Kelly Thompson (MIssouri)
Kelly Thompson ran for election to the Kansas City Public Schools Board of Education to represent Sub-district 1. She lost in the general election on April 8, 2025.
Thompson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Kelly Thompson was born in Kansas City, Kansas. She earned a high school diploma from the Sumner Academy of Arts & Science. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri and a graduate degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Her career experience includes working as the Director of Client Services at Evertune AI.[1]
Elections
2025
See also: Kansas City Public Schools, Missouri, elections (2025)
General election
General election for Kansas City Public Schools Board of Education Sub-district 1
Incumbent Rita Cortes defeated Kelly Thompson in the general election for Kansas City Public Schools Board of Education Sub-district 1 on April 8, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Rita Cortes (Nonpartisan) | 71.6 | 5,091 |
 | Kelly Thompson (Nonpartisan)  | 27.7 | 1,967 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.8 | 54 | ||
| Total votes: 7,112 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Thompson in this election.
Campaign themes
2025
Video for Ballotpedia
| Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released March 9, 2025 |
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kelly Thompson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Thompson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Determined to break those barriers, I became the first in my family to graduate from college, later building a career in journalism and media. Reporting and producing content for policymakers, business leaders, and scientists, I helped shape critical conversations that impacted communities locally and globally.
After moving to Kansas City, I earned a Master’s degree and spent over a decade leading teams in innovation and human-centered design. My work centers on stakeholder alignment, empowering teams, and turning ambitious ideas into measurable impact. As a solo parent raising two daughters, I show up every day with care, consistency, and a commitment to joy—the same approach I bring to my community.
Now, I’m ready to bring my experience, passion, and collaborative spirit to the Kansas City Public School Board. I believe in working alongside teachers, families, and community members to create schools where every child feels seen, valued, supported, and prepared for the future.- Hope in Action: Empowering Our Children's Future For 10 years, I’ve navigated KCPS as a devoted parent championing an education system where every child can thrive. I’ve worked to secure the resources and transparency that my high school freshman and second grader deserve, believing that every student has untapped potential. I’m ready to lead a positive change that transforms our schools into nurturing environments of opportunity. Together, we can create a future where every child flourishes and every family feels supported.
- Beyond 'Good Enough': Building Schools That Inspire and Empower Our current baseline—accreditation—is not enough for our children. While meeting minimal standards is an achievement, our kids deserve thriving schools, not ones that merely survive. It’s unacceptable when classrooms sit empty and resources are scarce. We must demand more than “good enough.” Together, we can set a higher bar for Kansas City’s education, ensuring every student is supported, challenged, and prepared for a bright future.
- Building Communities Through Strong Schools Strong schools are the cornerstone of a resilient community. When every child feels seen, valued, and empowered, our neighborhoods thrive. I envision schools as community hubs where families, teachers, and students unite to nurture growth and opportunity. By investing in our education system, we invest in a hopeful future for Kansas City. I’m committed to creating a system that uplifts every student and family.
Accountability & Transparency – I believe in clear, honest communication and ensuring that decisions are made with and for the community, not behind closed doors.
Problem-Solving & Strategic Thinking – My background in leadership, project management, and human-centered design has given me the skills to navigate complex challenges and drive real, systemic solutions.
Advocacy & Parent Perspective – As a KCPS parent, I understand firsthand the barriers families face. I’m running to bring that lived experience to the decision-making table and ensure policies reflect the realities of the community.
Collaborative Leadership – I know how to work across different perspectives to build solutions that actually work, rather than just maintaining the status quo.
A board member must also engage with the community—not just during elections, but consistently—so that policies reflect the realities and needs of students and families. Transparency, accessibility, and trust-building are essential for effective governance.
Most importantly, this role requires courage—to challenge the status quo when it isn’t working, to push for equity in resources and opportunities, and to fight for a school system that serves all students, not just those who already have access to success.
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.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
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Candidate Kansas City Public Schools Board of Education Sub-district 1 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 9, 2025
