My name is Susan Hostetter! Augusta is my home with my daughter and her family. I moved to Augusta 5 years ago after my husband passed away. I was an educator for 40+years. I have 4 grandchildren that attend Augusta Public Schools.

There are many challenges facing our schools and community that must be addressed with all stakeholders in mind. I believe the pathway to success is unique to each child, and we need to provide support to all children to meet them where they are and help them succeed.

I was elected to the school board in 2021 and have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the educational process in Augusta. I enjoy attending school functions and actively being a part of the great things happening in Augusta Schools and the community. I’m running for reelection to continue the amazing work I’ve already been a part of!

Exciting things are happening in USD 402 with more to come. Our vision is to provide opportunities for success for all students! It’s important that we offer opportunities for our students in the ever changing world and help them be successful contributing members of society.

It is important as a Board Member to lead with purpose! As a board member, we work toward common goals to provide programs and services for ALL students. We have the opportunity to help make a difference in children’s lives in USD 402 and help them gain the tools to be successful moving forward! We should lead with transparency, integrity, accountability and fiscal responsibility! Our decisions have lasting impact on students, staff, and the community! I feel it is our responsibility to support educators and staff. We must provide them with the tools, respect and resources they need!

What is your full name, occupation, and how long have you lived in the district?

Angie Johnston
Owner and Operator of Family 1 st Living
I am a lifelong resident of Augusta, KS

What professional, educational, or community experiences do you have that will support your role as a board member? (if you have spent time in our schools, please share).

I hold a Bachelor’s in Education from Wichita State University and taught in the Andover School District for four years. After starting my own family, I transitioned into managing our family business, Family 1st Living, LP, which I have successfully led for the past 21 years.

My experiences as an educator, parent, and businesswoman provide me with a well-rounded perspective as a board member. For the past four years, I have had the privilege of serving on the Augusta Board of Education. In that time, we have made meaningful and positive changes for our district. While change can bring challenges, I am confident in the strength of our leadership team and community, and I am proud to have contributed my ideas, perspective, and resources as an engaged board and community member.

All four of my daughters attended Augusta Public Schools. Two of them were diagnosed with learning disabilities, one as late as age 21 and the other in fifth grade, while my other two daughters excelled academically. These experiences give me a unique perspective as both a parent and community member. I understand the challenges students with learning differences face, as well as the opportunities available to those who thrive in traditional settings.

Why are you running for the Board of Education, and what are your top priorities for the district?

My family experienced tragedy during the Moore Tornado in 1999. My dad and brother were caught in that awful storm and my dad passed away, the Augusta community absolutely wrapped their arms around us during that time and I knew I would follow in my parent’s footsteps and give back whenever I could. I have volunteered in various roles in the community, including serving as President of the Chamber of Commerce, Augusta Progress, Inc., AHS Booster Club, AMS PTO, St. James PTO, and the Kansas Manufactured Housing Association where I currently continue to serve. I am also a founding board member and past Treasurer of Augusta Bright Futures. Each role deepened my understanding of local government and strengthened my commitment to serving Augusta schools, especially as my own children began transitioning out of the system.

Priorities:
1. Improving Student Outcomes: Every Augusta child deserves the best chance at success. I strongly champion literacy and am proud that our district has embraced the Science of Reading.
2. Supporting Teachers & Staff: I value the work of our superintendent and administration in seeking resources and listening to concerns. While progress can feel slow, I believe in balancing urgency with thoughtful implementation to keep staff, administration, and the board aligned.
3. Fiscal Responsibility: As a business owner, I understand the need to steward resources wisely while ensuring students and staff have the tools they need to thrive.

The role of a school board member is to represent the community’s values, support the administration, and help the district be the best it can be. Boardmembers must be informed, especially in finances and policies, while asking thoughtful questions and offering constructive feedback.

Above all, communication, listening, and cooperation are key. We must work together for the greater good, not individual agendas.

What do you believe are the district’s greatest strengths, and what do you see as opportunities for growth?

Greatest Strengths:
Our strongest asset is our community. The successful bond issue demonstrated the collective support we share. We are blessed with dedicated staff who pour themselves into our students, an administration team willing to think creatively, and students who show up every day ready to learn and grow.

Opportunities for Growth:
The literacy crisis remains our most urgent challenge, especially for middle and high school students who missed critical foundations due to COVID and outdated reading instruction. Without adequate state and federal support, closing these gaps will take time and persistence, but we must keep literacy at the forefront, because it truly is a crisis.

Another ongoing challenge is the changing social landscape. Social media and outside influences weigh heavily on our kids. While there is no single solution, I believe in limiting distractions like cell phones during the school day, modeling positive examples, and showing students love and compassion in our classrooms.

What values would guide your decision-making as a board member?

My guiding principle is simple: every decision must be in the best interest of students. From there, I consider how policies affect staff, ensuring they feel safe, supported, and equipped to meet realistic expectations. 

As a business owner, I believe decisions must work for all stakeholders. In schools, this means being good stewards of taxpayer resources while providing the services students need to succeed. Our staff is our greatest resource. A curriculum doesn’t teach kids, teachers do. We must provide them with the tools and the affirmation they deserve, because when our teachers feel valued, our students benefit most.

Darrel Kohls, Battalion Chief, Wichita Fire Department. I have lived in the district for 20 years.

I am completing my first four-year term as a USD 402 Board Member. During my term, I was Vice President for one year. I currently have one child in Augusta Middle School and three other children have graduated from Augusta High School. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/Human Resource Management from Friends University and obtained an Associates Degree in Applied Science and Paramedic Certificate from Coffeyville Community College.

I feel it is my civic duty to be involved in the community. Four years ago, I decided the School Board was a good fit to fulfil my duty. During my first term, I have learned a lot about the role of the school board member, and I look forward to serving the community in this capacity for another term. My top priority is to continue improving the learning environment in Augusta Schools by providing oversight to the bond project.

The main role of a school board member is to assist in setting the strategic direction of the district, policy making, and budget oversight. Most importantly, a board member must make sure teachers have the tools they need to do their job.

It is obvious to me that the community is passionate about our kids. The community has supported the district and the kids by public vote during my term both with the establishment of the community recreation commission and successful bond vote. We need to continue the momentum.

It is always about the kids. If we always try to do what is best for the kids, the decision is usually right.

What is your full name, occupation, and how long have you lived in the district? My full name is Brent Daniel Basquez, and I am the AVP of Consumer Lending at Stryv Bank in Park City. With the exception of my college years and early married years, I have lived in the district my entire life. My entire family is from the Augusta area and are responsible for building hundreds of homes and businesses in/around Augusta.

What professional, educational, or community experiences do you have that will support your role as a board member? (if you have spent time in our schools, please share) I received my B.S. in Business and Technology Management from Kansas State University. I have served on Augusta youth sports boards, I am the voice of Augusta Youth Football, and I currently serve as treasurer for the City of Bel Aire Chamber of Commerce. I am the spouse of a USD 402 teacher, so I have spent time with students and helping in the classrooms. I have two children, one of which has graduated from USD 402 and the other is currently a freshman at AHS. I am an involved parent that has loved to volunteer and serve in the activities at USD 402.

Why are you running for the Board of Education, and what are your top priorities for the district? I am running because I truly believe USD 402’s best days are right in front of us. We should be proud of our history and all of those who have contributed to getting us where we are today, but it is time to take the next big step in our story. When you look at the recent bond election, you can see there is some serious momentum and community buy-in right now. I want to be a part of the effort to capitalize on that momentum and take us to the next level. Not only with facilities, but with a renewed energy and culture that makes all students/staff say they are proud to be a part of USD 402!

My top priorities for the district would be:

• Student Success: providing strong curriculum and effective teaching to help prepare students for college, careers, and life.
• Fiscal Responsibility: we have to make sure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, with transparency, and in ways that directly contribute to student success.
• Safe Schools: students deserve to come to a building that provides a physically, socially, and emotionally safe learning environment.
• Support for Teachers/Staff: our teachers and staff are the backbone of what we do. I want to invest in them and make sure they have all the resources and respect they need to thrive in their jobs.
• Strong Community Engagement: I want to see us build trust by listening to the community and keeping them informed about key decisions.

What do you see as the role of a school board member, and how will you work with others to make decisions? An effective school board member should be a representative of the community that listens to parents, students, teachers, and staff, keeping the long-term success of our schools at the center of every decision. They should have a strong conviction/desire to see our district succeed and the students/families in our building thrive. It would be my goal to approach every issue with a focus on respectful collaboration, an open mind, and a focus on facts. Perspectives can differ, but I believe we can achieve sound decisions through thoughtful dialogue and finding a common ground.

What do you believe are the district’s greatest strengths, and what do you see as opportunities for growth? I believe our biggest strength is the well-intentioned and thoughtful staff that we employ at our schools. Teaching is not an easy job today (not sure it ever really was), and yet we have some very talented and committed staff that do an amazing job, day in and day out. We need to do all we can to continue to pour into them and provide them the resources they need to be successful.

I care deeply about the mental health of our students/staff. I know student behaviors are an issue at each building in our district and I believe there is more we can do to support our staff in this area. I am also a strong advocate for strengthening the family unit as a whole, which begins at home. There are things that each building does to try to keep families engaged in their child’s education, but I do think there are some additional steps we could take to help.

Additionally, we are facing some significant financial challenges in the coming years that will require us to make difficult decisions. These are not totally unique to USD 402, but they include decreased enrollment numbers, a decrease in the birth rate, open enrollment with surrounding districts, and decreased state and federal funding.

What values would guide your decision-making as a board member? As I mentioned previously, I come from a family of builders. Going as far back as I can remember, I have helped with countless building projects with my dad, including building the home I grew up in from the ground up. Projects of this scale require meticulous planning, unwavering vision, the ability to make necessary changes when needed, and a strong commitment to the mission at hand. These are values that I carry with me in my professional life to this day and I will bring them with me as a USD 402 board member as well. I also believe it is important to constantly be learning new things for personal growth and yet to trust those around you that have more experience and knowledge than yourself. Lastly, I grew up in church and I know how important the power of prayer is as well as maintaining a high level of integrity in everything you do.

My name is Allen James (AJ) Bodyk. I’m a retired teacher and coach who has proudly lived in the Augusta district for 51 years. I moved here from Connecticut in 1974 and began second grade at Robinson Elementary, later graduating from Augusta High School in 1985.

I began teaching in USD 402 in 1992 and retired in 2024, spending 32 years as a math teacher and coach. I taught middle school math for five years before moving to the high school, where I taught math for 27 years. I also coached basketball at both the middle and high school levels, as well as high school baseball for over a decade.

I’m running for the Board of Education because I want to ensure Augusta students receive the best education possible. My experience in the district is extensive and well-rounded—I spent 11 years here as a student, 32 years as a teacher and coach, and many years as a parent, with both of my children attending Augusta schools from kindergarten through graduation.

Throughout my career, I’ve served on countless committees, collaborated with students, families, administrators, and fellow educators, and held leadership roles including Co-President of the Augusta Education Association and long-time member of the negotiation team. These experiences have given me a broad and balanced view of how our schools operate.

My priorities are straightforward: provide high-quality education while being fiscally responsible.

A school board member's role is to listen to all perspectives and work collaboratively to make decisions that best support student learning. Respecting differing opinions and encouraging civil, constructive debate leads to the strongest outcomes for our district.

Our district’s greatest strength is its teachers. Having been part of Augusta schools since 1974—as a student, educator, and parent—I’ve consistently seen how dedicated and high-quality our teaching staff is.

An area for growth is ensuring we use our financial resources more strategically. More decisions should be driven by data and research to maximize impact and effectiveness.

My decision-making will always be guided by doing what is right, even if it's not always what's popular. The best choices are those rooted in integrity, long-term benefit, and what’s best for our students.

Hello, I am Andee Kant. I work as a school-based physical therapist in Eldorado and Douglass for Butler County Special Education. My family moved to Augusta in 2007 from Tonganoxie, but I grew up in Butler County.  I was previously a school board member from 2018-2019 and worked hard with teachers and administration to add a second high school band teacher and support positive changes to our high school culture.  I have served as a leader for the local cub scout and scout troop in Augusta for over 10 years.  I have served as a PTO member and president and team parent for wrestling and football in both middle and high school in past years.  All of this is to say, that I think Augusta is a town worthy of moving to, deserving of investing my time and energy into, and valuable for its community.

I think our district is fantastic, full of rigor and compassion, especially in our elementary schools.  The country as a whole is struggling with lower test scores and social/behavioral issues, but I believe that our district is not teaching to a test, they are teaching our children and our future.  I think our staff is outstanding and deserving of a champion for their needs.  Our students are fantastic, justifying a spotlight on their accomplishments.  I would be honored to be one of those shining a light.  My vision is excellence in communication at all class levels between our staff and our community, taking the involvement we see at schools like Garfield and carrying that through all the way to our seniors at AHS. 

The board is responsible for hiring district superintendents, and they work closely with the superintendent on policy enforcement, administration hiring, budgetary needs, and accreditation.  Previously I learned that school boards accept or reject policies typically developed by school district staff.  But most importantly, school boards set the tone of the culture of the district by determining the annual goals and vision for the district.  I have worked in the past on these tasks by attending more than 90% of regular and special board meetings, by attending trainings on my personal time to learn what other districts and states are doing in their districts that lead to student and staff successes, and by spending hours each month in the schools cheering on our students and teachers.  I work to cheer on our district just as loud and proud as I do at football games, soccer matches and wrestling tournaments. (I look forward to adding more sports now that my own children are older and not competing in as many school sports.) 

I believe that Augusta is not just a close community, it's a family. Families can have arguments, sometimes even heated ones, and the members often have different views on issues, but in times of need or celebration they come together without fail.  Our town comes together.  Our schools work together.  Our school board has historically worked well together.  Our children deserve the best we can give them, however that best should include boundaries to help them focus their efforts and growth.  Our best should include staff trained in and utilizing the best data-supported teaching techniques because parents know that even siblings within a home don't learn the same.  Our best should include seamless, open, two-way communication between teachers, students, admin and parents, even with our community.  For example, our fine arts departments were rated as some of the best in the state last year, let's shout about it from the rooftops, give more of our town chances to benefit from that amazing culture.  

As Christopher Walken stated in a classic SNL skit.  "We need more cowbell."  I hope that on November 4th our community gets out to vote in big numbers, and I hope that they vote for the people that cheer our community on.  We are in Chiefs country, we know what a loud 3rd down fanbase can do.  I want to continue being that loud cheerleader and fan.

Shawna Lewis. Emergency Department Clinical Nurse Coordinator, Registered Nurse. I have lived in USD 402 for 3 years.  

What professional, educational, or community experiences do you have that will support your role as a board member? 

I spent many days volunteering in my child's preschool class at Ewalt. This time opened my eyes to the challenges staff face daily and the need for more community and especially parent engagement. I have been in many lead roles as a Registered Nurse that have given me many opportunities to be creative with budget and supplies as well as create a cohesive and effective team. 

Why are you running for the Board of Education, and what are your top priorities for the district?

I am running for school board because I want to be involved in the decisions that are being made for our children. I want to represent a large portion of the parents who have children in the school district, and are trusting our staff and teachers to do what is best for them. I believe that our students are the future of our community and we should be pouring into them so that they can learn, grow, and become the great citizens that Augusta wants to have.  My vision for the district is to reach as many students as possible. I would like to see continued expansion of the courses being offered and a shift in focus towards getting more students prepared for "real world" situations and making it more acceptable for students wanting to learn a trade instead of going to a University straight out of school.

What do you see as the role of a school board member, and how will you work with others to make decisions?

The role of the school board member is to be able to keep the student as the priority while being mindful of budget constraints as well as making the district a desirable place to work. In all things in life I am constantly looking for solutions to difficult situations and I enjoy problem solving with a team and listening to others solutions as well. 

What do you believe are the district’s greatest strengths, and what do you see as opportunities for growth?

The passing of the new Bond Issue is going to positively impact many generations to come and was long overdue. The school board has worked hard to make a positive connection and relationship with the community and its members. The growth of the district has been challenging in the recent years leading to consolidation of the elementary schools which has been a big adjustment. I believe that there needs to be more involvement from city officials to encourage growth of the community. 

What values would guide your decision-making as a board member?

My parental values will likely guide my decision making for the board. I currently have two children who attend USD402 and will have another. I want to feel confident when I send my kids to school that they are learning things that are essential, are in a safe environment, and have plenty of opportunities for growth and development. 

What is your full name, occupation, and how long have you lived in the district?
My full name is Kara Marie (Schnake) Winter and I am a high school science teacher at Wichita Southeast High School. My husband and I both graduated from Augusta High School, and we bought our house in the district in April 2023 so that our children could be close to their grandparents and attend Augusta schools. 

What professional, educational, or community experiences do you have that will support your role as a board member (if you have spent time in our schools, please share)?
This is my eleventh year teaching secondary science in both middle and high school, and while I’ve never taught in the Augusta district, I bring a unique perspective from my experiences in Wichita as well as in Willard, Missouri—a district more similar in size to Augusta. I also have deep roots here, having attended Augusta schools from kindergarten through high school, where I was active in sports, band, and academic activities. As an adult, I’ve stayed closely involved in the community by serving on the Augusta Public Library Board, volunteering as a coach in youth softball and soccer, and joining the PTO at Ewalt, where my daughter is now a kindergartener. These experiences have given me a strong connection to Augusta and a real understanding of what it means to serve and support our students, families, and community.

Why are you running for the Board of Education, and what are your top priorities for the district?
I am running for the Board of Education because I believe deeply in the value of public education and the impact it has on all of our children. As a parent, I want my own kids—and their peers—to have safe schools, dedicated teachers, and the best opportunities to learn and grow. My priorities are to support and retain great teachers, ensure every student feels safe and included, and provide strong opportunities for academic and personal growth. I want every child in our district to have the same chance to succeed that I want for my own.

What do you see as the role of a school board member, and how will you work with others to make decisions?
The role of a school board member is first and foremost to listen—to teachers, staff, students, and families who experience our schools every day. It’s important to gather as much information as possible and then work together as a board to make informed decisions about curriculum, budgets, school buildings, and other priorities. Some decisions will be straightforward, while others will require thoughtful discussion and weighing different perspectives, but in all cases, we must approach the work with respect for one another’s opinions. By listening first and working collaboratively, I believe we can make the best decisions for our students, staff, and community.

What do you believe are the district’s greatest strengths, and what do you see as opportunities for growth?
USD 402 has many strengths, with community support being one of the biggest. Within the district, we have strong music programs, solid academic performance, and creative opportunities such as the Sunflower Virtual Academy and Open Ed programs. The Recreational Commission has also been a great asset in bringing back youth sports and building connections beyond the classroom. While these are all strengths, they are also areas we can continue to grow. In addition, I believe we need to place even more focus on supporting and retaining quality teachers, as well as strengthening partnerships with parents and families to ensure student success.

What values would guide your decision-making as a board member?
First and foremost, I value education for all students. That commitment is what led me to become a science teacher, what motivates me every day in the classroom, and what drives me to serve as a board member. In addition, my decisions will be guided by the values that shape my life: family, truth, respect, and compassion for people from all walks of life. I believe it’s important to hold ourselves and others accountable for our actions and responsibilities, while also showing empathy and understanding. By balancing all of these values, I hope to support a school environment where both students and staff can thrive.