Carrie Dixon reelected, named Board President; Wendy Baird and Brandi Pruente join as new Directors

Following April’s school board election, voters reelected Carrie Dixon who was chosen to serve as board president. Alongside Dixon’s reelection, the board welcomes two new directors: Wendy Baird and Brandi Pruente. Each was elected to serve a six-year term. They were sworn in at the April 9, 2024 board meeting.

Carrie Dixon is an active member in the community and has served in numerous leadership positions, including PTA President at William Southern, Independence Council of PTA’s Co-President and Resource Development Chair on the Missouri State PTA Board of Managers. Two of her three children graduated from ISD schools and her youngest is a student in the district. She and her husband Mike lead the Salvation Army’s Three Trails Camp and Retreat Center. She says that has fueled her passion for child advocacy, which she looks forward to bringing to her role with the ISD Board of Education. Voters elected Carrie to serve a six year term in 2024.

Wendy Baird is currently a stay-at-home mom who juggles motherhood with running a small crafting business. This summer, she will be transitioning into the education director position with the Music/Arts Institute. With a background in marketing and communications, she previously worked for area nonprofits and Kansas State University. Wendy holds an undergraduate degree in mass communications (journalism) from K-State and a master’s degree in public administration (nonprofit management) from UMKC. Before joining the Board, Wendy was the creator and administrator of the Independence Education News and Information page on Facebook and was a leader at both the unit and council levels for ISD PTAs, including president at Blackburn Elementary. In 2023, she was the recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from the city’s Human Relations Commission. Wendy, her husband, Kevin, and their two children live in the home he grew up in. Their children are ISD students at the same schools he once attended. Voters elected Wendy to serve a six year term in 2024.

Brandi completed her BA in French and MAE at Truman State University. She is an educator in Liberty Public Schools and is an adjunct instructor at Maple Woods and Missouri State University. Brandi also serves as the Interact sponsor. She is on the Square Table committee and is also the Bryant Elementary PTA President. Brandi also serves many volunteer roles for her children’s extracurricular activities. She and her husband Chaz live in Independence with their three children. Voters elected Brandi to serve a six year term in 2024.

We are grateful for the dedication and tireless efforts of our school board in ensuring the welfare and educational advancement of all ISD students.