Dara Ezzell-Pebworth

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

Dara Ezzell-Pebworth

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 4, 2025

Education

Bachelor's

Boise State University, 2021

Graduate

Boise State University, 2022

Personal

Profession

Social worker

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Dara Ezzell-Pebworth ran for election to the West Ada School District school board to represent Zone 1 in Idaho. She lost in the general election on November 4, 2025.

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

Elections

2025

See also: West Ada School District, Idaho, elections (2025)

General election

General election for West Ada School District school board Zone 1

Incumbent Lori Ann Frasure defeated Dara Ezzell-Pebworth in the general election for West Ada School District school board Zone 1 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Lori Ann Frasure (Nonpartisan)	53.7	3,126
	Submit photo	Dara Ezzell-Pebworth (Nonpartisan)	46.3	2,690

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 5,816
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Valerie Martindale (Nonpartisan)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Ezzell-Pebworth in this election.

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Dara Ezzell-Pebworth completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ezzell-Pebworth'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.

I’ve called Idaho home since 2001 and attended West Ada schools from 2nd grade through high school. With a bachelor’s and master’s in social work from Boise State University, and my LMSW earned in 2021, I’ve dedicated my career to advocating for Idahoans, promoting inclusion, and ensuring access to resources. I’m running for the West Ada School Board to use my experience in advocacy and problem-solving to help every student feel seen, supported, and empowered, and to strengthen schools for families and educators alike.

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?

• Visible inclusion is critical. It’s not enough to say everyone is welcome—our students, families, and staff need to see and feel that they belong. Inclusion means being intentional about making sure every person is accepted, valued, and able to participate fully. After the ‘Everyone is Welcome’ controversy, it’s clear we need to move beyond assumptions and show our commitment to real inclusion in our schools.
• Every student deserves to learn in a safe, supportive, and thriving environment — and that only happens when we also support the teachers who make it possible. With the recent decrease in property taxes reducing our district’s fiscal options, we must make responsible budget decisions that prioritize the classroom. That means protecting student well-being, ensuring strong learning environments, and giving teachers the respect and resources they need to help every child succeed.
• Strong schools are built on trust. Families, educators, and community members deserve open communication and a real voice in decision-making. As a trustee, I will work to ensure transparency in how decisions are made and how dollars are spent, while keeping the community actively involved. When we listen and lead together, our schools become stronger for everyone. Let's shape West Ada- Together!

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am deeply committed to fostering schools where students and teachers can thrive. My priorities include mental health, ensuring students have access to support and social-emotional resources; housing, advocating for stability that directly impacts learning; fiscal responsibility, making careful, transparent budget decisions that protect classroom resources and staff; transparency, keeping families and staff informed and involved; and teacher support, valuing educators with respect, resources, and professional development to help every student succeed.

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

The principles I believe are most important for an elected official are transparency, open-mindedness, advocacy, and collaboration.

Transparency ensures that decisions are clear, accessible, and accountable. Constituents deserve to understand not just what choices are made, but why, and how they impact the community. Transparency builds trust and empowers people to engage in shaping their schools and neighborhoods.

Open-mindedness allows leaders to listen to diverse perspectives and consider new ideas. The best solutions come from evaluating evidence, hearing lived experiences, and being willing to adapt when necessary.

Advocacy is at the heart of effective leadership. Elected officials must champion the needs of those they represent, amplify underrepresented voices, and work for fairness, equity, and opportunity in every decision.

Collaboration strengthens results. Working with colleagues, families, educators, and community partners ensures solutions are practical, inclusive, and sustainable.

By embracing these values, leaders can build stronger schools and communities, make decisions that truly serve the public, and ensure that every voice is heard and every person feels valued. These principles guide my work and will continue to guide me as I serve on the West Ada School Board.

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

In my view, the primary job of a school board member is to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality, safe, and equitable education. That means setting the vision and goals for the district, making thoughtful policy decisions, overseeing the budget, and supporting the superintendent in implementing those policies. It also means listening to parents, teachers, and students, staying transparent, and making decisions that put students’ needs first. Ultimately, a school board member is a public servant and advocate, working to create schools where every child can thrive.

Who are your constituents?

My primary constituents are the students, staff, and community members in Zone One. However, the decisions made within the school board impact all students, staff, and community members of West Ada; therefore, all of these members can be considered constituents.

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

I will build relationships by being involved and actively engaging with community members. My goal is to ensure that members know when they reach out to me that I will respond. While I want to engage with all groups, my primary focus is the staff of West Ada School District and the families of students.

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

I will work to ensure that I am available and that parents know when they reach out to me, they will receive a response. It may not always be 24 hours; it may look more like a 5-7 business day, but I will respond because I want to hear their concerns.

Candidates hear many personal stories from voters. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching or memorable?

Many of the stories I have heard are from parents who report concerns regarding bullying. I find these stories particularly important given the concerns with the "everyone is welcome" poster and my own experiences with bullying as a student.

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.

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Candidate

West Ada School District school board Zone 1

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