Nikylan Knapper is one of five candidates running for two seats on the Maplewood Richmond Heights School Board in April. She sent this statement for publication.
Hi! My name is Nikylan (Niky) Knapper and I’m running for the position of Director for the Maplewood Richmond Heights School Board on April 2nd! I am running because I want to help further propel the progressive excellence our district is known for – by serving the MRH community and always striving to lift every student in our district up.
My platform is based on three core values:
- Transparency: I will make it easy to see what I am doing as your school board member as well as what I am suggesting, how I am voting on school board matters, and why.
- Access: I will attend MRH PTO events as well as other MRH public events so you can meet with me in person to voice any concerns or suggestions you may have. No time to meet in person? I’ll be on social media and accessible via email.
- Inclusion: Our community has undergone a dramatic shift in the last 10 years with many positives. With such an evolution we have a responsibility to continue to ensure that students of any ability, background, and demographic have an educational experience that is meaningful, appropriate, and equivalent to that of their peers.
I’m a proud resident of Maplewood with my husband Sam, 6-year-old MRH ECC 1st grader Teddy, twin 2-year-olds Lyndon and Grant, and pup Noel. I’ve served our community and school as a Cub Scout leader, an MRH PTO ECC Co-Chair, and a Youth Soccer coach for MRH Youth Sports. I serve as Federal Administrative Judge for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and previously was an attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and an Assistant Public Defender in Nashville, TN.
I’m looking forward to getting to know more parents and community members of MRH. Please come visit with me at a coffee talk, message me on Facebook, or email me at [email protected].
We WILL be lucky to have a person like Niky on the School Board. My son is in member of their cub scouts den and my wife works with her on the ECC PTO. She is an asset to our community and has our support!
I’m so excited for Niky’s candidacy. We are so fortunate that she’s willing to share her time and talent to keep moving our district forward!!
I volunteer with Nikylan and she is an asset to our organization and would be one for the MRH School Board as well.
Thanks, 40 South News! I appreciate learning more about this candidate.
I have worked with Niky in volunteer capacities at MRH ECC and her dedication is inspiring. She has an unstoppable enthusiasm and passion to make sure every child is getting the best our community can possibly offer them – and every parent is heard. She would make an incredible addition to our already fantastic school board!