General Elections: Big Horn county Dist. 2 School Board

Kyle Leithead 

Dist. 2 school board, four-year term

Bio: My name is Kyle Leithead, and I was born and raised in Lovell. I attended Lovell schools and graduated from Lovell High School in 1997. I am married and have three kids, two of which have graduated from Lovell and the third is attending Lovell High School. I work for Merit Energy as a production foreman in the Byron/Garland fields. I am an active fire fighter on the Lovell Volunteer Fire Department, where I serve as fire captain. I was appointed to the school board in July 2025 and currently serve as vice chair. I have enjoyed working with the current members on the board, the Superintendent, and all the administration. 

What prompted you to seek office or re-election?

Many reasons have led to my desire to seek re-election; however, the leading reason is to continue to do all I can to help our students have every opportunity to learn, grow and prepare for life after graduation. I have been able to be a part of new programs being introduced this year that have shown improvement to students learning opportunities, and I look forward to finding new ideas to continue that trend. I also want to continue to support our teachers and staff by providing the tools they need to educate our students.

What are your qualifications for office – strengths, experience, leadership style, etc.?

I have had the opportunity to serve on the board for nearly a year and a half. During this time, I have attended multiple trainings and seminars. If elected, I plan to continue attending these training courses and broaden my knowledge to the challenges that our school district may face. I enjoy working with others and value others’ opinions and ideas. An important part of holding this position is being able to listen to others’ concerns and being approachable. I will continue to serve the community by listening and relaying all concerns back to the board. 

What issues do you believe your district needs to address in its academic program and offerings or in overall management? Would you recommend any changes?

One of the biggest challenges I see in the district is and will continue to be enrollment numbers. We have seen a steady decrease in enrollment, and this will continue to be a topic to focus on and find ways to address this trend. Other issues or challenges we have seen and will potentially continue to be affected by is state legislation. Through recent changes, our district has done an excellent job of continuing to stay focused on the district mission and vision. 

With the future of school funding always an issue, what are your priorities for school district budgeting in regard to spending cuts, staffing and ways to enhance revenue?

Funding will continue to be a challenge for school districts with the changing legislation and the declining enrollment. My top priorities will be to provide our students with a safe and secure environment to thrive in, to continue to focus on effective teaching and to provide a valuable curriculum to every student. My priority will always be to provide a learning environment where all students can maximize their given potential to realize their life goals and become responsible and productive citizens.

Marianne Grant 

Dist 2 school board, four-year term

Bio: My name is Marianne Grant. I grew up in Lovell and graduated from Lovell High School. I attended the University of Wyoming, where I earned a degree in elementary education with an emphasis in reading. My husband, Michael, and I are the proud parents of five children and grandparents of 16. Nine of those grandchildren live here in Lovell and are attending Lovell Schools or soon will be.

What prompted you to seek office or re-election? 

It has been a privilege to serve on our local school board for the past 24 years. Having grown up in this community, raised my family here and now watching another generation grow up here, I have a deep appreciation for our schools and the important role they play in the lives of our children, families and community. Over the years, we have had many accomplishments as a school and therefore our town. State championships in sports, State Blue Ribbon Award, 100% graduation rate, perfect ACT scores, All-State choir and band members, Wyoming Academic Challenge Champions, etc. have made us all proud to be Bulldogs.

What prompted you to seek office or re-election? 

I am seeking re-election because I love Lovell. I care deeply about our community, our schools and the direction of our school district. I feel that I bring valuable institutional knowledge and an understanding of the district’s history, challenges and accomplishments.

What are your qualifications for office – strengths, experience, leadership style, etc.?

I appreciate the school board we have today. We come from many different walks of life, bringing unique experiences and perspectives to the table. I believe those differences are a strength and help us make thoughtful, well-rounded decisions.

Over the years, I have learned how to work with many people, each bringing their own experiences, opinions and perspectives. Currently, I am serving as board clerk and have served as vice chair for a number of years. I am also serving on the Policy Committee and have served there for most of my time on the board, which has given me a deeper understanding of the policies that guide our district and the importance of making thoughtful, consistent decisions. I also serve on the Finance Committee, as the board’s representative to the Recreation Board and as a representative to the BOCES board. These responsibilities have helped me see how the different parts of our educational system work together.

With the future of school funding always an issue, what are your priorities for school district budgeting in regard to spending cuts, staffing and ways to enhance revenue? 

Lately, school funding is the hot topic, and it has always been an important consideration. We are fortunate to live in Wyoming, where our state constitution recognizes the importance of providing a quality education for every child. We are trying new ideas, such as our Summit Academy, which is an alternative school within our school. Also our Virtual Academy has given some students the flexibility to continue their education with a more flexible schedule. I appreciate that funding commitment from the State of Wyoming and believe we have a responsibility to make the very best use of the resources entrusted to us.

Time … time is important. I make time to serve on the board. I have been able to make time to be on many interview committees, special board meetings, conferences, work meetings and, of course, regular board meetings.

I certainly don’t claim to have all the answers because the rules of public education change constantly. I believe there is always room to grow and help our students grow. I will continue to learn from the people I serve alongside. Experience is valuable, but so is the willingness to remain open to new ideas and approaches.

Ben Walker 

Dist 2 school board, four-year term

Bio: I am a lifelong resident of the Big Horn Basin. My wife Aubrey and I have five children, all of whom have attended Lovell Schools. We currently have two in high school and one in middle school. They keep us busy, but it’s a fun time in our lives following and supporting our kids.

What prompted you to seek office or re-election?

I have five kids that have been in the school system. Two of which have graduated and were well prepared for their college courses. In the past I have felt a desire to run, but the timing wasn’t right for my family. I feel as a district we are on a good track overall. I don’t have an axe to grind or an agenda to push. I am running for what I feel I can bring to the table.

What are your qualifications for office – strengths, experience, leadership style, etc.?

I feel that I can bring in a unique perspective with my professional background. I deal with conflict resolution on a daily basis. I have the ability to hear and understand a problem and then work toward an equitable solution. I would bring experience from the technology sector where I have spent my career working within that space and understand the role that can play in education. A few years back my role shifted, and I have spent a significant amount of my time working in telecom grant development and management. I have been part of a team that has successfully secured and overseen competitive funding opportunities that have had a huge impact on our area. This background has equipped me with a deep understanding of fiscal responsibility, strategic planning and collaborative problem solving skills, not to mention navigating the “red tape” that comes with these grants. Some of these are industry specific skills, but there is also a lot that can cross over, and I believe they align well with the responsibilities of a school board trustee and could bring a benefit to the position. 

What issues do you believe your district needs to address in its academic program and offerings or in overall management? Would you recommend any changes?

We are fortunate to live in a community with outstanding educators, staff and community support. Looking toward the future I can see a push for AI and virtual assisted learning. While these technologies can enhance education, we should implement them thoughtfully and ensure they complement, rather than replace, meaningful classroom experiences. I fully support public education. Beyond the math, science and traditional education material, learning how to interact and deal with people is just as big for the students. I also believe we should continue evaluating and expanding career and technical education opportunities to ensure students are prepared for a variety of post-graduation paths. The district has been good to me and my family, and I want to give back if I can. 

With the future of school funding always an issue, what are your priorities for school district budgeting in regard to spending cuts, staffing and ways to enhance revenue?

As it seems with everything these days, funding is at the top of the list. My priority would be to ensure that every dollar is used as effectively as possible to support student success. We must maintain safe, positive learning environments while providing students and staff with the resources they need to succeed.

Protecting core educational programs, student support services and school safety should remain priorities. Staffing decisions should focus on attracting and retaining high-quality teachers and staff, as they have the greatest influence on student achievement.

At the same time, we should actively explore opportunities to enhance revenue through grants, partnerships and advocacy for fair school funding at the state level. Responsible financial planning, transparency and community engagement are essential to maintaining public trust and ensuring that our limited resources are utilized in the best possible ways.

Danny Jolley 

Dist 2 school board, four-year term

Bio: I was born and raised in Lovell and have resided here for the last 45 years.

What prompted you to seek office or re-election? 

I decided to seek re-election because we have several new board members from last election. And with Bruce Jolley not running again this year, I thought I should stay to help use my 12 years of experience for any problems or situations that may arise at the school.

What are your qualifications for office – strengths, experience, leadership style, etc.?

I believe my qualifications are 12 years of experience. I listen and can approach problems that may arise objectively, looking at what’s best for students and what will have the least impact on them while still trying to keep the foundational educational integrity that the school district has. I also still have a child in the district, so I’m invested in continuing to deliver the best education we can as a district.

What issues do you believe your district needs to address in its academic program and offerings or in overall management? Would you recommend any changes?

I believe the district has continued to look at and assess their academic programs from elementary to high school, making sure everything is in alignment, teaching the same content from start to finish, along with recently starting the virtual and alternative school, Summit Academy, for our students in 6 to 12 grades. It allows them options to be able to finish their education outside the traditional brick and mortar school. It affords them the opportunity to be successful in school through nontraditional school settings and options, which I believe will be growing in popularity over the next few years. It will be a very good thing for our students and district to already be setup and providing those options. 

With the future of school funding always an issue, what are your priorities for school district budgeting in regard to spending cuts, staffing and ways to enhance revenue?

There’s always seemed to be a budget problem or cuts looming ever since I’ve been on the board, so you have to approach it on a case-by-case basis. What is reality? And what could become reality? We need to be cognizant and responsible while still moving forward with a positive outlook and hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst, by keeping the students in mind and what’s best for them.

Ryan Felkins 

Dist 2 school board, two-year term

Bio: I’ve lived in Lovell for 22 years. I graduated from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor’s degree, spent years working in resource management for the National Park Service and now manage Lovell Ace Hardware. I have four children: a daughter and son-in-law in Billings, a son currently serving an LDS mission in Ghana, Africa, and a senior and a freshman here in the district.

What prompted you to seek office or re-election?

I want to bring a fresh outlook to the school board and come up with ideas and solutions that best help students learn and grow. What pushed me to run is simple: I want to help the school district. As a parent with two kids in these schools, I’m invested in getting this right.

What are your qualifications for office – strengths, experience, leadership style, etc.?

My strengths are practical problem-solving and straight talk. Managing a hardware store means managing people, inventory and a budget where every dollar has to make sense — there’s no room for waste. My years with the Park Service taught me how to manage public resources responsibly and work through tough problems with a crew. My leadership style is direct: listen first, ask where the money’s going and focus on results instead of process. I don’t do politics — I do common sense.

What issues do you believe your district needs to address in its academic program and offerings or in overall management? Would you recommend any changes?

The biggest issue is transparency: where is the money going? Before I’d recommend changes to academic programs or management, I’d want a clear, honest picture of the budget, because you can’t fix what you can’t see. Our students deserve strong programs that help them learn and grow, and the community deserves to know their tax dollars are being spent wisely. I’d push for open books and straight answers first, then work with teachers and administrators on what actually needs to change.

With the future of school funding always an issue, what are your priorities for school district budgeting in regard to spending cuts, staffing and ways to enhance revenue?

My first priority is accountability, understanding exactly where every dollar goes before talking about cuts. When cuts are necessary, they should start as far from the classroom as possible: protect teachers, staffing that directly serves students and the programs kids depend on. I’m also a believer in outside-the-box thinking to fix funding shortfalls rather than just cutting our way out, whether that’s new revenue ideas, partnerships or smarter use of what we have. Cutting should be the last resort, not the first.