Rexford Davidson, Kaycee Schippers and Justin David Smith have been elected to the Johnston school board, each earning a first term, according to unofficial election results.
They defeated Connor Christenson, Patrick Green and Alicia Penner.
No incumbents sought reelection.
More: Meet the 6 candidates running for Johnston school board
Davidson, 35, works as a corporate commercial counsel. He earned his law degree from Drake University.
“I am interested in giving back to Johnston schools and to the Johnston community and helping ensure that Johnston’s schools are the best they can be for students now and in the future,” Davidson said.
Johnston School Board candidate Rexford Davidson looks out at the audience during a public candidate forum on Oct. 14, 2025, at Johnston High School.
Davidson said he would focus on recruiting and retaining quality teachers and staff to ensure the district can compete for students.
Schippers, 58, is a paralegal. She has volunteered and served as a board member with Annie’s Foundation, the Iowa Paralegal Association and the Meredith Neighborhood Association.
“I am running for Johnston school board because I am passionate about public education and I am tired of the culture wars,” she said.
Kaycee Schippers, a candidate for the Johnston School Board, speaks during a candidate forum on Oct. 14, 2025, at Johnston High School.
Schippers said the district faces “chronic underfunding” by the state. She said she would try to find “creative solutions” to budget problems.
Smith, 43, is a social studies teacher with master’s degrees in history and education.
“I want to expand access to early learning, support and retain great teachers, and strengthen college and career pathways so every student is ready for the future,” he said.
Justin Smith, a candidate for the Johnston School Board, looks down the line of candidates during a forum on Oct. 14, 2025, at Johnston High School.
Smith said the district faces challenges with “stagnant funding for public schools, while private schools are not held to the same standards.”
He said it’s important to expand pre-K services, attract and retain teachers and expand opportunities for college and career readiness.
The three losing candidates were reprimanded by the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board for violating state campaign law after they refused to remove their signs from a local company’s property.
More: Ethics board reprimands Johnston school candidates for ‘willful defiance’ of campaign law
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. She writes about campaigns, elections and the Iowa Caucuses. Reach her at [email protected] or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Three candidates earn first term on Johnston school board
