From Subbing to School Board: How One Leader Is Holding Public Schools Accountable

Dalena Wallace
Jul 28, 2025
4 min read

Kathy Bond never set out to become a school board member. A retired ballerina and former flight attendant, she built her career on serving people—whether 30,000 feet in the air or face-to-face in a substitute teaching classroom. But after one too many disruptive incidents as a sub, she realized someone had to advocate for change. When the system wouldn’t appoint her, she let the voters decide—and they did.

Now, three and a half years into her term, Kathy is seeking re-election with a clear message: it’s time to restore standards, rebuild trust, and get serious about education again.

A Sub in the Trenches

Kathy returned to school—college, that is—at age 60 so she could finally complete her degree. That move allowed her to become a substitute teacher in Wichita's USD 259 public schools, where she saw firsthand what educators are up against: unruly behavior, disconnection, and a lack of accountability.

One classroom experience was especially jarring—a fifth grader threw pencils at her face after she confiscated his Pokémon cards. He ran out of the classroom (a behavior known as “eloping”) and returned only after a scripted apology. Kathy declined to have him back in class.

Moments like that weren’t isolated. And they sparked something deeper: a realization that teachers need more support, that families need to engage, and that someone had to speak up.

A Campaign Rooted in Common Sense

Kathy didn’t win her board seat by appointment. She ran a grassroots campaign and earned her place at the table—thanks to neighbors who believed in her vision. Today, her re-election platform centers on three key priorities:

Restoring Trust: Kathy opposed a recent bond issue not because she’s anti-student, but because she believed the timing was wrong and taxpayers were tapped out. She was the only board member to vote no—but the public agreed, voting the measure down. Now, she’s urging the board to be better stewards of public funds.
Raising Reading Proficiency: Third grade reading scores haven’t improved much during her term—and Kathy believes holding kids back if they can’t read proficiently might be more loving than simply passing them on unprepared. She’s exploring ways to bring more volunteer tutors into elementary schools, possibly under creative labels like “reading mentors” or “academic coaches” to avoid public school pushback on faith-based volunteers.
Increasing Parent Involvement: Kathy is frank about the struggle of engaging parents. Many are overworked or disengaged, but she argues the long-term success of children depends on active families. Her hope is to spark a cultural shift toward making education a family priority again.

Bringing God (Back) Into Public Schools

Kathy is a woman of deep faith, and she doesn’t shy away from saying so. Early in her term, she asked God what He wanted to accomplish through her time on the board. The answer she felt: “I want back in the schools.”

Through partnerships with organizations like Culture Shield Network, she led a successful effort to make “In God We Trust” signs available to any teacher who wanted one. While she initially faced legal pushback, she researched the issue and found a workaround. Framed through the lens of patriotism and President Eisenhower—who championed the phrase—her proposal passed. Many teachers now display the sign in their classrooms voluntarily.

She sees it as one small but powerful step in reminding students of a higher purpose.

Keeping an Eye on Curriculum and Policy

As one of seven board members, Kathy knows her individual vote doesn’t carry unilateral power—but she’s committed to asking questions others won’t. She voiced concern over health and wellness materials that address abortion without providing information about life-affirming alternatives. She wants more balanced perspectives reflected in curriculum and says she’ll keep advocating for accountability and transparency.

She also raised alarms about inflated graduation numbers at some schools, calling for audits after reports of grade tampering surfaced. For Kathy, academic integrity is non-negotiable.

A Vision for Community Partnerships

Kathy dreams of more churches stepping into the education space—not to proselytize, but to provide safe, nurturing spaces for after-school programs. She fondly recalls how her own son participated in a program hosted by a nearby Nazarene church, offering Bible-based activities and a place to belong. She believes efforts like that benefit both families and schools by giving kids purpose—and parents a little breathing room.

She’s also encouraged by existing partnerships between local churches and Wichita schools and hopes to see more communities follow suit.

Encouraging Others to Run and Vote

Kathy believes everyday people—especially Christians—should seriously consider running for school board. There’s no degree requirement, just a heart for students and a willingness to learn. And she says it’s one of the most impactful ways to influence what children learn, how tax dollars are spent, and what values shape the next generation.

Her biggest request to voters? Don’t sit out the primaries. School board races may not dominate headlines, but their decisions touch every child—and they need more engaged citizens to care enough to show up.