Leslie Pace for Marion School District School Board

03/30/2026

Here are some recent highlights from the Marion School District’s School Board Meeting on Thursday March 19th. The meeting was hosted at the 7GA building where we were greeted by some of the 7GA Student Ambassadors! A HUGE congratulations to all the teachers recognized for their improvement scores! Thank you for the dedication to your students!

03/09/2026

Here’s an article by the Marion School District on the School Board election results! The November election will be one for the books! 🗳️

https://www.msd3.org/article/2747018

Legislative rules recently changed about the term limits for school board members. Most members have agreed to 6 year term limits, but one member will need to agree to a 4 year term limit. Any questions should be directed to the District’s lawyer, Rachael Vaughn!

The contest to fill an open seat on the Marion School Board will head to a runoff in November after...

03/05/2026

It’s not over yet!! 🗳️💙❤️ A HUGE thank you for all the support I received during this time and at the polls. At the end of the day, I learned I may not be the best politician, but my heart is 100% still in it for the children of this community and the teachers, staff, and administrators of Marion. So, there’s still a lot more work to be done, and I hope to have your support again in November!!

In case you’re curious about the specifics, the Marion School District’s School Board Election for Zone 6 resulted in a stunning tie between myself and another candidate. Even though it’s a non-partisan race, a 50+% majority of the vote was still required to win the seat. Since no candidate can hope to achieve a 50+% majority with the remaining absentee/provisional ballots, a run-off election has been scheduled for November!

In the meantime, Gary Wehrum will continue to represent Zone 6 on the board until that time! And we know he’ll do an amazing job. If you have any questions or are curious to learn more, shoot me a message!

03/03/2026

Tomorrow is the FINAL day to vote 🗳️, and my heart starts pounding every time I think about it! 💙❤️ please make a plan to vote and message me if you need help with anything at all!

I am running for school board to serve my community in an area that is near and dear to my heart, education. Every single student deserves the chance to thrive in life after their time at Marion, and it is our responsibility to make sure they have the tools and resources to prepare them for that day. Additionally, every single teacher, administrator, and staff member deserves to feel supported and celebrated by the school district for the incredible work they do!

There’s been some recent discussions about candidate disclosures, and I wanted to make sure mine were very clear…

I have never been employed or terminated by the Marion School District. I have never and will never directly accept money from the Marion School District. I have a sister who attends school at Marion, and I also have a daughter who I hope will attend Marion schools. I do not have any family members that are currently employed by the Marion School District, but my partner was previously an English teacher and football coach for the district. Also, I own a private tutoring business that tutors students from all sorts of districts.

I hope to represent Zone 6 with the determination to help make sure the Marion School District is headed in the right direction for everyone! 💙❤️ you deserve honest, transparent leadership from a school district that so many of your tax dollars help fund.

Thank you to everyone who supported me along this journey!! Y’all are the best.

02/28/2026

Great local opportunity for MSD employees!! 💙❤️

02/23/2026

Last Thursday, the Marion School District’s School Board recognized the hard work and dedication of Gary Wehrum, the current Zone 6 representative. He has served on the School Board for the past 9 years and is one of the most involved members of the board. You can find him at almost every student activity event, even supporting the band all the way in Little Rock!

The person who steps into his position has some incredibly large shoes to fill.

Thank you so much, Mr. Wehrum, for everything you’ve done for the administrators, teachers, staff, and students of Marion! You’re a true blessing.💙❤️

02/20/2026

Welcome to the Marion School District, Coach Johnson!! We’re excited about what your expertise is going to bring to our football program!! ❤️💙🏈 Go Patriots!!

🏈 Claude Johnson hired as new Marion head football coach 🏈
| Pine Bluff native takes over after dynamic stints at White Hall, LR Parkview

https://www.msd3.org/o/mpan/article/2720829

02/20/2026

This is HUGE!!! Congratulations to all these student athletes!!! ❤️💙

02/17/2026

TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY 🗳️ ❤️💙 Early Voting begins for the Spring Election and lasts until March 2nd, and then March 3rd is the FINAL day to vote!

Marion, you deserve honest, transparent, and accountable leaders, not ones that create their own narratives or serve their own agendas. It would be an honor to serve the residents of Zone 6 on the Marion School District’s School Board.

Early Voting Location in Marion: Tabernacle of God Baptist Church 1714 Highway 77 Marion, AR 72364

Election Day Voting Location: Marion Campus - Fidelity Bank Arena

Unsure of what your ballot looks like? Use the following link, enter your address, and view your ballot!

https://ballotpedia.org/Main_Page

02/12/2026

❄️ SNOW DAY MAKEUP INFO ❄️

UPDATED MAKEUP INFORMATION:
Under its alternate academic calendar, the Marion School District can miss up to 4 instructional days without makeup. Following the recent winter storm, Marion missed 9 days of school, meaning 5 days must be made up. Marion students will now attend school on the following days:

• Thursday, Feb. 12 (1:45 p.m. dismissal)
• Friday, Feb. 13
• Tuesday, Feb. 17
• Monday, April 6
• Friday, May 22

Additional information:

• Monday, Feb. 16 (Presidents Day), will now be used as a staff Professional Development Day.
• Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12. All schools will dismiss at 1:45 p.m.
• The Professional Development Day previously set for Monday, April 6, will be rescheduled.

Thank you!

01/27/2026

Exercise your voice at the polls! ❤️💙 Early voting begins February 16th and Election Day is March 3rd! Need help registering to vote? 🗳️ I’d be more than happy to drop off the voter registration paperwork! 📋

🗳️ Make Sure You’re Ready to Vote

The City of Marion encourages all residents to participate in the upcoming Primary Election by registering to vote, checking their registration status, and making a plan to vote early or on Election Day.

Voter Registration Deadline:
Monday, February 2

You can also find your polling location and view a sample ballot at:
👉 https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/for-voters

🕒 Early Voting – Primary Election:
Tuesday, February 16 – Monday, March 2, 2026

Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Early voting ends: 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 2

We also encourage voters to research candidates, learn about the issues, and ask candidates questions. Being informed helps strengthen our community and our local government.

Your participation matters. Make a plan to vote and be part of the process.