Evansville Teachers Association endorses four school board candidates

ETA President Lori Young explains the association’s endorsement process, educators’ concerns and priorities for the next EVSC school board.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The Evansville Teachers Association (ETA) has endorsed four candidates in the 2026 Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) Board of School Trustees election, citing their commitment to public education, willingness to listen to educators and understanding of the responsibilities facing the district.

The association announced its endorsements October 8, selecting Melissa Moore for the At-Large seat, Chris Kiefer for District 1, and Mike Duckworth and David Hollingsworth for District 2.

ETA President Lori Young said the association’s priorities extend beyond individual candidates and reflect concerns educators are experiencing in classrooms throughout the district.

“Our priorities are strong public schools, support for educators, and opportunities for every student to succeed,” Young told Our Times Newspaper in response to questions about the endorsements.

She identified increasing workloads, student behavior and educators’ ability to influence decisions affecting their classrooms as significant concerns.

“Educators are concerned about increasing workloads, student behavior, and having a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their classrooms,” Young said. “We need board members who listen to educators and understand how their decisions affect students.”

How candidates were selected

According to ETA, all 10 candidates seeking election completed the association’s candidate questionnaire, and eight participated in interviews with its endorsement committee. Young said the committee reviewed the questionnaires, conducted interviews and discussed the candidates’ responses before making its selections.

The committee included Shelby Phelps, Suzanne Glass-Foster, Leah MacDonald, Olivia Crowe, Emily Trulove, Indiana State Teachers Association UniServ Director Mark Lichtenberg and Young.

The endorsements were determined by the committee rather than a vote of the association’s full membership. Young confirmed that all 10 candidates were offered interviews. Of the two who did not participate, one canceled because of a family emergency and another did not attend.

“We considered the information available for each candidate,” Young said. “Missing an interview did not automatically eliminate anyone from consideration.”

When asked what specifically distinguished Moore, Kiefer, Duckworth and Hollingsworth from the other candidates, Young emphasized their approach to public education and decision-making.

“Melissa Moore, Chris Kiefer, Mike Duckworth, and David Hollingsworth demonstrated a commitment to public education and a willingness to listen, ask questions, and consider different perspectives,” she said.

“We weren’t looking for candidates who would always agree with ETA. We were looking for individuals willing to put students and public schools first.”

Young did not identify specific questionnaire responses, policy positions or individual examples that distinguished each endorsed candidate.

What Did ETA Ask the Candidates?

The 10-question questionnaire, obtained by Our Times Newspaper, provides additional insight into the issues the Evansville Teachers Association considered during its endorsement process.

Candidates were asked to identify their priorities for the next four years, explain how they would handle disagreements among stakeholders, address challenges in recruiting and retaining educators, and identify measures of student success.

Several questions focused specifically on the relationship between the school board and the teachers association, including the union’s role in district decisions, employee policies outside collective bargaining agreements, and advocacy on state legislation.

Other questions addressed district budget priorities, responses to parent complaints about teacher performance, and how board members should weigh community concerns against recommendations from district-appointed committees.

Although the questionnaire asked candidates to identify measures of student success and district spending priorities, it did not explicitly ask about racial disparities in educational outcomes, barriers facing economically disadvantaged students, or strategies for closing achievement gaps.

Asked separately by Our Times about educational opportunities for Black students and students from low-income households, ETA President Lori Young said every student deserves a quality education regardless of race, income or ZIP code.

The association has not released the candidates’ individual responses, citing the absence of their express permission. As a result, voters cannot determine from the information ETA has provided how the endorsed candidates answered these questions or how their positions compared with those of other candidates.

The Role of the Next School Board

The EVSC Board of School Trustees makes decisions affecting district policies, educational priorities and the direction of public education in Vanderburgh County.

Young said those responsibilities require candidates who understand the significance of their decisions for students, educators and families.

“Serving on the EVSC Board of School Trustees is an enormous responsibility,” Young stated in the association’s October 8 announcement.

“Board members make decisions that affect thousands of students, hundreds of educators, and the future of public education in our community. We believe these four candidates have the experience, judgment, and commitment necessary to make informed decisions that put students and public schools first.”

The association’s endorsements represent its committee’s assessment of the candidates, rather than an endorsement vote by its entire membership.

Voters Will Make the Final Decision

According to ETA, every eligible Vanderburgh County voter may vote for four school board candidates, regardless of where they live: one At-Large candidate, one District 1 candidate and two District 2 candidates.

The association is encouraging residents to learn about the candidates and participate in the election. “Public education belongs to our entire community,” Young said. “The decisions made by our school board affect all of us. That’s why we encourage every eligible voter to learn about the candidates and make their voice heard at the polls. It’s about our students, our schools, and our community.”

The Evansville Teachers Association is a local affiliate of the Indiana State Teachers Association and represents certified EVSC employees, excluding administrators.