Laura Conway (Wayzata School Board At-large, Minnesota, candidate 2025)

Laura Conway

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Nonpartisan

Candidate, Wayzata School Board At-large

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 4, 2025

Education

High school

Mounds View High School

Bachelor's

University of Minnesota, 2006

Law

Texas A&M University, 2011

Personal

Birthplace

Davenport, Iowa

Profession

Nonprofit director

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Laura Conway is running for election to the Wayzata School Board At-large in Minnesota. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

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

Biography

Laura Conway provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on September 29, 2025:

• Birth date: September 15, 1983
• Birth place: Davenport, Iowa
• High school: Mounds View High School
• Bachelor's: University of Minnesota, 2006
• J.D.: Texas A&M University, 2011
• Gender: Female
• Religion: non-denominational
• Profession: Nonprofit Director
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign website
• Campaign Facebook

Elections

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for Wayzata School Board At-large (3 seats)

The following candidates are running in the general election for Wayzata School Board At-large on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Laura Conway (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Julie Joseph (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Heidi Kader (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Kate Knight (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Alicia Liddle (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Milind Sohoni (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

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Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Laura Conway completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Conway'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.

My name is Laura Conway, and I’m a mom of three young children just beginning their journey in Wayzata schools. I began my career as a city prosecutor, standing up for the public when they needed protection. Later, I built a nonprofit animal rescue that saved thousands of lives. In both roles, I lived a life of advocacy—listening, standing firm when needed, and always fighting for those without a voice.

What sets me apart as a candidate is that I bring a fresh, objective perspective and a proven record of leadership outside traditional education or corporate paths. My priorities are clear: safe schools, funding that supports teachers in the classroom, and a board that listens with transparency and respect.

As a parent and advocate, I believe every child deserves the chance to thrive. My life experiences have shaped me into the best candidate for this role, and I would be honored to earn your support.

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?

• Safe, supportive schools are my top priority. Families should feel confident that students are protected physically, supported mentally, and safe in a digital world.

  That means secure buildings with trained staff and clear emergency procedures, along with strong partnerships for school resource support when appropriate.

  It means expanding access to counselors and mental health resources, addressing bullying, and ensuring students have trusted adults to turn to.

  Finally, I think cybersecurity is also part of school safety. We need to protect sensitive data and ensure the technology our schools rely on remains safe, stable, and resilient.
• We must continue to prioritize classroom investments, because teachers and students feel the impact of budget choice. I will advocate for policies that protect reasonable class sizes, provide high-quality instructional materials, and ensure teachers have access to coaching and professional development. When we cut classroom resources, students feel it the most. When we invest in classroom resources, students benefit the most. Every dollar should be measured by its impact on learning and well-being.
• The board must listen and respond to families, students, and staff. Implementing major changes without adequate input can leave teachers, students, and parents frustrated. I will work to build avenues for feedback and ensure decisions are communicated clearly and openly. Transparency builds trust and listening to the community creates better solutions.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about making sure our instructional models reflect the needs of students. The recent middle school schedule change was made with good intentions, but it has also raised concerns about student support and teacher collaboration.

We don’t always get things perfect, and that’s okay—what matters is how we respond. Board policy should ensure that changes of this magnitude are guided by research, shaped with teacher and parent input, and evaluated for their impact on student learning and well-being.

Our values are reflected not only in the decisions we make, but in our willingness to listen, learn, and make constructive adjustments based on community feedback.

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

Integrity, transparency, and respect. Families deserve board members who listen with an open mind, make decisions grounded in facts and student needs, and treat others with respect—even when there’s disagreement.

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

The board sets direction, approves budgets, and hires and evaluates the superintendent. We don’t manage daily operations—that’s the superintendent’s job. Our role is to govern, listen to the community, and ensure resources align with student learning and well-being.

Who are your constituents?

Every student, parent, teacher, and resident in the district. While families with children in our schools feel decisions most directly, the entire community has a stake in strong schools.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

By listening first. Diversity includes different backgrounds, abilities, and perspectives. Policies should provide equal access to opportunity—whether that’s strong literacy programs, mental health supports, or safe, inclusive schools.

What principles drive your policies for safety in schools?

Safety must be comprehensive: physical security in our buildings, mental health supports for students and staff, and strong cybersecurity to protect sensitive data. Discipline is also part of safety. Policies should be clear, consistent, and fair.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

I helped grow a nonprofit animal rescue from a couple volunteers into one of the largest in the country, saving thousands of lives. It wasn’t glamorous, lots of late nights and gritty work, but it showed me the power of community when people rally behind a mission.

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

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Candidate

Wayzata School Board At-large

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