04/04/2026
Ozark school board candidates offer variety of careers, experience
Voters will choose three candidates to fill open seats on April 7th.
by Joe Hadsall
April 2, 2026
Baker, who is seeking her first term on the board, is a licensed professional counselor with Touchstone Counseling who has founded several other consultancy firms related to mental health. She is a published researcher and has served as an expert witness and advocate for children in Missouri courts.
A variety of accolades and selections make her case for why voters should choose her. She serves on the Missouri Board of Professional Counselors thanks to an appointment from Gov. Mike Parson, and was named by former prosecutor Ron Cleek in 2010 for induction in the Victim’s Memorial Garden at Phelps Grove Park in Springfield.
“I feel it imperative that a clear understanding of potential obstacles to a student’s ability to feel safe, must begin in our schools,” Baker said. “I fully respect our school mental health professionals in their quest to care for the unseen wounds and obstacles impacting our students’ lives. As a school board member, I can offer insight into best practices to creating a healthy and safe educational environment for student learners.”
Like other candidates, Baker sees uncertainty in funding as the district’s biggest threat.
“Currently, legislation threatens future funding. Continued growth in our community impacts the need for additional classrooms and teachers. An increase in students also increases the necessary resources to accommodate successful learning,” Baker said. “With uncertainty, it makes it difficult for schools to plan, for teachers to feel safe and supported, and for consistent learning environments to be available to our students.”
