Kayla Marshall
Elections and appointments
Personal
Contact
Kayla Marshall (Republican Party) ran for election to the New Mexico House of Representatives to represent District 13. She lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Marshall completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Marshall was a candidate for District 5 representative on the Albuquerque Public Schools school board in New Mexico. Marshall was defeated in the by-district general election on February 7, 2017.
Biography
Marshall was born in Roswell, New Mexico. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of New Mexico in 2005 and her master's degree from the University of New Mexico in 2007. Her career experience includes managing rental properties. She has also worked in design and testing of microelectronics, as a technical writer, and in accounting.[1]
Organizations
As of her 2020 campaign, Marshall was affiliated with the following organizations:[1]
- New Mexico Education Improvement Project; board of directors
Elections
2020
See also: New Mexico House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
Democratic primary election
Republican primary election
2017
- See also: Albuquerque Public Schools elections (2017)
Four of the seven seats on the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education were up for by-district general election on February 7, 2017. In his bid for re-election to District 3, incumbent Lorenzo Garcia defeated challengers Ali Ennenga, Amy Legant, and Charles White. District 5 incumbent Steven Michael Quezada and District 6 incumbent Don Duran did not file to run for re-election, leaving both seats open for newcomers. Four candidates—Annie Bell-Rahman, Rachel Gonzales, Kayla Marshall, and Candelaria Patterson—ran for the District 5 seat, and Patterson won the race. Six candidates—Abbas Ali Akhil, Elizabeth Armijo, C. Douglas Brown, Melissa Finch, Paula Maes, and Paul Sievert—ran for the District 6 seat, and Armijo won. The race for the District 7 seat featured incumbent David Peercy and challengers Ian Burch, William Steinberg, and Brian Tierney. Peercy won re-election to the board.[2] A total of six candidates withdrew from the race before their names were put on the ballot: R. Jason Vaillancourt in District 3, Than-Lan Sena, Alex Villanueva, and Anne Young in District 5, Stephen Verchinski in District 6, and Sina-Aurelia Pleasant-Soul in District 7.[3][4]
Results
Albuquerque Public Schools,
District 5 General Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
| Candidate |
Vote % |
Votes |
 Candelaria Patterson |
56.83% |
1,024 |
| Kayla Marshall |
26.86% |
484 |
| Rachel Gonzales |
11.71% |
211 |
| Annie Bell-Rahman |
4.61% |
83 |
| Total Votes |
1,802 |
| Source: Bernalillo County Clerk, "APS/CNM School Board Election February 7, 2017," accessed February 22, 2017 and Bernalillo County Clerk, "APS/CNM School Board Election was certified Friday, Feb. 10th, 2017," February 13, 2017 |
Funding
- See also: Campaign finance in the Albuquerque Public Schools election
Marshall reported no contributions or expenditures to the New Mexico Secretary of State in the election.[5]
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kayla Marshall completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Marshall's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Expand all | Collapse all
I am a New Mexico native and have lived in district 13 for more than 16 years. My husband and I have five children ranging in age from 19 years to a newborn. I am proud to live in this neighborhood. I have degrees in Computer Engineering and Business from the University of New Mexico. My work from home job and small business allow me to be home to raise our toddler and newborn. I believe that we need to be represented by regular people who will put the needs of their neighbors first.
- Protect our families from those who want to take our property, security and peace-of-mind
- Keep our hard earned money.
- Protect our constitutional rights.
I am passionate about the constitution. Our rights are not bestowed upon us by the government. The government only exists to protect our God given rights.
I care about my neighbors' ability to provide for their families through a good paying job or starting a business. Our state needs to provide a business friendly environment so that good jobs are available. Our tax policy needs to be fair and not burdensome. You cannot tax people into prosperity.
Our criminal justice system needs resources to fight all crimes that violate our families and their property (i.e., burglary, theft), not just violent offenses. We should feel safe to walk the streets even in the downtown areas.
Our children deserve a quality education. We need to fund programs in the arts, trades, vocations and careers that inspire students to learn. These are the programs usually first on the budget chopping block. That is a detriment to our students. Parents should be free to choose the educational environment that best suits their family and children whether that is public, private, charter or home school. Decision making regarding curriculum should be done locally and we need to reduce time and money spent on standardized testing.
I will defend the right to life for all individuals from conception to natural death. It is a sign of great oppression for a woman to believe that her child will prevent her from achieving her dreams or being successful. A state representative is responsible for upholding the best interests of their constituents. It's important for a legislator to be in communication with individuals in their district to understand what is important to them and keep them informed about what is happening in the legislature.
I got my very first job as a receptionist at a veterinarian's office when I was a Junior in high school. I was part of the Business Professionals of American program that allowed me to receive school credit for working. I held that job until shortly after I graduated high school because I moved to Albuquerque for college.
Our greatest challenge is to recover from the state budget deficit caused by the reduction in oil and gas revenue and the COVID-19 business shutdowns. We must do this in a way that doesn't further burden our citizens. Before the COVID-19 fallout, our state budget was increased despite warnings of a possible downturn in the oil and gas market. So, it would be extremely unfair to increase taxes while many in our community are trying to financially recover from losing their jobs or business income during the virus shutdown. Some have proposed taking more money from our permanent fund. This is a short term solution that will weaken the state in the future. The best solution is for the government to tighten its belt. Our community made huge financial sacrifices in the wake of the virus and the government needs to respond by reducing its budget.
Of course it's beneficial to build relationships with other legislators. It's beneficial to build relationships with others in all aspects of life. Humans need relationships and relationships are the key to cooperation.
I am not currently planning to run for any other political office in the future. It's my goal to serve my neighbors in the state legislature, not use it as a stepping stone to advance my political career.
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.
2017
Marshall participated in a questionnaire provided by the Albuquerque school district. The district's questions are shown in bolded text, and Marshall's answers follow below.
1. Why do you want to be a board member for Albuquerque Public Schools?
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I have 3 kids who attend APS. Parents delegate the authority to educate their children to the public schools and taxpayers fund them. As a parent and taxpayer, I will hold the school district responsible for wise use of funding to produce a quality education for our children. Holding the school district accountable will result in better education rankings for the district and the entire state.[6]
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”
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| —Kayla Marshall (2017)[7]
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2. What is your interest in education?
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I want my own children to be prepared to fully participate in society when they graduate, but I am also interested in the success of all children in our community. When I see that our state is consistently ranked 49th out of 50 states for education and our school district is contributing to the problem, I have to take action.
Our kids are not learning to be critical thinkers. The district keeps asking for more and more tax money and we also pass bond measures every time they are presented. More money is not solving this problem because the money is not going to the classroom. Teachers are blamed for the poor results, but they don’t have the support and resources they need to be successful. It is time for moms and dads to stand with their children’s teachers. Our nation offers advantages that are not available to everyone and our children must have the skills and education to capitalize on these advantages.[6]
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”
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| —Kayla Marshall (2017)[7]
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3. In what ways will you support the mission and vision of the district?
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The missing piece from the mission statement is “partnership with families.” Student success comes from both the home and the school. Our schools need to engage our families. It is important to strengthen the relationship between families and the schools. Parents should not be disconnected from their children’s education. They should be involved in decision making concerning their children’s education.[6]
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”
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| —Kayla Marshall (2017)[7]
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4. How will you work with the superintendent?
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My goal is to improve the educational product. As board members, it is our responsibility to set expectations for the superintendent and a direction for the district. The superintendent works for the board, so I expect her to follow through with the board’s plan. Metrics that indicate success will be clearly established and I will carefully consider input from the superintendent and my constituency when making decisions.[6]
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”
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| —Kayla Marshall (2017)[7]
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5. What is your past and current involvement with Albuquerque Public Schools?
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I am a member of the Jimmy Carter PTO and participate in the Instructional Council. My kids currently attend Jimmy Carter and Atrisco Heritage Academy. My husband graduated from Valley.[6]
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”
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| —Kayla Marshall (2017)[7]
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6. What should be the relationship between the superintendent and Board of Education?
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The board is responsible to the students and their families for the educational product. The board shapes district policies and the superintendent directs the implementation of the policies for the staff. The superintendent works for the board, so it must clearly communicate expectations to the superintendent and determine whether those expectations are being met. It must also take appropriate action if expectations aren’t being met. School boards answer to parents, taxpayers, legislators, and education departments. Superintendent’s answer to school boards.[6]
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”
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| —Kayla Marshall (2017)[7]
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7. What qualities and skills would you bring to the Board of Education?
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I bring a perspective is rarely represented on the board because I am a mom of students currently attending APS. I understand the struggles of the students and their teachers because I witness the results of the schools on a daily basis with my own kids.
I currently work in accounting and I have a master’s degree in business and a bachelor’s degree in engineering. So, I am a problem solver that understands finance and budgeting. At
work, we faced a huge increase in medical insurance premiums with our current carrier. I proposed a different plan structure with a different carrier which cost about $30,000 less.
Employees benefitted from both lower premiums and a company contribution to their health savings accounts. I will bring critical thinking and problem solving skills necessary to solve the district's problems.[6]
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”
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| —Kayla Marshall (2017)[7]
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8. What school or community volunteer activities have you participated in related to the community?
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I consider my highest job to be a mom. I am a band parent, and participated in cub scouts, basketball, school orchestra and Albuquerque Youth Symphony with my kids. I volunteer as a Children’s Leader with BSF International. I led student groups at my church, Sagebrush, in the past. I have been on a mission trip to Brazil and sent my oldest son on a mission trip to Jamaica.[6]
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”
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| —Kayla Marshall (2017)[7]
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9. How do you plan to work with constituents?
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My constituents are always welcome to email me or connect with me on social media. It is important to me to attend school events and to be visible in the community. When I am elected, I will attend PTO/PTA and Instructional Council meetings at my district schools. We will infuse parental input into the Instructional Councils by requiring a certain number of parents to attend.[6]
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”
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| —Kayla Marshall (2017)[7]
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10. What do you see as opportunities and challenges to the district?
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Our district faces some of the worst graduation rates in the state and our teachers are demoralized by the evaluation process. Teachers are being held accountable for standardized test scores while not being given what they need to succeed. However, our teachers are committed to our children. They want to be part of the team that develops a strategy to improve educational outcomes and then realize the success.
Another challenge our district faces is impoverished thinking. Many use economic status as an excuse, but we can’t let our current circumstances limit our future. I was raised by a single mom who put herself through college after her divorce. It was clear to me the power that education had in changing circumstances. I made the decision to pursue my goals and
not let circumstances define me. That is what I am bringing into this district. We have an opportunity to break the cycle of impoverished thinking by showing our children that they can succeed no matter their family circumstances.[6]
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”
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| —Kayla Marshall (2017)[7]
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11. What do you think is the best way for the district to accomplish the three academic goals?
- a. Early learning - Early learning begins with expecting parents, is nurtured as children develop language and number skills in elementary school, and grows with students as they mature in supportive classrooms becoming adept at using these skills in a variety of contexts.
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There is nothing better for childhood development than a mother and a father. Involving parents in the education process is the most important thing a school can do. Have you seen a child’s face light up when they bring their parents into their classroom? Parental involvement is a major predictor of student success so schools should be the center of family life instead of just a place for children. Incorporating the family into the school strengthens the family unit and leads to better student outcomes.[6]
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| —Kayla Marshall (2017)[7]
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- b. College and Career Readiness - Students acquire skills which support formal and informal life-long learning to adapt and remain productive through changing economic and job market landscapes. All students will be prepared for postsecondary opportunities (college and/or career) without the need for remediation.
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Educational deficiencies must be caught and corrected as early as possible in a student’s school career. By the time students reach middle and high school it is much harder to correct reading and writing difficulties. Students are required to take standardized tests four times a year, but the results of these tests are not being used to make educational decisions about individual students. The end of year results are not even received until months into the next school year. The results are not being used to craft individual education plans, so how are these tests benefitting our students? The tests take valuable classroom time that could be spent on activities that are actually interesting to the students so that they are inspired to learn.[6]
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| —Kayla Marshall (2017)[7]
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- c. Developing the Whole Child - APS will ensure each child is safe, engaged, challenged and supported through programs and practices focused on removing social, emotional and physical barriers to learning and increased health literacy.
- Safe and welcoming environment
- Whole Child includes ... physical, mental, emotional, social, intellectual
- Remove barriers to learning
- Discover and develop individual gifts and talents
- Use skills to better the community
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One of the biggest barriers to learning in my district is not knowing English. As a whole, APS is only graduating 53% of English language learners. These kids are struggling though classes because they don’t understand the language. Our programs to teach them English are not effective. These kids don’t have equal access to education because they cannot understand what is being taught.[6]
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| —Kayla Marshall (2017)[7]
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12. If elected, how will you work with the current board?
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I am committed to work with the other members and to fulfill my individual responsibilities so that the team functions properly. I will research the issues to prepare for discussions at our meetings. I will ask questions that come from a critical thinking position so discussions lead to productive results. I share teaching roles with other people in my volunteer work. Many times my critical thinking skills helped our team plan long-term goals as well as positively affect logistics within the classroom. Being able to see process-related details makes me a valuable asset to any team.[6]
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| —Kayla Marshall (2017)[7]
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See also
External links
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 19, 2020.
- ↑ Bernalillo County Clerk, "APS/CNM School Board Election February 7, 2017 Unofficial Results," accessed February 7, 2017
- ↑ Bernalillo County, "2017 School Board Election Candidates," accessed February 1, 2017
- ↑ Albuquerque Journal, "APS board election attracts 24 candidates," December 20, 2016
- ↑ New Mexico Campaign Finance Information System, "Public Reports: Search Candidates," accessed April 4, 2017
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 Albuquerque Public Schools, "2017 Questionnaire for Board of Education Candidates," accessed February 2, 2017
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Javier Martínez
Majority Leader:Reena Szczepanski
Minority Leader:Gail Armstrong
Representatives
Democratic Party (44)
Republican Party (26)
