Simmons for Southeast Polk School Board

12/18/2025

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08/14/2025

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05/08/2025

Golfers can now register for the 12th annual edition of one of southeast Polk County’s preeminent golf outings, the RAMS...

10/14/2024

I don't think we were quite prepared for the chilly weather this morning, but a great morning for the dedication & ribbon cutting ceremony for the new playground addition at Willowbrook Elementary today 💛 🖤

07/31/2024

I am not able to post on here much because every time I do it gets reported....they do know the election is over right🧐😉 Great things happening at Southeast Polk. Enjoy your final days of summer💛🖤

11/20/2023

If you still have a yard sign and would like me to pick it up, please send me a messsge. Unfortunately, I did not keep track of all of the addresses and picked up everywhere I remembered. If you still have a yard sign, feel free to dispose of. I am also back in the country now and I will be back in Iowa on Wednesday so I can also pick them up then. I apologize, I missed that part in candidate training!Lol😉 Thank you so much for your support and I am very excited to be sworn in at the December meeting💛🖤 I truly appreciate the Southeast Polk Community for putting their trust in me and I promise that I will show up every single day for the children and families of this district❤️💯

11/11/2023

I was just a kid when I carried the POW flag for our division having no understanding of the significance of it. Today I understand more than ever the significance of leading by example, and today we honor our nation's veterans and service members for teaching us the true meaning of servant leadership and what it means to sacrifice for what you believe in. Happy Veteran's Day to everyone who has taken the oath and has courageously served!

11/10/2023

A sincere thank you for all of your support and all of your help throughout this journey. I want to thank the Southeast Polk Community, teachers, and families and I'd also like to thank our current school board and superintendent. I especially want to thank the students of Southeast Polk for inspiring me DAILY. I also want to say that both Greg Morse and Ryan English are people I have gotten to know over the course of this election and they have my deep respect for putting themselves out there and being willing to step up for our students. Thank you all for trusting me to represent our district and I promise to work my heart out and lead by example for the district I love so much. Thank you all for welcoming an Ames native back in 2012 and it has been an honor to be apart of the Ram Family ever since💛🖤 ....it took a community to do what this campaign did and I thank you from the bottom of my heart💕

11/08/2023

We DID IT!!!!! Thank you all so much for your support and for showing up for me at the polls! This moment is one of my greatest life honors. I vow to work my heart out for the district I love so much. It took the Ram Family Community to do what WE just did tonight🖤💛🖤💛🖤💛

11/07/2023

Today is the day! I need you to show up for the students and families of this district by voting for Simmons for Southeast Polk School Board 💛🖤 Thank you so much for all of your support. I sincerely love our district and look forward to serving you in the future!

11/06/2023

We are down to the final day before election day. I want to truly thank all of my supporters from the bottom of my heart💛🖤 I did my part, now I need you to do YOURS and VOTE VOTE VOTE☝️

The Altoona Area Chamber of Commerce is honored to introduce all candidates to our community seeking seats on the Altoona City Council and the SEP Board of Education in our Social Media Forum.
Each candidate has been given a set of six questions provided by the community. We will introduce each candidate individually alphabetically and provide a bio along with their answers to those questions. The City Council candidate Q & A will be posted on Mondays, and the SEP BOE candidates Q & A on Tuesdays. All answers will be posted as received by the candidates.

As our audience, we invite you to ask for further information of the candidates by reaching out to them personally. We will not allow any personal attacks on any candidate, the city or the district. We are disabling comments. This online forum is for the sole purpose of getting to know candidates and their perspectives on the offices they seek.

We appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this process!
This virtual forum is hosted by the Altoona Area Chamber of Commerce as a service to the residents of Altoona and the Southeast Polk Community School District. Questions were solicited from eligible voters and the views expressed by the candidates are solely those of the candidates and do not represent the Altoona Area Chamber of Commerce.

Respectfully,
Melissa Horton, Executive Director

Southeast Polk CSD BOE Candidates:

Kelly Simmons:
I am a mother of 3 and born and raised in Ames, IA. I served active duty in the US Navy, and I am an Iowa State University graduate. I have been a lifelong government servant and have worked in government policy, legislation, and funding just about all my adult life. In addition to Public Administration, I also have a background in family counseling and working with youth-at-risk. My son CJ, graduated from SEP in 2021. My daughter Olivia is famous in the SEP district and went through SEP’s Special Education program. My son Corey is going into 3rd grade at Delaware Elementary. SEP is a very special place with amazing teachers that continue to be a part of our family to this day. Southeast Polk Pride is real and felt throughout the entire community. I have been a special education and advocate for autism for many years now. I began my career serving active duty in the US Navy, where they instilled and practiced the Navy core values of honor, courage, and commitment. I am running for Southeast Polk School Board because I love our community, I am highly qualified, and I will always act in the best interests of the children and families that make up our district.