Spring 2026 Election - Fort School District: Three Candidates Vie for Two Seats
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
The Fort Atkinson ballot for Spring Election Day, Tuesday, April 7, 2026 includes two open seats for the Fort Atkinson School District Board of Education.
Three candidates will challenge on Tuesday’s ballot: Chevon Bowen, and incumbents Kory Knickrehm and Amy Amato (Reynolds).
Board members hold seats for a term of 3 years: April 27, 2026 through April 22, 2029. The two succeeding elected (or re-elected) school board members will take their oaths of office no later than April 27, 2026.
Duties of a Board Member and Why This Office and Election Matter
Andrew Maertz, President, Wisconsin Association of School Boards, provides the general scope of duties for school board members: “Wisconsin has 421 public school districts, each one governed by locally elected school board members. Their job is to make the policy decisions that will provide all of their students with the best education possible and to hire, supervise, and evaluate the superintendent. There are numerous state and federal laws that must be observed, and many of them need community decision makers to fine-tune the requirements to fulfill the spirit of the law, as well as the letter, for each district. Working with superintendents, administrators, and teachers, school board members go about building effective educational systems to benefit their students and their communities.”
Daniel M. Rossmiller, Executive Director, Wisconsin Association of School Boards adds: “School boards and school board members are uniquely positioned to be advocates for children and to make student learning and student achievement the center of their work. A member of a school board is entrusted with one of the most important responsibilities that can be assigned to any citizen - that of helping to direct the education of the youth of his or her community. In no other country is there local responsibility for and authority in education comparable to the American school board.
This local responsibility and authority - local control - varies in degree from state to state, but it assures that public schools are flexible and responsive to community needs and values. Wisconsin school board members are the elected representatives of their districts and set policy for the education of the district’s children. In Wisconsin, nearly 2,800 school board members are making decisions affecting more than 800,000 children enrolled in the public schools of the 421 districts in the state. These board members, as individuals, generally have no more power or authority than any other citizen in the district. It is only when these individuals are meeting collectively as a board that they can legally make decisions affecting the district.”
Interview with School Board Candidate Chevon Bowen
Fort Atkinson Independent Reporter interviewed Chevon Bowen regarding her views on why she seeks the office of Fort Atkinson school board member, specific conditions and/or inefficiencies she would like to improve and how she proposes to remedy them, and unique perspectives she would bring to the office of Fort Atkinson’s school board.
Candidate Chevon Bowen is 44, and is currently employed as Director, Faculty Quality Assurance & Instructional Excellence for the Wisconsin Technical College System. She has been a Fort Atkinson resident for 14 years. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She also holds the Master
of Science degree in Environmental Health and Safety, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Past or Current Civic Organizations and Memberships: Advisory Board Member, Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health (OESH), University of Wisconsin-Whitewater; former Board Chair, Jefferson County Area Safety Network; and former President and Vice President, Parents Cooperative Preschool (Fort Atkinson).
Past or Current Public Service (i.e. elected or appointed) Experience: While I have not held elected office, I have served in several leadership roles that involve governance, strategic planning, and community-based decision-making, including: Board President, Parents Cooperative Preschool (Fort Atkinson), and Board Chair, Jefferson County Area Safety Network. These roles required oversight of organizational operations, collaboration with stakeholders, and decision-making in support of community needs.
Why do you seek this office/position? I am seeking a seat on the School District of Fort Atkinson Board because I care deeply about this community and the schools my children and so many others attend every day. As a parent of a son in 5th grade and a daughter in 3rd grade, I understand how important it is for students to feel supported, for families to feel heard, and for educators to feel valued in their work.
In conversations with community members, I consistently hear a desire for stronger communication, simple issues to solve, but they are essential to building trust. My approach is not to offer quick fixes, but to contribute to a leadership culture that prioritizes clear communication, collaborative decision-making, and a willingness to reflect and grow. When trust is strong, schools and communities are stronger.
What specific conditions (inefficiencies, etc.) would you like to improve and how will you do it? One area I would like to see strengthened is how information is shared between the district and families, especially during times when concerns arise. Even when all the answers are not immediately available, timely and clear communication can go a long way in building confidence and reducing uncertainty.
I would approach this by asking thoughtful questions, seeking to understand current processes, and working collaboratively with fellow board members and district leadership to identify opportunities for improvement. My focus would be on supporting systems that are consistent, clear, and centered on the needs of students and families.
What unique perspective do you bring to the office/position for which you seek? I bring a combination of professional experience in education systems and lived experience as a parent in the district. In my current role, I support faculty, administrators, and institutions across all sixteen technical colleges in Wisconsin, which has given me a strong understanding of how decisions impact people at every level of a system. That perspective has taught me to think beyond individual situations and consider how policies, communication, and leadership decisions affect entire communities. At the same time, my role as a parent keeps me grounded in the day-to-day realities families are navigating. I also lead with a strong commitment to listening, reflection, and collaboration, especially when conversations are complex or challenging.
Additional comments or insights you would like the public to know about you: I want the community to know that I approach this opportunity with humility and a deep sense of responsibility. Serving on a school board is not about having all the answers. It is about being willing to listen, to learn, and to work alongside others in support of students. I am committed to showing up with integrity, engaging with our community in meaningful ways, and contributing to thoughtful, steady leadership that keeps students at the center of every decision.
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