Sarah McMillen

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Sarah McMillen

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 5, 2025

Education

Bachelor's

Kansas Wesleyan University, 1998

Graduate

California Baptist University, 2001

Ph.D

Eisner Institute of Professional Studies, 2012

Personal

Birthplace

Kansas

Religion

Christian

Profession

Mental health professional

Contact

Campaign Facebook

Sarah McMillen ran for election to the Wichita Public Schools Board of Education to represent District 1 in Kansas. She lost in the primary on August 5, 2025.

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

Biography

Sarah McMillen was born in Kansas. She earned a bachelor's degree from Kansas Wesleyan University in 1998, a graduate degree from California Baptist University in 2001, and a Ph.D. from the Eisner Institute of Professional Studies in 2012. Her career experience includes working as a mental health professional and serving as a master’s level psychology advisory committee member with the Kansas Behavioral Science Regulatory Board.

Elections

2025

See also: Wichita Public Schools, Kansas, elections (2025)

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Wichita Public Schools, District 1

Incumbent Diane Albert and Mackenzi Truelove are running in the general election for Wichita Public Schools, District 1 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		Diane Albert (Nonpartisan)
		Mackenzi Truelove (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Wichita Public Schools, District 1

Incumbent Diane Albert and Mackenzi Truelove defeated Sarah McMillen and Kyle Wiseman in the primary for Wichita Public Schools, District 1 on August 5, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Diane Albert (Nonpartisan)	34.0	696
✔		Mackenzi Truelove (Nonpartisan)	30.9	631
		Sarah McMillen (Nonpartisan)	21.9	447
		Kyle Wiseman (Nonpartisan)	13.3	271

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source	Total votes: 2,045
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

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Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

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

Who am I? I am a mother, a wife, a Christian, a seeker of knowledge, and a protector of others. I am the first in my family to obtain a doctorate. My grandma was paid $100 by her dad to drop out after the 9th grade. My other grandma was not able to complete her high school education because of WW2. However, both ensured I understood that education changes lives and made sure their children and grandchildren had the opportunity to pursue it. As a result, I graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University with a BA in Psychology, California Baptist University with a MS in Counseling Psychology, and Eisner Institute of Professional Studies with a PsyD in Forensic Psychology. They also modeled the importance of fighting for what is right. I have a strong history of standing up in defense of my community and those who live there- whether that was at the local, state, or national level. Throughout my career, education has played a significant role. The most important lesson I have ever learned is the importance of continuing to seek knowledge and never to assume I have nothing left to learn. I have had many different opportunities through my life and career that have fundamentally shaped my worldview. My mission is to provide a voice to those who are unable to speak for themselves.

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?

• Education is a universal human right. Public education is essential and must be protected and funded. Without proper funding, schools will not be able to keep teachers or provide essential programs for students. I will fight for the funding that schools are legally allotted by the Constitution of the state of Kansas.
• Transparency is essential. A system that operates in the dark is doomed to have corruption, groupthink and stagnation. I will push for transparency and transformation. I will not only publicly share my positions, but will also seek out input from others.
• Educators have the most knowledge on what is needed in their classrooms and their schools. Educators voices are essential and should be sought out. I will fight for teachers to have a seat at the table and will regularly consult them on what they need and how policies will impact them.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about ensuring our public schools are fully funded. By simply providing them the funding they are already guaranteed through the Kansas Constitution, this could address the teacher shortage, improve special education services, and ensure everyone has access to quality education.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I have always looked up to my grandma. She taught me to never fear standing up for what is right, even if no one else will stand with you. Her life demonstrated a resiliency and bravery that is often only read about.

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

An elected professional should be ethical, have integrity, and be transparent.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To help guide the vision of the district, provide accountability for student success and teacher retention, and advocate for continued growth of the district.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave a legacy of showing compassion and being a strong advocate for others - making change through impacting the lives of others and encouraging them to do the same.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event that I remember happening was the explosion of the Challenger. I was in 1st grade. We had been studying about Christa McAuliffe and were so excited to watch her go to space. Our class was in the library watching the launch live when it exploded. I will never forget the silence or the heaviness that was present the rest of that day.

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

My very first "job" was helping sand/plaster drywall and clean with one friend's grandpa and lay carpet with another friend's dad. These jobs were a great way for me to spend time with friends, earn money, and lasted until I went to college.

Who are your constituents?

My constituents would be the entire community of District 1, including those who do not have students in USD 259.

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

I will advocate at the state and federal level. Whether it is through networking, offering opportunities for the community to learn why bonds are essential, providing testimony at committee hearings, pushing for funding that is already allotted for the schools, or through amicus briefs, I would advocate at all levels for school funding. I would also initiate conversations on why fully funded schools benefit everyone in society with those at the community and legislative levels to help obtain their support.

What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district?

I will encourage townhall meetings, community outreach events, and opportunities for parents to provide feedback and suggestions.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Financial transparency is essential for public trust and maintain ethical use of funding.

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

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Candidate

Wichita Public Schools, District 1

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