Cassandra Veale, nurse practitioner and mother of four, runs for St. Joseph School Board  

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)-- Cassandra Veale, a mom of four with children in the St. Joseph School District, is running for a seat on the St. Joseph School District Board of Education.

Along with raising her family, she works full-time at an all-patient mental health clinic where she helps treat children affected by trauma. 

Veale previously ran for the school board in April 2025, but did not win a seat. Still, she said the experience taught her a lot and encouraged her to stay involved in the district.  

“I recently joined the academics committee over this fall/spring, and I have been learning a lot about the academics in our community. As a life-long St. Joe native, I just feel a real desire to help in our community,” Veale said.  

Education has always played an important role in her life. Veale said many members of her family are educators, which helped shape her passion for schools and students. 

One of her main concerns for the district is financial stability. Veale said she believes the district should focus more on long-term financial planning rather than looking at just one fiscal year at a time.  

“We need to be planning a budget multiple years down the road to help account for state funding shifts, rising cost of living, student enrollment projections, things that determine money is coming in and out of our district,” Veale said.  

She also believes the district should work toward being more transparent when making major decisions. 

Veale said part of being responsible with taxpayer money means clearly showing residents how those funds are being used. She noted that making the information easier for the public to access could help strengthen trust within the community.

Another issue she hopes to focus on is retaining quality educators.  

“When we look at the retention of our teachers, we need to look at things like our current teachers feeling supported and respected and valued. Are we hearing them out on their concerns in the district?” Veale said.  

She emphasized how teachers who feel appreciated and supported are more likely to stay, which benefits the entire community — especially students. 

Veale also noted that about 76% of students in the district qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, though she believes the actual number may be higher because not all families apply.  

“I am sure the numbers are probably higher than that, so a lot of our families are lower income. I think we need to make sure we are providing access to resources for them like transportation, mental health care, etc.,” Veale said.  

If elected, Veale said she would also like to strengthen partnerships with community agencies and build on the district's existing relationships. 

She said community input should play an important role in the district's major decisions, including listening to students, parents, staff and community members who pay taxes in the district.  

"It's important they feel heard and valued. When people feel like you’re actually listening to what they are saying, then putting that into action, you get better responses and garner better support,” Veale said.  

People who know her, Veale said, often describe her as someone who deeply cares about children. According to Veale, much of her work and involvement in the district is driven by her desire to support the well-being of kids in the community.