have supported the measure if we found reasonable solutions for the students and families at Ruby Van Meter. My support this fall will largely depend on the progress the district has made in resolving their concerns.[15] | ” |
| —Dionna Langford (2017)[16] | ||
What is your view on the proposal to change school start times for Smouse and Van Meter schools?
| “ | The Ruby Van Meter community expressed several concerns about the effect the proposed changes in start time would have for their students and families. We heard them, and postponed the vote to allow the district time to work with staff, parents, and students to address their concerns.[15] | ” |
| —Dionna Langford (2017)[16] | ||
Why are you running for Des Moines School Board?
| “ | I care about the future of public education in our city. From the board’s perspective I want to continue to build communication between our community and our school district. I hope to lead with integrity, respect, courage, and most importantly as our students have taught me with love.[15] | ” |
| —Dionna Langford (2017)[16] | ||
2015
Langford's campaign website listed the following campaign themes for 2015:
Career & College Readiness for ALL of our Students
| “ | Des Moines Public Schools has a responsibility to ensure that every child has a choice of pursuing trade school, college, or whatever other aspirations they have for themselves. If elected, I will constantly monitor the Career & College Readiness of our students and will support district/community collaborations that improve it.[15] | ” |
| —Dionna Langford (2015)[17] | ||
Equity in Achievement for ALL of our Students
| “ | Our schools have an obligation to educate everyone, but our current student achievement data doesn’t reflect this. If elected, I will constantly monitor the gap in equity of our student achievement levels and support community/district collaborations that reduce these inequities.[15] | ” |
| —Dionna Langford (2015)[17] | ||
Consistent Community Collaboration
| “ | The Des Moines School Board should consistently engage its community in efforts to listen and communicate progress. If elected, I will push to increase the frequency and quality of the Board’s engagement with our community and support the collaborations that strengthen that increased engagement.[15] | ” |
| —Dionna Langford (2015)[17] | ||
See also
- Des Moines Public Schools, Iowa
- Des Moines Public Schools elections (2017)
- Des Moines Public Schools elections (2015)
- Newcomers and incumbents share the victories in Iowa's largest school district elections (September 9, 2015)
- Analysis of incumbency advantage in the 2014 school board elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Langford for School Board, "Meet Dionna," accessed August 8, 2017
- ↑ WHOTV.com, "A Historically New Era for School Board in Des Moines," September 16, 2015
- ↑ Des Moines Public Schools, "Meetings," accessed August 8, 2017
- ↑ Des Moines Public Schools, "2017 School Board Candidates," accessed August 4, 2017
- ↑ The Des Moines Register, "Longtime Des Moines school board member Connie Boesen to challenge Skip Moore for at-large City Council seat," May 31, 2017
- ↑ Polk County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, "School Election Tuesday, September 12, 2017: Unofficial Results," accessed September 12, 2017
- ↑ Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, "IECDB State/Local Campaign Disclosure Reports," accessed January 22, 2018
- ↑ Facebook, "Des Moines Education Association post August 14, 2017," accessed August 23, 2017
- ↑ Des Moines Public School, "School Board Election Information," accessed March 27, 2015
- ↑ Polk County Auditor's Office, "Regular School Election," accessed September 8, 2015
- ↑ Des Moines Public Schools, "2015 School Board Candidates," accessed August 3, 2015
- ↑ Office of the Polk County Auditor, "Candidate Guide," accessed March 11, 2015
- ↑ Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, "IECDB State/Local Campaign Disclosure Reports," accessed February 2, 2016
- ↑ Langford for School Board, "Endorsements," accessed August 18, 2015
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 The Des Moines Register, "Dionna Langford: Des Moines School Board candidate," August 31, 2017
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Langford for School Board, "Platform," accessed August 18, 2015
| Des Moines Public Schools elections in 2017 | |
| Polk County, Iowa | |
| Election date: | September 12, 2017 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Incumbent, Rob Barron • Louisa Dykstra • Kyrstin Delagardelle Shelley District 2: • Incumbent, Dionna Langford District 4: • Incumbent, Teree Caldwell-Johnson |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
| 2015 Des Moines Public Schools Elections | |
| Polk County, Iowa | |
| Election date: | September 8, 2015 |
| Candidates: | At-large: Incumbent, Cindy Elsbernd • Royce Turner District 1: Heather Anderson • Shane Schulte |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
