School board to appoint Thacher replacement July 23

FORT MADISON – Four candidates have submitted their names for the Fort Madison Community School District board member seat that was vacated when Amy Thacher was hired by the district as an assistant principal.
Former teacher and Fort Madison Education Association leader Rachella Dravis will be one of the four candidates presented at the board’s July 23 meeting,
Dravis will be joined by current Lee County Conservation Director Heather Huebner, Denmark Rev. Chad Savage, and Fort Madison resident Sarah Emmett. Sarah’s husband Matt Emmett currently serves on the Fort Madison City Council.
Dravis has served as the director of the Iowa State Education Association and seven years as the National Education Association Director for Iowa. Dravis has experience in school finance and policy development. Dravis is also a regular attendee of past FMCSD school board meetings. Dravis retired from teaching at the end of this year and made her intentions to run for the board public weeks ago.
“I remain deeply committed to public education and to ensuring every student in the Fort Madison community has access to high-quality learning and equitable resources. It would be a privilege to bring my skills, experience, and passion for education to the Fort Madison Community School District Board of Directors,” Dravis wrote in her letter of application.
Savage has a bachelor’s degree in music and a Master of Divinity, and is currently the minister of the Denmark Congregational UCC.
“This role has taught me how to listen, lead with compassion, and speak up when it matters. I would bring this experience to the board with humility and purpose,” Savage wrote.
Savage said now time is marked by political polarization and the school district needs voices that are both pragmatic and principled.
“I want each student to feel that their school is a place where they belong and where they can grow with pride,” he wrote.
Emmett has more than two decades of experience both in the health care sector and as a small business owner. She has been a nurse practitioner in family medicine in both bedside and administrative roles. Emmett has three children in the FMCSD system and said she has a vested interest in the strength and success of local schools.
“I want to contribute to shaping policies that foster inclusive, innovative, and well-supported educational environments,” Emmett wrote.
“I am especially committed to supporting teachers, promoting student well-being, and advocating for transparency and collaboration between schools and families.”
Huebner also has three children in the district and is a past member of the former Lincoln Elementary Parent-Teacher Group.
“That experience taught me not only the value of parental involvement, but also the importance of understanding how decisions are made and how they affect students, families, and staff,” she wrote.
Huebner also served in leadership roles with the Boy Scouts of America, but her role as a parent is the one she values the most.
“I believe parents have a critical impact, not only on their own children, but on the school community as a whole."
The FMEA is hosting a candidate forum "Get to Know the Candidates" on July 21 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Fort Madison Public Library. FMEA will be interviewing candidates and then making a recommendation to the school board that will be released the night of the forum.
According to school board President Josh Wykert, at the board’s next regular meeting July 23, the candidates will be presented to the board and they will vote on Thacher’s replacement and swear the new board member in that evening.